Upwind speed

The Lee Bow

  • Tack directly at lee and slightly at the bow of the competitor - "lee bow zone". Our sail will bend the wind for the other boat
  • Danger of being "Pinned" (dependent of competitor tacking if done too close to the layline

 Cross & Tack

  • We cross by a length and tack, leaving us to windward and bow to bow headed to the layline.  With the Cross & Tack our rival is pinned and we get to make a safe layline call.  We tack; our rival “hips up” and tacks; and we lead to the mark, rounding 1 to 2 lengths ahead.  In the lead, but under pressure.  If we were going to the finish this would be just fine…  

 Cross & Tack

Shifting Gears

Anticipate wind shifts upwind: up in the puffs and down in the lows. Shift gear one to 1/2 boat of when you need it
1st Gear: Maximum acceleration gear (comming our of startingline
2nd Gear Footing mode:Still need to accelerate
3th Gear Groove speed. Maximum VMG and Speed. Let the main out (to get twist) until tell tail of the mais is flying all the time
4th Gear Pointing gear. Federing up in a puff or pinching