SAILBOAT RACING TACTICS 

There are two basic rules to sailboat racing and they are:

Rule one: Get out in front of the fleet and stay there.

Rule two: When behind, reread rule one.

 

BEFORE THE START

1.      Sail at least one third of the weather leg before race.

2.      Record the wind speed.

3.      Record wind direction in relation to the weather mark.

4.      Record the length of the starting line in seconds.

5.      Record square ness of line in relation to wind and weather mark.

6.      Practice starts both port and starboard.

7.      Check for wind shifts and time between them.

 

AT THE START

1.      Know in advance where you want to be on the starting line.

2.      Time to put yourself at that position when the gun sounds.

3.      Clean air at the start is most important.

 

FIRST WEATHER LEG

1.      Check your position in relation to other boats.

2.      If you do not have clean air, tack and go for clean air.

3.      Check sail settings in relation to wind, settle down and formulate what to do in your position.

4.      Pay close attention to lifts and headers and tack on the headers when applicable.

5.      Observe boats ahead to get indication of wind condition & direction.

 

AT THE WEATHER MARK

1.      Approach the mark on starboard tack to avoid being cut off at the mark by starboard parade.

2.      If you have a long approach, over stand the lay line to avoid another tack in case of a wind shift or another boat tacking on your lee bow.

3.      If you have a short approach, try for an overlap on other starboard boats at the mark.

4.      Never pinch when approaching the mark. All you do is slow down and your chances of making the mark become zero.

5.      Shoot the mark if you are close and think you can make it. Be sure to call for room to round the mark.

6.      Launch the spinnaker as you round the mark.

 

THE REACHING LEG

1.      Decide if you want to sail high or low to the next mark.

2.      Sail low when you can keep clean air and you will be inside at the jibe mark.

3.      Sail high to try passing a competitor or blanketing his air and force him to sail lower than he wants.

 

AT THE JIBE MARK

1.      Try for inside overlap on other boats at this mark to put you ahead on the other side

2.      A good jibe is of the utmost importance and fast does not hurt either.

3.      Outside boats jibe early to gain speed at mark rounding and drive over inside boats jibing.

 

THE SECOND REACHING LEG

1.    Sail high to discourage other boats from sailing over you.

2.    Do not sail below the rhumb line to the leeward mark.

3.    Do not let other boats get an inside overlap on you at the leeward mark.

 

AT THE LEEWARD MARK

1.    Try again for inside overlap on other boats.

2.    Douse spinnaker in time to adjust sails for close haul position at mark.

3.    Sail wide on the near side of the mark and close on the far side to cut off other boats trying to drive over you at the mark.

4.    Outside boats sail wide & go for clean air to leeward of inside boats trying to pinch off other boats.

 

SECOND WEATHER LEG

1.      Choose the tack that is favored to the weather mark.

2.      Play the wind shifts to gain distance on other boats.

3.      Do not worry about covering other boats on this leg.

4.      Decide if you will use bear away set or jibe set on next down wind leg.

 

AT THE WEATHER MARK

1.      Use same tactics as the first weather rounding.

2.      Launch spinnaker as you round the mark, or jibe immediately if you chose jibe set.

 

ON THE DOWN WIND LEG

1.      Do not forget to jibe down wind.

2.      Do not sail directly down wind; it is slow in regular air and dangerous in heavy air.

3.      Position your boat between wind & boats ahead.

4.      Stay between competitors and leeward mark and in clean air at all times.

 

AT THE LEEWARD MARK

1.      Same tactics as last time at this mark.

 

THE LAST WEATHER LEG

2.      Tack early on this leg to keep between competition and finish line.

3.      Keep loose cover on nearest competitor.

4.      If two or more competitors split tacks, go with the one you think has the best position.

5.      If you are close on port, try to lee bow to gain control.

6.      If you are close on port near finish line and starboard boat cannot make the line, duck and tack to hold him on starboard until you tack for the finish.

7.      If you are close ahead on crossing tacks slam-dunk your competitor to put you in the controlling position. This is to keep your competitor under control so he cannot tack until you want him to.

8.      Select the favored end of the finish line and go for it.