Team Racing Tips - Attacking Downwind

Here I break down how to attack a boat that is behind you on the downwind leg of a team race.

[@PatrickRynne]

@UWSailingTeam good question, it depends on the wind conditions. If it's not too breezy and feel "in contro"l of the boat then I would keep the normal amount of vang on that you would normally sail with downwind. If it breezy and I was afraid of possibly spinning out, then I would put less vang on so just in case I do have to dump the main, I don't flip. Hope that helps.

[@lillaw101]

@UWSailingTeam you should have it tighten

[@Yestlbeexact]

This is race legal right?

[@tomharrell1954]

Do you still monitor this

[@laserbob]

Who is this Bobby guy?

[@bendouglas2920]

you want the vang loose aspossible because it lifts the end of the boom up making it go faster and stops it nosediving

[@erikanderson4605]

Wrong

[@theot.e2499]

@@erikanderson4605 No it's right, heeling the boat to windward also helps lift up the mainsail higher. It works best in low wing conditions

[@SwagMaster-fq8qg]

@@theot.e2499 heeling to windward helps with speed because it brings the center of effort above the centerboard. Not because it gets your sail area higher.

[@theot.e2499]

@@SwagMaster-fq8qg no, we are talking about downwind sailing, where centre of effort is irrelevent, hence why you lift up the centreboard downwind.

[@ScratchGenius]

​@@theot.e2499 Actually, it remains revelant downwind. The center of effort has to be in line with the boat's pivot point, which still exists due to friction and the rudder. Having them inline caused you to not have to counteract the rotating force with your tiller, speeding you up

[@rossjacobs8447]

Rather say the boat number not “Bobby” etc otherwise it becomes confusing

[@Limbre]

Race legel? I believe perhaps, please update rules and then empires can be better at judging races. Periodt.