On a reach the whole fleet is heading up to the windward side. Do I follow the pack, or sail straight at the mark?
Sail straight, in clean air. We sailed five boats down one reach in a simulator. The boats behind try to pass to windward, so the boat in front heads up to stop them, then the next does the same, and the whole pack curves high. Now they are above the mark and have to bear away and come all the way back down, extra distance for every one of them. Blue started level with the leader but well below the pack, stayed in clean air and sailed the straight line. She reached the mark first, with Red, who started level, still nearly two boat lengths away. Going low is not free: just below the pack you sit in their wind shadow and slow down, so if you go low, go far enough to get clean air.
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<p><a href="https://sailing.kiwi.nz/v/gz9Zs7u5WQw/">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.
- Five Oceans masthead wind indicator — See the wind direction at a glance.
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