You are leading downwind and the boat behind sits straight upwind of you, her wind shadow on your sail. Do you gybe for clean air, or can she just match you? And if you are behind, do you cover her or find your own wind?
Downwind, the wind reaches the boat behind first, so the leader is the one in trouble. Sit straight upwind of her and gybe the moment she gybes: in our drawing Yellow only gets clean air for a moment in the middle of each gybe, then she is back in Blue's shadow. Every second you are late matching her, she has clean air. Your shadow follows the wind you feel on the boat, so it leans off to leeward: aim it, don't guess it. The drawing shows the cover, not who wins, because both boats sail at the same speed. No racing rule is involved.
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<p><a href="https://sailing.kiwi.nz/v/sZnLM87QPH4/">Source: Sailing Kiwi</a></p>Go deeper: books and gear
- Tactics Made Simple by Jon Emmett — Racing tactics, explained simply.
- Elvstrøm Explains the Racing Rules 2025-2028 — Every rule, with plain-English explanations and diagrams.
- Five Oceans masthead wind indicator — See the wind direction at a glance.
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