VICTORY IN REACH

Play the rules, play the gusts and play the angles and the reach can be yours – a time to make big gains.

- MARK RUSHALL

Watch any club race, and you’ll see plenty of racers happy to sail a course a little higher than the boat ahead (which has sailed a bit higher than the boat ahead of them), defend from behind, and enjoy the break from mental effort.

You will also see boats that embrace the opportunity, think for themselves, and take advantage of the situations presented to gain places, gain ground on other boats, or time on handicap.

This article aims to highlight some of the key factors behind your reaching decision-making, and some of the plays that you might utilise to make the most of them.

THE BIG PICTURE

In a closely packed one-design fleet, finding a clear lane and avoiding being luffed or rolled will be the main priorities. But even so, opportunities to break away from the chain gang may come up. Starting the leg with a clear view of what would be the fastest route down the reach in the absence of the other boats will give you the best chance of taking these opportunities.

SAIL THE SHORTEST COURSE

Generally, the shortest course between two points is a straight-line route. A defensive fleet always tends to get sucked into a “great circle route” as they attack and defend by luffing to windward of the rhumb line. Even with no distractions, most helmsmen will naturally sail a detour to windward of the rhumb line, losing time and distance. A reach across the tidal set makes sailing extra distance even more likely.

Practise sailing the rhumb line by picking up a transit on a piece of land behind the mark. If the land moves left against the mark, steer further right, and vice versa. Use the transit, even when you are committed to defending your line, to give you an indication of just how fast the fleet is sucking you away from the rhumb line.