I have copied below parts of an interview I did with Rob Brown on Strategy and Tactics
Rob is one of Australia’s absolute sailing treasures and a regular nice guy.
Rob is one of those special sailors who has done more than most of us could ever dream of achieving in our sport and is completely humble and down to earth....
Knowing how to attack and defend is a skill that develops with time on the water.
When racing, it rarely pays to concentrate on beating one boat as you risk the rest of the fleet getting away.
Having said that, there are key areas of the race course or regatta when this could be necessary, so the ability to attack and...
Anticipation in Sailing Races - In every sailing race, to enhance your chance of success you must keep a constant watch ahead and around the course to see what's coming and have a plan on how to deal with it before you get there.
Before You Leave The BeachBefore you leave the beach and before every race, you need to...
Deal with congested areas when sailing. You may already have noticed that, shortly before the Start, when the boats have lined up, the wind is significantly weaker there, even if you are in the front row and have clear wind.
Effect of The Fleet On The Breeze
The reason for this effect is the congestion that forms in front of the...
Excerpt from “Speed and Smarts” Newsletter issue 131 - David Dellenbaugh
Almost every sailor realizes the importance of making a strategic plan for the first leg before they start the race but how many of those sailors also develop a strategy for every other leg in the race?
It’s tough to make a game plan...
I have copied below excerpts from an excellent article written by sailing legend and coach Dave Dellenbaugh of https://www.speedandsmarts.com regarding losing sailing control on the race course. In the article he speaks about how to avoid losing control of your strategy, tactics and race.
https://sailingtowin.com/49tips
Techniques to avoid being controlled
You must work hard to avoid being pinned by your competitor, and...
Strive To Be Lucky - In memory of the great and eloquent Dr Walker who died on Monday aged 95.
Dr Stuart Walker
Luck, wrote longtime columnist Dr Stuart Walker (1923 – 2018), is fundamental, but a manageable element of every race.
When Paul Elvström raced with Aage Birch for the Dragon Gold Cup at Marstrand, Sweden, in 1958, he decided that...
We all need help to overcome emotions when having a bad day. On occasion, all of us let a poor performance on the water affect the eventual outcome of a race or regatta. Your emotions in the heat of battle will determine your success.
How Do We Turn The Tide In Our Favour
If you are competing in a multiple-race regatta and...
Tactical Tips Regardless Of The Boat You Sail
Luffing Another Boat
Trying to luff someone going faster than you almost always ends badly. The faster boat’s momentum will take them around you. There is little that can be done to stop that.
Momentum is essential in the last 10 seconds before the gun goes. You need to have momentum on your side...
I and most sailors continue to struggle with how to choose the best side of the course.
Fortunately, it is not Voodoo and an article I located written by hugely accomplished yachtsman, Gary Jobson from Annapolis in the USA goes a long way to demystify this essential planning aspect of any race.
I have copied Gary's advice below.
Sailors tend to stay...
