Leeward Mark Preparation Checklist

Are you losing ground or making costly mistakes at leeward mark roundings? Like any high stakes, stressful task, it helps to be prepared. In this post, we’ve compiled a leeward mark preparation checklist to help you consider everything.

Plan the Next Beat

Halfway down the run, start planning the next beat strategy. Use the following inputs:

Previous beat – what worked, what didn’t
Wind direction now
Wind behind you – direction and velocity
- Boats behind you – heading, jibe (port/starboard), speed
- Water – dark areas and their movement
- Flags, smoke, trees
Windward mark changes signaled by the race committee
Competitors to cover or catch
Waves and wave set

Select the Gate

Last third of the run, start selecting the gate mark. Here are four factors to consider.

Favored side of course. Round the the mark closest to the favored side of the course. This factor ranks #1 if there is a strong favor to one side of the course.
Upwind mark. Round the upwind mark to shorten your course by double the upwind distance. This factor ranks #1 if one mark is significantly upwind of the other. See the drawing below.
Traffic at the mark. Round the mark with less traffic for clear air and freedom to tack. This factor ranks #1 if traffic is a concern and the first two factors are not strong.
Lifted tack and clear air after rounding. Round the downwind mark to get on the lifted tack immediately, on a course that avoids the dirty air of the oncoming fleet. This sometimes works brilliantly when the first two factors are not strong and there is less traffic at the downwind mark. See the drawing below.

Position the Boat

Last quarter of the run, start positioning your boat. Here are four key goals.

Inside nearby boats to preserve room at the mark
Starboard tack to maximize your flexibility
Clear air – avoid the cone of death! See our post on Downwind Tactics with Roble/Shea sailing.
Ready to go behind boats if no overlap established