This category develops your ability to sail smart, focusing on racing strategy and tactics. Subcategories include strategy principles, tactical principles, and specific strategies and tactics for starting, upwind, downwind, reaching, marks and finishes.
In Speed and Smarts #130, Dave Dellenbaugh provides a simple graph to help you determine strategic priorities for a race. […]
Strategic Priorities in Light Air and Breeze: Speed and Smarts Read Post »
Several SailZing readers recently completed a sailing skills survey. One of the areas they requested help on was how to
Plan the Next Beat: Ted Keller Comments Read Post »
SailZing is presenting a series of “Tactical IQ” sessions to help you think through common race situations. For this session,
Starting Tactics: Six Tactical IQ Scenarios Read Post »
Will Demand, from MC Scow fleet 105, finished 2nd in the 60 boat 2019 MC Scow Midwinters in Eustis, FL.
MC Scow Midwinters – Race Course Notes from Will Demand Read Post »
Bill Draheim of Dallas Texas visited ISC for a racing seminar. Lots of wisdom in this video of his two-hour
Racing Seminar with Bill Draheim: Indianapolis Sailing Club Read Post »
The great helms[people] are those who are able to recognize the imminence of major mistakes and act to avoid them
Major Mistakes: Here are Twelve You Can Avoid Read Post »
As a race committee chairman, … I am surprised at how few [sailors] seem to attempt to finish at the
Finishing Strategy: Favored End and Laylines Read Post »
I struggle with upwind strategy skills more than any other element of sailing. Smart upwind sailing requires managing the trade-offs
Upwind Strategy Skills Checklist: Master These to Win Read Post »
Racing sailors face a constant stream of strategic and tactical decisions. In the heat of a situation, it’s easier to
Leeward Mark Rounding Paths – Strategic or Tactical Rounding Read Post »
You can gain or lose boats quickly while approaching, rounding, and exiting the windward mark. There are plenty of things to worry
Windward Mark Preparation Checklist Read Post »
Dave Dellenbaugh’s Speed and Smarts, Issue 130 (May/June 2014) has a very informative diagram showing how to use apparent wind
Downwind Strategy: Use Apparent Wind Clues Read Post »
In winds up to 10 knots, the impact of shifts downwind is enormous… A boat working the shifts will gain
Play the Shifts Downwind – Check Your Understanding Read Post »
Is it true that on some lakes in most conditions, you have to pick a side, rather than play the
Lake Sailing: Pick a Side or Play the Middle? Read Post »
You can increase the percentage of decisions that lead to successful outcomes. For example, if you make the right decision
Make Better Decisions: Speed and Smarts Read Post »
My favorite rule of thumb, and one that I have used with great success many times, is to ‘sail the
Sail the Long Tack: Part of Your Strategy Mix Read Post »
Ever get the feeling that the casual post-race conversation doesn’t tell the whole story about race performance? Ever wished you
Sailboat Race Analysis – Improve Performance with Data Read Post »
