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,…

The great helms[people] are those who are able to recognize the imminence of major mistakes and act to avoid them or prevent them from reaching major proportions. Stuart Walker in Advanced Racing Tactics How do you learn to avoid major…

Ladder Rungs Help You Understand the Race Course and Avoid Misconceptions Many sailors have basic misconceptions about race course geometry. This leads them to to think incorrectly about questions such as: Should I reference the windward mark when determining where…

Two of your SailZing editors battled it out in positions 1-2 for most of a recent Wednesday night MC race. The race analysis shows two keys to success: 1) start in a position to get to the first shift and…

Racing Strategy Choices Want a systematic approach to developing your race strategy? Stuart Walker (Positioning: The Logic of Sailboat Racing) says successful race strategy depends on determining which one of three conditions (categories) is present. He gives plenty of examples…

This article in Sailing World by Steve Hunt is a good summary of first beat strategy for intermediate sailors.  It emphasizes key principles such as: Get clear air Stay with the fleet Go to the favored side, but don’t be…