Roll Tacking - How and Why Tacking the boat is one of the first things that we learn when we start sailing. We also learn what head to the wind is and that most boats sail upwind at about 45 degrees to the wind. This is basic knowledge but is not something simply to be learned and never revisited. Perfecting a...
Getting Value From a Coach Using a sailing coach to get better does not have to be expensive. Coaching is an investment that will pay dividends whether it be to work on a particular aspect of your sailing or to prepare for a club, national or world championship regatta. There are a number of steps that you should take to gain...
Trimming Sails Together. Generally, on boats that are going slow, one sail will be much looser or tighter than the other. Conversely, it might be flatter or fuller than the other. Fast boats have similar depth in the main and jib as well as similar twist profiles. It is worth noting though that even if conditions don’t dictate flat sails,...
Using a Race Compass - You win sailboat races by sailing faster and less distance than your opponents and to sail less distance, you must have a good feel for the angles. Many sailors develop this feel visually over time but not everyone retains this visual information. Compass as a Precise Tool A compass gives you a precise tool for the angles...
Essential Before Rounding a Mark - Before you round any mark, it’s essential to visually locate the next mark. This is critical for your next-leg strategy. It will have a massive impact on how you approach each mark rounding. The Weather Mark - Essential Before Rounding a Mark As an example, at the weather mark, you must ask yourself whether you...