Speed & Smarts.

US Sailing members get access to special editions of America’s Cup winning tactician David Dellenbaugh’s newsletter Speed and Smarts.

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Below is an excerpt on developing a strong pre-start strategy.

Your strategy is an invaluable guide to keep you on the right track throughout your race. It must be in place when you come off the starting line, and this means you have to begin working on your gameplan well before the start of the race.

There are many things you should consider when putting together a gameplan. Here is a simple three-step process you can use before the start of any race to come up with a solid strategy. The steps are explained in greater detail throughout the rest of this issue.

Step 1: Figure Out What the Wind is Doing

I’ve put the wind in Step 1 because it is often the most crucial strategic factor. In most races, even a small change in the wind can produce a big change in the results. That’s why, in most cases, you should think about the wind more than other strategic factors. The wind is almost always changing in both direction and velocity, and you must consider this when making up your game plan.

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