Speed & Smarts: Watch out for other boats’ wind shadows

By: David Dellenbaugh  When you want to go fast upwind, bad air is your enemy. So watch out for other boats, and look ahead for lanes of clear air. Wind shadows extend farther and slow you more in light air than they do in heavy air. So when there’s not much wind, don’t stay in…Read More

Your Most Powerful Marketing Tool: The regatta website

Does your regatta website succeed in engaging the public and preparing your competitors? Jared Wohlgemuth of the San Diego Yacht Club walks us through the "must-haves" for your regatta website. Define Your Regatta: recurring event or singular, local/regional, national/international, media attention, sponsor requirements Know Participant’s Needs: regatta documents, logistics, schedules, value for participation, regatta management…Read More

The Dos and Don’ts of Filing an Appeal

 By: Dave Perry, Chairman of US Sailing Appeals Committee Dave Perry presented the dos and don’ts of filing an appeal at the Sailing Leadership Forum last February in San Diego. Perry is the author of Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing and Dave Perry’s 100 Best Racing Rules Quizzes. He is also a US Sailing Senior Certified Judge. When filing…Read More

Implementing an Offshore Safety and Preparedness Plan

By: Chuck Hawley & Sally Lindsay HoneyHere are some items to consider when creating and implementing an offshore safety and preparedness plan:1. Start with a safety ethos for the event2. Implement pre-departure training3. Select an equipment list4. Identify skipper/crew/yacht qualifications, if any5. Pre-departure inspections – make them useful6. Communication plan appropriate for the event7. Emergency…Read More

Speed & Smarts: Sail toward the next shift

 By: David Dellenbaugh  This is a sure-fire rule of thumb that works in any wind condition. Of course, you must be able to predict which way the wind will shift next. But if you can do this, all you have to do is sail in that direction and you will come out ahead (assuming you…Read More

Building Race Management Resources

By: Jenn Lancaster, Race Director, Newport Harbor Yacht Club / Lynn M. Lynch, On-the-Water Director, Chicago Yacht Club / Taran Teague, Annapolis Yacht Club Building race management resources at your club or sailing center requires a significant commitment. Investing time, effort and money in these resources can go a long way in positively impacting sailors'…Read More

Speed & Smarts: In heavy air, play the shifts

By David Dellenbaugh When you’re sailing in a lot of breeze, your boat is usually overpowered. Because of this, finding more wind velocity probably won’t help you go much faster or point higher. In fact, in some cases a strong puff might even slow you down. A good wind shift, on the other hand, can…Read More

Speed & Smarts: Follow your strategic plan

By: David Dellenbaugh  This sounds simple, but it’s not always so easy to do. A strategy is your game plan for how to sail fast up the first beat, a guideline to keep you going the right way. It’s not so difficult to develop a strategic plan – you just have to get out to the…Read More

Getting In and Out of Irons

"Being in irons" describes a boat that is stopped. While pointing into the No-Go Zone, the sails will be luffing. You will not be able to steer normally. On a boat with a jib you can turn the bow away from the wind by backing the jib. To back the jib, hold it out to…Read More

Dave Perry’s Racing Rules: Quiz 23

Quiz 23 Boats W (a windward boat) and L (a leeward boat) are reaching towards the gybe mark. L becomes overlapped with W from clear astern. They are both sailing proper courses and are on a collision course. As they near each other, W hails, “You came from clear astern and I’m on my proper…Read More