Wind Strategy & General Plan

I call this the bigger picture which you may just keep in the back of your mind and may drag it out if something changes.

As you prepare your boat for racing keep looking and watching key indicators to see if the weather report is accurate, you coach may check in with weather man via a phone call to tell him what he is seeing in real time at the regatta site. This may give you a advantage in rig and sail selection over the competition before the race.

Get to the racing area early!!! All the good teams always test early; you need to be on the race course no later than 1 hour 15 minutes before race time.

Make sure you have organised a tuning partner first to test speed upwind on both tacks. Stay on each tack for 15 minutes and watch vital weather signs as you test.

When you reach the top mark area hopefully the race committee has a top mark anchored. Check the current and get a wind heading at the top mark.

If a top mark is in place get a compass bearing to the bottom mark, work out which is the correct gybe to sail the run with the current breeze direction.

As you sail downwind use this time to get a feel for the run and also a time to relax, drink and eat any food before the start.

Get you coach to finalise thoughts on what he sees from the coach boat, exchange ideas and thoughts.

As you approach the start area the line should be set so don’t just sit there and waste time, test the line, check the lay-lines, keep checking the head to wind direction.

Try and formulate in your own head the first beat tactics and approach even mentally practice in your head if you have time.

Just remember even if there are 60 boats on the start line you need to win your micro battle first you must win the race against the boat directly to Windward and to Leeward of yourself.

The good guys are always in the starting area early, they test eveything constantly.

Getting up the first work is critical to a good regatta and takes disciplined to have a plan and execute it.