SinC Speed and Smarts 2023 Planning Tips Part2 Last issue we began a series on the little things and the big things that make a difference in your performance. We continue with more of Dave’s series of tips to make you smarter and faster for racing in 2023. Now is the time to get set up for the season ahead.

SinC Speed and Smarts 2023 Planning Tips It’s the little things. And the big things. Dave offers a series of tips to make you smarter and faster for racing in 2023. Now is the time to get set up for the season ahead.

When the starting signal goes off, every boat would like to have a large space to leeward so they can put their bow down without the fear of being pinched off. But this doesn’t mean you want to have such a big hole to leeward throughout the starting sequence.

SinC Speed and Smarts Starting Part3 A good start is all about getting what you want and not letting other boats stand in your way. In the ideal world you want to start in the position you choose on the line, carve out a certain amount of space around you, and then come off the line with clear air and speed.

SinC Speed and Smarts Strategy Tactics Part2 As a general rule of thumb, if you like the left side of the first beat you should start on the left side of the line. If you like the right side of the course, start on the right of the line. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s amazing how many boats do not follow this basic principle.

SinC Speed and Smarts Starting Strategy The start of any sailboat race is a critical moment that will have a big effect on your potential success in that event. If you get off the line cleanly with clear air and good speed, heading toward the favored side, you’ve made a great first step.

SinC Speed and Smarts Headstay Sag One of the most critical factors for any jib or genoa trimmer is the amount of sag in the headstay. Your forestay almost never forms a straight line between the bow and the mast – due to wind pressure it always sags aft and to leeward at least a little bit.

SinC Speed and Smarts Best Lead Position Jib lead position works like the main outhaul. Moving the jib/genoa lead fore and aft affects foot depth, much like the outhaul controls foot depth on a mainsail. 

SinC Speed and Smarts Windward Mark Tips Except for the starting line, the windward mark is usually the most congested part of the course. It’s the first point in the race where all the boats come together again, and for this reason it presents many potential pitfalls.

SinC Speed and Smarts Mark Rounding Pt3 In most situations, faster is better because the goal of racing is to get to the finish line as quickly as possible and beat the other boats. But once in a while you need to slow down.