04/06/2026
The difference between a podium finish and the middle of the pack usually happens 10 minutes before the starting gun.
We talk a lot about sail trim, but strategy is where the physical meets the mental. Are you playing the shifts, or are you chasing the fleet? On a crowded line, the "perfect" start isn't always at the favored end, often it’s where you have the lanes to breathe and the height to hold your own.
Pro Tip: Next time you’re on the upwind leg, stop looking at your telltales for a split second. Look at the horizon. (or if possible, have your tactician or crew do the looking) If the pressure is building on the left, but the fleet is stacked right, fortune favors the bold who find the clean air first.
What’s your go-to move when the breeze gets shifty? Do you stick to the plan or follow your gut? Let us know.