Author: David Dellenbaugh

The easiest way to explain the concept of velocity shifts is to start with an example. Imagine you are sailing upwind, close-hauled on starboard tack. It’s a very puffy day, with lots of increases and decreases in wind velocity. However, the wind direction remains exactly the same during all the puffs and lulls. As you sail along, the wind you feel on your face is called your ap- parent wind. It’s a vector sum of the ‘sailing…

The middle of the racecourse is one of those “love it or hate it” places. Some sailors are always trying to make the middle work, while others seldom go there. In a big fleet, the central part of the beat has unique advantages and disadvantages. No matter how you feel about the middle in smaller fleets, you might want to reconsider your opinion in bigger fleets, for the following reasons. The case for the middle In a…

The wind and wave conditions are always changing, and this means sail shapes must constantly change as well. The jib shape that is ideal in five knots of wind would be very slow in fifteen knots. On almost every boat, the jib trimmer has a number of ways to control and change the shape of their headsail. There are four specific tools you can use to alter the three-dimensional shape of a jib or genoa: 1. Jib…

On most boats, the mainsail is the biggest sail and therefore affects your upwind speed more than any other speed variable. It also has a lot to do with pointing ability. So if you are the person holding the mainsheet (whether you are the helmsperson or a dedicated mainsail trimmer), it’s important to do as good a job as possible. Pre-race mainsail set-up Like almost every other crew job, being a good mainsail trimmer requires practice and…

It’s hard to make a rule of thumb about what to do on beats in big fleets because the relevant mix of variables is always unique and changing.   © Barry Hyman A J/24 World Championship several years ago featured a fleet of 100 boats and produced some classic big-fleet competition. Racing in a large fleet like this is quite a different game than sailing with only 20 or 30 boats. It brings a whole new set of…

No matter how skilled you are, it’s impossible to do every job perfectly while you are racing. For example, you can’t watch your telltales when you’re looking at the waves. You can’t always sail on the lifted tack and cover the boats behind you at the same time. One thing that makes sailing fun and unique is that there is so much to think about. Since you can’t do everything at once, you must make choices about…

Avoid flogging like the plague. The best way to maintain the strength and shape of your sails is to minimize the amount of time they flap in the breeze. Flogging breaks down the sail material. Don’t, for example, let your jib luff while you are having lunch in between races. It’s much better to drop a sail than to let it flap. If your boat is overpowered, don’t just let your sails luff. Bend your mast, flatten…

On most boats, the mainsail is by far the biggest sail, and this means the mainsail trimmer has the most important speed-producing job in the whole crew. Because there are so many ways to adjust the shape of your mainsail, trimming it can be pretty challenging. However, if you follow a few basic guidelines, even an inexperienced trimmer can make this sail go fast. Whether you race a one-design or a one-tonner, here’s a list of fool-proof…

Using a line “sight” or “range” at the start is a tried-and-true method for making sure you are as close to the starting line as possible at the gun (but not OCS). I always use a line sight whenever I can find one, and this has helped me get some great starts. But there is one thing I do a little differently than many sailors. The standard way to get a line sight is by sailing outside…

When you get to the leeward mark, it’s important to make a good approach and a smooth turn around the mark. But the real measure of a successful rounding is how you come away from the mark. As you begin the next leg, you want good speed, clear air and the ability to follow your upwind strategy. I call this final part of the rounding an ‘escape’ because often it is just that. With so many other…