Tactics

Some Basics of Upwind Geometry

6 - Some Basics of Upwind Geometry

In this video, we review laylines, ladder rungs, and the danger of getting too close to the edge of the course.....







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Hitting the Mark: Avoidance and Recovery
Hitting the Mark: Avoidance and RecoveryThis short video uses raceQs GeoVids to explore ways to avoid hitting the mark, and how to recover from this common mistake. GeoVids are videos that are synced with raceQs’ 3D replays to provide more advanced post-race analysis.....




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Bill Hardesty and the role of the tactician
Multiple Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams describes Bill Hardesty as his secret weapon, the tactical genius that helps him get the better of his opposition more often than not. Bill is also a great helmsman in his own right, and an aggressive fighter on the race course, as this interview reveals...
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A Short Introduction to Leverage, Risk and Reward on the Upwind Leg

A Short Introduction to Leverage, Risk and Reward on the Upwind Leg

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

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Two Ways To Sail Less Distance - Part 2

Two Way To Sail Less Distance Part 2

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.....





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Two Ways to Sail Less Distance - Part 1
Two Way to Sail Less Distance Part 1Shortest Distance #1: 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.....




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Sailing in bad air is not always a bad thing, says Jonathan McKee ***
Jonathan McKeeAudio: Olympic Gold Medallist and Melges 24 World Champion Jonathan McKee shares some of his tactical tips for racing in small keelboats like the Melges 24. 'Sail in bad air' is one of his more surprising nuggets of advice..."That rule that people say: 'Don't sail in bad air,' that's bad advice. Sometimes it's the lesser of two evils...."
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Nathan Outteridge and high-speed tactics
Nathan OutteridgeNathan Outteridge is arguably the best high-performance sailor in the world. He has won multiple 49er World titles as well as Olympic gold, has won a Moth world title and has steered AC45s and AC72s in the America's Cup. Here the young Australian talks through his approach to sharing tactical responsibilities in doublehanders...
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MP3: James Spithill on how to get yourself out of a fine mess

Audio (6 minutes) and text: James Spithill is best known as Oracle Team USA's winning skipper in the America's Cup and for his prowess on the match racing scene, but he's a pretty mean fleet racer too, having won the Melges 24 Worlds for example. In this interview the Australian professional looks at how to fight you way through the pack, and why it's the cool cats that win out in the end...



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How to see the wood for the trees: tactical sense from Nick Craig ***
In the second part of our latest interview with super-amateur Nick Craig, the OK and Enterprise World Champion talks about self-coaching, and shares some valuable tips if you get stuck trying to find the next shift and can't make head or tail of what the wind is up to. Great advice, as always, from the multi-class maestro...


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Tips from a Fireball Champ: How to win handicap races in a slow boat
Vyv Townend on the trapeze sailing with Chips Howarth in the Fireball WorldsA five-time winner of the Fireball World Championships, Vyv Townend is the most successful Fireball sailor ever. He has also won a few big handicap racing events sailing against all types of other dinghies. Here Vyv shares his tips for battling your way through a fleet of unevenly matched boats and coming out on top....



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Upwind Strategy - Sometimes, Less is More
470s racing upwindSometimes it takes a coach's perspective to point out the obvious, or rather, let the sailor work out for themselves what was obvious with hindsight. Neil Marsden provides the coach's perspective on what some 470 girls could have done differently upwind...
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