When This Tactic Works Best
A tip for rounding the windward mark. I use this with a Laser but it should work with other similar boats. It's a good way to keep up some speed, especially in light air - and to avoid the bad air of boats right behind you when you head downwind from the mark.
How I Do It
A lot of people turn hard around the windward mark to head directly down for the leeward mark. Two problems can occur. First, when you turn hard and let out the sail for the run, you can lose boatspeed until you get going again. Second, boats that were behind you on the windward leg make the same turn and now are probably directly upwind of you, so you get their dirty air.
So what I do is leave the mark on a reach for maybe a couple boat lengths. This keeps up the boatspeed. Then as I fall off to the run, not only am I keeping some momentum, but the other boats aren't directly behind me, so I do better in the clean air. All in all, I sail a little farther than they but the better speed more than makes up for it.
Advice
- Plan ahead. Know which gybe course is favored downwind so you're planning even before you reach the windward mark.
- Stay on the reach a couple boat lengths after the mark - or even more if someone is following and wants to dirty your air.
- If you're in a close following position right behind another boat at the mark, you might want to turn hard if they do - just so you can steal their wind for a minute. That may get you in a duel, but it can be worth it. Hard to say when to do this or not - you just get a feel for it.
