Author: David Dellenbaugh

By far the most common way that two boats interact on a beat is when they come together on opposite tacks. This happens many times during a race, and the tactics you choose to employ in each case can make a huge difference in your race results. The obvious first step is keeping a good lookout so you know when another boat is coming. The next step, and probably the most important when boats converge, is to…

A layline is the path you would sail, when steering your optimal upwind or downwind course, to get around the next mark on one tack. We all know that laylines are invisible, of course, but many sailors don’t realize how much (and how often) laylines move around. Laylines are a function of many variables such as wind direction, wind speed, sea state and current strength. Therefore, whenever there is a change in any one of these things…

You may have a great strategy for getting to the finish line quickly, but it won’t help you much if you let other boats push you around. That’s why having good boat-on-boat tactics is so important. Tactics are the moves you make to stay in control of your race and follow your strategic plan. When you’re approaching a finish line, there are basically two tactical approaches you might take. You can either try to catch the boat(s)…

It has become commonplace, in many fleets during recent years, to sail windward-leeward courses with a gate for the leeward mark. Personally, I like this course a lot because it emphasizes tactics and strategy, eliminates reaching parades (particularly in light and moderate air) and keeps the fleet closer together. But racing with a gate offers a whole new set of tactical and strategic challenges. It means you must make a choice about which mark to round, and…

When there are no other boats around, it’s easy to execute a good windward mark rounding. But unless you’re near the front (or back!) of the fleet, you normally have plenty of company as you approach the mark. And they’re all trying to beat you! In order to implement your mark-rounding strategy (i.e. to have an optimal rounding), one thing you need is good tactics. Tactics are the boat-on-boat moves you make to follow your chosen course…

When it comes to strategy on a beat, my most valuable guiding principle of all time has been to sail the longer tack first. It’s amazing how often this works and how much you can gain by doing it. The geometry of your racecourse is one factor you must consider in any strategic plan. And the most important geometric question by far is whether one tack is longer than the other. Here are some things to consider….

Many sailors misjudge the strategic importance of current. They either make current too much of a priority when choosing their first-beat strategy, or they underestimate the effects of current as they approach the first mark. Here are some strategic tips that should help you go with the flow. • Seeing and measuring current. Before you can include current in your strategy, you must know the current set (direction of flow) and drift (speed) across the race course….

One of my favorite things about sailing is that no two races are exactly alike. Every time you sail out to the starting line you find a unique set of wind and weather conditions. If you want to be successful in this environment, you must be smart and well prepared. One of the best ways to get ready for a race is to develop a strategy. This is your plan for how to get around the racecourse…

When you get near the top of the first beat, think ahead about the mark you are just about to round. Is it a temporary, inflatable tetrahedron or a permanent, bulletproof government buoy? Each type of mark has its own particular characteristics that you must consider in order to have a fast, efficient rounding. Here are some things to think about for the two most common types of marks.   Inflatable marks • There is often a…

Race committees usually try to set their finish lines square to the wind direction, but windshifts and other factors often skew the line and favor one end. It’s not uncommon for this favored end to be two or more boatlengths closer, and when you’re trying to gain every inch to beat your competition, this can make a huge difference. Theoretically, a good way to understand the orientation of any finish line is by visualizing “ladder rungs,” or…