Winning Moves at the Top

Windward-mark approaches and offset-mark exits should be part of your developing playbook of race-winning tactics. Do them well, and you’ll realize big gains.

STEVE BENJAMIN

Congratulations, you’ve made it to the top of the beat. Now it’s time to nail the first weather-mark rounding, which, when done well, will set you up for a good position on the run. For simplicity, let’s look at three useful weather-mark moves: the starboard-tack approach, the port-tack approach and the 80 percent approach. Starboard-Tack Approach We are doing well in the day’s first race, on starboard tack, and comfortably laying the windward mark. We are slightly overstood and threatened by a lineup of port-tackers coming in just below the three-length zone. They will be looking to tack to starboard, inside and to leeward of us. Our concern is that, if they do tack, they might gain mark room on us and control our positioning going into the offset. To…

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Sailing World (Digital) - 1 Issue, Summer 2022

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