Match racing tips for all racers

Dave Perry, match racing champion, educator, and editor of the The Dial Up publication, offers offwind tips for the match racer which can be used in all racing:

My experiences from participating and watching many match races this summer continue to impress on me the importance of the downwind legs. I saw many passes this summer, which is of course great for the game and the trailing boat, but not so great for the leader.

I have written extensively on the strategies and tactics of the downwind leg, usually under the title “Downwind Jail.” One such article can be found on the US Sailing Match Racing webpage, under Racing Tips.

I want to underscore the “big moment” for both boats after rounding the windward mark. It is the location of the “First Layline.” On the first downwind leg, the First Layline is the layline to the right-hand gate mark (looking downwind). On the second downwind leg, it is to the pin end of the finishing line (which comes up before the First Layline on the first downwind leg).

Noticing and practicing these laylines in your pre-race warm-up laps, and in between races, can be a race winning effort. Usually the bow person calls the laylines.

If leading a close race, you want to gybe on the First Layline. Gybing before the First Layline can open the door for the trailing boat to “cross over” and gybe to leeward of you, making it impossible to gybe back onto port-tack and cross your opponent (welcome to “downwind jail”), or setting them up to gybe on your air when on port, roll you, and then gybe onto starboard and own you (welcome back to “downwind jail”).

Also, gybing after the First Layline can open the door for the trailing boat to “simo gybe and roll” you and then make it into the zone of the next mark without having to gybe back to port.

One strategy for the leading boat is to gybe a little before the First Layline, banking on the fact that the trailing boat usually “simo gybes.” Then, come out of the gybe “hot” and delay the roll for as long as possible, so that when the trailing boat finally does roll you, they cannot gybe and cannot sail into the zone of the next mark either (welcome to “downwind jail”).

A common mistake, when the windward boat is about to take the air of the leeward boat, is for the leeward boat to luff the trailing boat as they are trying to roll them! Luffing actually makes it easier for them to roll you and sail down in front of you.

As they are about to take your wind, either bear away to your VMG angle, heel the boat slightly, wait for your spinnaker to collapse and then refill, then flatten the boat; normally, this will put you in control of them after they have rolled you. Or gybe away before your spinnaker is affected, and keep the starboard card for use later down the leg (“First Layline” again).

Another strategy is to do a “fake gybe” about 4-5 lengths before the First Layline. I call it the “Flick ‘em off .” Do everything you would do as if you were gybing (except taking the pole off the mast), including giving the boat a slight roll to windward and pull the boom towards you.

Often this “fake gybe” is enough to send the trailing boat into a real gybe. Then head up, build speed, then do your real gybe with your wind safely behind your opponent. This works best when your opponent is within one length of you.

If you are the trailing boat and are within two or so lengths, here’s the decision progression:

1) If the leader gybes before the First Layline…

a) If you are within two or three lengths, “simo gybe” and then soak into leeward of them (in heavier air) or gybe right back, “cross over” two lengths, and gybe back onto starboard; or
b) If you are within a length or so, simply “cross over”, sail two lengths and gybe. From there, the leader may not be able to gybe and cross you; or if they can, then simply gybe on their wind on port tack, roll them, and gybe back at them on starboard, putting them in “downwind jail.”

2) If the leader gybes on the First Layline on the first downwind leg to the gate, “cross over” two lengths and gybe. You will usually get the left gate mark (looking downwind) and pick up the Starboard Card to begin the next upwind leg,

3) If the leader gybes on the First Layline on the second downwind leg to the finish, “simo gybe”, pull them above the layline, then gybe across their transom, “cross over” and gybe, or soak into leeward of them.

4) If the leader gybes after the First Layline, “simo gybe and roll” them. You will at least get the right gate mark (looking downwind) on the first downwind leg, and will likely win the race if on the second downwind leg to the finishing line.