How good is your technique at the windward mark rounding? Video evidence suggests that even some top sailors are not always consistent. In this post, we discuss techniques, show some examples of gains and losses, and link to expert videos…

On a windless day at the 2020 Train Wreck regatta, the organizers put together a discussion of MC Scow sail trim. Bill Draheim from Quantum Sails and Mike Considine from UK Sailmakers answered questions from the fleet. SailZing captured the…

If you’ve ever served on the race committee (RC), you know that it can be challenging. There are lots of “moving parts” to put in place for a fair course and on-time start. Although RCs rarely complain, we all know…

Welcome to our series on upwind mainsail trim. This article covers Camber, which is Part 2 of a four-part unit on shaping your sails. In this series, we’re presenting a comprehensive review of basic and advanced mainsail trim concepts. We…

When I was starting out racing on our tiny lake, a mentor told me to look for more wind near the shore in light air. This appeared to be true frequently, but as with many rules of thumb in sailing,…

In this post we discuss Velocity Made Good or VMG. Many newer sailors are not familiar with this important concept, so we’ll discuss the definition and show some examples. Then we’ll discuss how to use the concept of target boat…

A well-organized, two-boat testing program is the best way to make advances in boat speed.  Mark Reynolds in mysailing.com.au While racing, it’s hard to isolate the factors that contribute to differences in boat speed. If you have the time and…

“Sailboat racing becomes a game of chance only when you are not prepared.” Buddy Melges “The good sailors all know how to race very well, but the champions have won the regatta before the racing begins.” Paul Elvstrom If you’re…