DOWNWIND SET PLAYS

Last month we worked out what the fastest route down the run was likely to be, got ourselves into a clear lane, on the right gybe, sails trimmed to get us there as quickly as possible. In this feature we’ll look at the small picture: how we might take advantage of the changing patterns to gain or defend places against boats sharing our part of the racecourse.

THINKING AHEAD

Before engaging in any boat on boat combat, make sure that the desired outcome is clear. If the leeward mark is a starboard rounding, or it is a gate and you want to go left up the next beat, don’t even consider attacking on the port side of the boat ahead, unless you are sure that you’ll be able to break the overlap or gybe and cross ahead well before you get to the zone for the leeward mark. Think about it like this: you need to gain two more boat lengths for an attack on the outside side to be successful, compared to an attack on the inside side (diag 1).

USING YOUR WIND SHADOW

The broader the running angles and the lighter the wind, the more chance the boat behind has to use the power of the wind shadow. With boats that sail dead downwind, it is pretty easy to work out where the affected area is. If you sail bigger angles, though, it gets more difficult. The bit of wind at the tip of the