Secrets for success on World Match Racing Tour

In their first full year on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour, Taylor Canfield (ISV) and the US One Sailing Team climbed the rank to claim the 2013 world title. The team seeks to repeat, and with recent wins at Chicago Match Cup (Sept. 17-22) and the Dutch Match Cup (Sept. 24-28) events, their chances are good with only two events remaining. Success on the tour is as much about match racing skills as it is about adaptability, as Taylor explains:

I think it is great that we sail a different type of boat at each of the seven events on the tour, as it provides a true test of skill and versatility. It is determines who truly is the best team. If you can sail with the same team for all of the events and know that they have what it takes to adapt and perform in all conditions in all types of boats, you know you have chosen the correct team.

At the recent Dutch Match Cup, we were sailing the smallest and sportiest of the seven tour boats. The MaxFun 25 is more or less a dinghy, where mistakes were extremely costly and weight placement and movement in the boat was by far one of the biggest areas of focus. They are boats that you can throw around and have complete control in if the weight movements are in tune with what the skipper is doing with the helm. Having the crew working together as a unit is crucial to executing maneuvers and therefore getting the results.

At the next tour event in Bermuda (Oct. 21-26), we sail the International One Design which presents a completely different challenge. With the boat’s slow acceleration, large turning radius, and long stopping distance, every move must be anticipated well in advance. But our record is good there, finishing third last year and winning in 2012.

Tour website: http://www.wmrt.com