Want to improve your starts? Take this short starting tactics quiz in a video from Roble/Shea Sailing. In the video, Steph and Maggie show eight boats near the starting line with 30 seconds remaining. They ask you to decide what…
Starting Strategy & Tactics
This category covers starting strategy and tactics, including where to start, approaching the line, creating a gap, judging the line, accelerating, and priorities immediately after the start.
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This post covers the expert wisdom on where to start. We updated the post from the original version, incorporating some new key points and adding a video from Roble/Shea Sailing on the topic. Where to Start – A Balancing Act…
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After a decent front row start, what’s the next priority? Answer: holding your lane and going fast, so you can break out of the pack and have strategic choices. For tips on lane management after the start, we turned to…
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Bad starts happen. As we showed in Starting Performance Observations, it’s common to see half or more of the fleet in bad air after the start. Willie McBride points out that the top three teams at the 49erFX 2017 worlds…
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Always, always use a line sight. Dave Dellenbaugh, in Speed and Smarts (Issue 128) Are you skeptical about the value of a line sight? Would it help to know that many top sailors consider it essential? Judging the location of…
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Ever had your carefully planned approach ruined by last-minute wind shifts while starting? Wind shifts affect your time and distance to the line, your ability to get clear air, and your ability to defend against other boats. The quicker you…
