Four boats are heading for the same leeward gate mark and the other one is empty. Do you follow the fleet, or go alone?
Go to the empty mark unless you will be the inside boat. A gate means you can round either mark, so you do not have to follow the boat in front. In the scene Yellow reaches the crowded mark first and has the inside, Magenta is outside her and has to go wide, and Purple and White arrive behind and have to slow right down. Blue gybes away, drops her kite early, rounds her own mark tightly and goes straight onto the beat in clean air. She sails more than a length further than anyone, yet comes out level with Yellow, and Magenta, who was ahead of her, is more than three lengths behind. Only join the crowd if you will be the inside boat, or the next beat strongly favours that side.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tBbd_mQLdgU" title="Sailing Kiwi" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://sailing.kiwi.nz/v/tBbd_mQLdgU/">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.
- Racing Rules Companion 2025-2028 by Bryan Willis — Spiral-bound pocket guide to the current rules.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through a link in the list it helps fund the channel and keeps the videos coming for everyone.