Lee-Bow a Crossing Boat
Tack onto a crossing port-tacker's lee bow — landing just ahead and to leeward — so your bad air slows them and forces them to tack away, handing you control of the lane.
When a boat is crossing close ahead and you want to keep your side of the course, the lee-bow tack is the tool. Time your tack so you land just ahead and slightly to leeward of their bow: only from there does your dirty air fall onto their sail, pinching and slowing them until they have to tack away. The moment they tack, you've forced them off your favoured side and you lead the lane. Precision is everything — too far back and you just sit in their bad air; too close and you foul them. Aim for close but clear: stern near their bow, never overlapping. And if you can simply cross ahead with room to spare, do that instead — crossing clean is faster than the slow-down a lee-bow costs you both.
Opens the animation on the boat-length grid — run it well, then brief it from the same picture. Free, no account needed.
What to call out
- Time the tack to land just ahead and to leeward of their bow, because only there does your bad air bite.
- Use it to force a rival off your favoured side, because making them tack hands you control of the lane.
- Don't lee-bow if you can simply cross ahead, because crossing clean is faster for you.
- Be precise — close but legal, because too far back wastes it and too close fouls them.