Sail the Long Tack First
When the course is skewed, sail the long tack — the one that points nearer the mark — first. It keeps you centred with options while the short tack shoves you to a layline dead-end.
On any course that isn't dead square, one tack points more at the windward mark than the other — that's the long tack, and you should sail it first. Sailing the long tack first keeps you near the middle of the course with the freedom to play shifts on either side, and it always leaves the short tack in reserve to finish on. Burn the short tack early instead and you get shoved straight to a layline, where you're committed with no options left to use. Identify the long tack off the start, ride it up the centre, and lead back toward the middle on it later for a clean, flexible approach.
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
- Identify the long tack and sail it first, because its heading points more at the mark and it keeps you centred with options.
- Avoid burning the short tack early, because it shoves you to a layline dead-end with nothing left to play.
- Stay centred until late, because from the middle you can play shifts on either side.
- Lead back toward the middle on the long tack later, because that sets up a clean, flexible final approach.