Tactic Tips

Tactic Tip: Championship Winning Tips
By Clay Johnson For those who don’t know, the Melges 15 Nationals concluded last month at Brant Beach Yacht Club.  Nine races were sailed over three days in most light air; I think 8/9 races were held in 6 knots or less.  Chris Alexander and Madeline Baldridge absolutely demolished the competition.  It was incredible.  For the past month, I feel like I’ve been asked repeatedly how they did it.  Below is my take on why these guys won so convincingly 1) First of all, Chris and Madeline are both fantastic... Read more...
Tactic Tip: Reaching
By: Clay Johnson We don’t reach as much these days as we used to.  Courses tend to be Windward-Leeward, and in practice we either work on going upwind or going downwind.  But there are some reasons to practice your reaching skills:  for any classes sailing trapezoids, there can be up to two reach legs.  And for asymmetrical boats, it’s important to know how to sail hotter angles.  Reaching is a bit of a lost art, and I wanted to share some thoughts on it: First of all, I think there... Read more...
Tactic Tip: Pre-Race Testing
By Clay Johnson Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.  The more preparation I do before a race, the better I tend to do.  Beyond the normal shore-side preparation that is necessary for success - like making sure your boat is rigged well, washed, and tuned - there are some on-the-water tests you can do to really make sure you have a grasp of the wind and conditions.   Each regatta is unique, and the time you have available before the start (or want to make available) might vary too.  For example,... Read more...
Tactic Tip: How understanding the course, the wind, and coming up with a pre-race game plan will help you make the best decisions in a race.
By Clay Johnson Throughout a sailboat race, you will encounter many interactions with other boats. Each time you come together with a boat, decisions need to be made. Do I tack, cross or duck? Should I call starboard or let the boat cross? Should I lead back or should I dig in deeper? Hundreds, if not thousands, of decisions are made throughout the race, and each one changes your odds. The first thing you need to do is to understand is the course axis. If you don’t know where your... Read more...
Tactic Tips: Which Gate Should You Take?
By Clay Johnson You’re sailing downwind to the leeward gate, and you have an important decision coming up.  Do you take a “right turn” and head to the course left side or do you take a “left turn” and head to the course right side?  There are a lot of factors at play, and keeping your options in mind as you make your way downwind is important.   Here are some things that I think about as I approach the leeward marks: What side of the course was favored last... Read more...