How to Win More Races

This course takes your racing skills to the next level by teaching you how to win races. Every aspect of racing from wind to rules to tactics is covered in detail on this course so that you can be more competitive on the race course.

This course is taught on either the Open 5.70 or the Open 6.50. Both boats are light, fast and very maneuverable making them ideal for practicing starts and close quarter sailing with other boats.

What You Will Learn

• Race Preparation

  Learn the importance of being prepared whether it’s practice, local knowledge, or boat preparation every little thing counts.

• The Start

  Taking a good start is an important part of winning races and we’ll spend a lot of time covering the following topics in detail:

  • Determining the favored end of the starting line.
  • Starting Techniques & Strategies.
  • Rules to know at the start.
  • What to do if you are over the line early.
• The Windward Leg
  • The importance of “clean air”.
  • Crossing other boats - rules and tactics.
  • Understanding headers & lifts and how to take advantage of them.
• The Weather Mark
  • The advantages and pitfalls of different approaches.
  • How to have fast and competitive mark roundings.
  • Understanding and dealing with offset marks.
  • Rules around the weather mark
• The Downwind Leg
  • Understanding headers & lifts and how to take advantage of them.
  • Crossing other boats - rules and tactics.
• The Leeward Mark
  • How to have fast and competitive mark roundings.
  • Racing around leeward gates and how it’s different from more traditional single mark roundings.
  • Rules around the leeward mark.
• Strategy and Tactics

  Understand the importance of having a strategy, how to create one, how to stick to it and when to change it. Learn how to stay on top tactically when sailing in close quarters with other boats.