To keep a boat going on a gusty reach with kite and rudder on the…
5 tips – Essential yacht racing skills
5 tips: the heavy weather gybe – how to deal with that trickiest of manoeuvres
With your heart rate rising like a jockey heading towards Becher’s Brook in the Grand…
5 tips: the float drop, a canny tactic to round a mark under pressure
While a conventional spinnaker drop (kite down and pole away) may seem the safe option…
5 tips: reaching and downwind starts – some advice from Sir Ben Ainslie
The cut and thrust and elbow-shoving of a typical start is mostly about wrestling your…
5 tips: the gybe set spinnaker hoist – when to use it and how
There is always a temptation to keep things simple on the racecourse and opt for…
5 tips: sailing deep under asymmetric sails – how to strike the balance
“Are we in on this gybe?” is often a tricky question to answer when you…
5 tips: sailing with an asymmetric – how to get yourself out of impossible-seeming situations
You’re blasting downhill on port with the big asymmetric set, searching for a fast route…
5 tips: OCS (on course side) or over the line at the start – what should you do?
Pundits at any local sailing club say you’re not trying hard enough if you don’t…
5 tips: light airs racing – how to keep going when all around are drifting in circles
The forecast was spot on, the breeze has slackened as pressure rises, but now with…
5 tips: getting a good start – and the 60 seconds after that
The subtleties of a good start are more complicated than identifying a good spot to…
5 tips: the dip and the squeeze – techniques to get you away from the start fast
Even if you get clear air off the start line it’s likely there will be…
How to win at Cowes Week: some people seem to ‘get lucky’ every year! How do they do it?
Lone Star – XOD Name of boat: Lone Star – built 1960 Type of boat:…
The 10 most common Cowes Week mistakes – and how to avoid them
10. Running aground Tidal curves are essential and can be found free on www.easytide.co.uk. These…
5 tips: the leeward mark – learn to read situations as they develop
You’ve been catching the boat ahead since the top mark and their tactician is now…
Cowes Week sea breeze – getting to know your typical Solent summer winds
Clear skies at dawn and a hint of wispy cumulus rising above the mainland shore…
Cowes Week: Everything you need to know about this historic regatta
What is Cowes Week? Cowes Week is one of the best know sailing regattas in…
5 tips: surfing. How to use the waves to improve your downwind performance
Gone are the days of sitting back on the downwind legs to enjoy the view.…
Cheating at yacht racing – how honest a sailor are you?
In football a dive in the penalty area in search of an easy goal is…
Top tracks in the Round the Island Race – how to find the best route
One of the most appealing features of the country’s fourth biggest participation event is that…
Cowes Week tactics in the Eastern Solent: our local tips for the smart navigator
Shallow with shingle and mud, the Eastern Solent has a different character from the western…