Upwind Race Geometry: Why you need to understand the importance of the 'ladder rungs', the rhumb line, and building leverage.....

Having a fast boat is not just about being fastest through the water in a straight line. It’s about being able to hang in there off a congested start line, about getting up to pace quickly out of a tack or a gybe. All these considerations were high on Terry Hutchinson’s list in his successful bid to win the 2008 TP52 Circuit, one in which Quantum Racing has continued to excel...

Shortest Distance #2: How to make sure you’re sailing the least possible amount of distance by always being on the lifted tack, and why trading height for speed on the upwind leg is rarely worth it.....

This daring strategy takes advantage of the natural holes in the fleet that develop just before the start. While some sailors consider the port tack approach more of a back-up plan than a strategy, it can be very useful in a crowded fleet.....

Watch an example of "Reaching out and Reaching In", a classic starting strategy used successfully in club races every weekend. There is no magical starting technique that will be successful in every condition, and every sized fleet. That's why it's important to practise several different approaches....