Three boats, one run to the finish. One sails straight at the line, one goes high then soaks low, one sails the fast angles and gybes once. Which one wins?
In a steady breeze with no gusts, the fast angles win. Yellow sails the shortest way, almost dead downwind, and a boat with a kite is slow that deep: she started two lengths closer and still finished half a length behind. Blue headed up for speed, then soaked low, but with no gusts to ride she was no quicker than Yellow and finished two lengths behind the fast-angle boat from the same start. So is straight wrong? No. All three work, on different days. Big breeze: the boat is quick at any angle, so sail deeper and save the risky gybes. Gusty day: high and soak, soaking low in the gusts and heading up in the lulls. Steady or light: sail the fast angles and gybe on them. No racing rule is involved: the boats never meet.
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<p><a href="https://sailing.kiwi.nz/v/GA08Xt4Wp0A/">Source: Sailing Kiwi</a></p>Go deeper: books and gear
- Tactics Made Simple by Jon Emmett — Racing tactics, explained simply.
- Racing Rules Companion 2025-2028 by Bryan Willis — Spiral-bound pocket guide to the current rules.
- Sailing sunglasses — Cut the glare off the water.
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