Olympic Sailing Team members Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea reveal their downwind tactics secrets. There’s plenty of good stuff here for all levels of racers. Need a better way to decide how to exit the windward mark? Want a good tool to assess clear air, downwind laylines, and quickly recognize shifts? Want to learn how to avoid gybing into bad air? It’s all here.
A more thorough debrief of the content is available at SailZing.com or watch the full video here. Use the timings in the video description to go directly to the topics that interest you or read a summary of the key insights below.
The Fast Forward series is a partnership between the ILYA and SailZing.com featuring Roble/Shea Sailing and other top sailors. The videos are edited recordings of live webinars conducted in spring 2020.
OUTLINE & VIDEO TIMINGS - Downwind Tactics
- Strategic priorities based on wind conditions (00:01:26)
- Focus areas for each third of the leg (00:03:24)
- Questions to ask as you approach the windward mark (00:04:15)
- Exiting the mark: gybe or continue? (00:08:38)
- Q&A (00:12:48)
- Why a Windex/telltales are must-have tools for downwind (00:19:25)
BUY SailZing StayTales wind indicators at sailzing.me/StayTales
- After the exit - tips for sailing fast (00:24:28)
- Tactical moding - thinking ahead for clear air (00:30:37)
- Leeward mark approach - avoid the cone of death (00:40:03)
- Choosing the gate (00:44:05)
- Downwind finish tips (00:49:07)
- Downwind rules - Rule 18.4 doesn’t apply at a gate (00:57:14)
- Q&A (01:03:11)
MORE INFORMATION - Downwind Tactics
Velocity Made Good (VMG) - Definition and Application - sailzing.me/ovd
Downwind Strategy Mistakes: Four Ways to Get Passed - sailzing.me/v12
Leeward Gate Tactics: 8 Tactical IQ Scenarios - sailzing.me/jj6
ABOUT THIS SERIES
The ILYA, Roble/Shea Sailing, and SailZing.com are partnering to develop a series of videos for youth sailors with insights from US Olympic Sailing Team & ILYA members, Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea. The videos are edited recordings of live webinars conducted in spring 2020.
ROBLE-SHEA SAILING
Keep up with Steph and Maggie’s campaign and consider donating.
Roble-Shea Sailing - www.roblesheasailing.com/
ILYA foundation - donate here or directly at Roble-Shea website - ilya.org/
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