RS Tera National Squads 25/26 Weekend 2 - Draycote SC

Dylan Collingbourne
Dec 4
3 min read

The second weekend at Draycote, we had the goal on focusing on how to get ahead early in the race and how to maintain the lead. We highlighted the “pinch points” around the race course and if we can gain in these to get ahead, the race will become much easier.

Start smart: "Popping out"

A strong race begins before GO. We are looking to “Pop out ahead”. To do this we need to:

Get a good trigger pull: You must hit the line at speed, with the boat fully set up and accelerating into clear air.
Know the favoured end: Pin = better for going left. Committee boat = often better for the right. The middle keeps your options open.
Options win races: Even if you don’t tack immediately after the start, you should be able to by popping out. Holding the tack as an option means you can stick to your race plan rather than reacting to others.

Shift-Based Decisions

Once off the line, your nose tells you what to do:

Bow-to-bow: If you're even with the boat next to you, a right shift lets you keep gaining.
Bow-to-stern: If you're slightly behind, look for a left shift to tack out and cross cleanly.

If there's no shift, the priority is simply, pop out in front and maintain your lane.

Windward mark: set up early

Good roundings start well before you’re near the zone. We want to plan in the top third of the beat, not in the final five boat lengths.

Key points:

Choose your side: Do you want the port or starboard lay line? Which one suits your strategy and the conditions?
Stay in the “corridor of opportunity”: Avoid overshooting the lay line — you’re relying on a lift that may never come.
Controls off early: Going back to our routines as it needs to be a smooth rounding to help extend our lead.
SUPERMAN! Use windward heel to roll the boat into the turn.
Find a clean lane downwind on the side that fits your plan.

Leeward mark: routine & set plays

Just like upwind, the work starts early — this time in the bottom third of the run:

Pick your gate: Which side sets you up for the next beat? Where’s the traffic?
Gybe early if needed to secure your approach.
Call for room confidently when you have it.
In wide, out tight for a clean, quick rounding.

Set Play: Controlling the Fleet Behind

If you round a leeward mark comfortably ahead:

Count how many boat lengths you lead by.
Sail straight for half that distance.
Tack.
Sail for the other half.
Tack again once the boat behind rounds.

The leeward mark corridor: the rules

We visualised the mark-room zone as a corridor for the inside boat.

If an outside boat enters the corridor = no mark room given.
If the inside boat exits the corridor = rules change (W/W & L/W apply).

Knowing this makes decision-making cleaner and reduces risk at one of the highest-congestion areas on the track.

Takeaway: Win the Pinch Points

During starts, windward mark roundings, and leeward marks, we are able to gain more and by managing the fleet we can encourage success. Another strong training block for the Performance Academy and look forward to goal setting for 2026 and having further focus to next year at our next training weekend.

For questions or extra insight, get in touch at dylan@apexsailing.co.uk or follow @apex_sailing on Instagram and Facebook.