Why you’re not fast on the reach (and what to do about it)

It is surprisingly common to see boats lose precious ground on the reach—sometimes without even realising it. Yet for a leg that often seems “set and forget,” there's plenty of performance left on the race course. Here’s why you might be slow on the reach and how to fix it.

1. Adjust your sail for apparent wind

The apparent wind direction changes dramatically on the reach, especially as boat speed increases. If you're still trimmed like you're on a close-hauled course or simply holding your jib and main where they were set downwind, you're bleeding speed.

Fix: Pay attention to both twist and depth. Ease sheets enough to power up, but don't overdo it. Watch the telltales, particularly upper ones, and keep the flow attached at all times without stalling.

2. Check your fore and aft trim

Trim has a huge influence on balance and wetted surface area. On reaches, sailors often forget that subtle changes in heel and trim can either unstick the boat or bog it down.

Fix: Move weight aft and slightly to windward to lift the bow and reduce drag, especially in flatter water. In choppy conditions, you may need to stay more central to maintain grip and balance. Practice “active trim” by constantly adjusting.

3. Play the controls

Kicker, downhaul, outhaul and the mainsheet often get set for the beat or run—and forgotten. But on a reach, you may need to depower slightly or increase twist depending on pressure and angle.

Fix: Use the kicker to control leech tension and twist, especially in gusts. A tight vang helps project the main when reaching high in breeze. Loosen it in lighter winds or if you're soaking lower. Don’t be afraid to adjust cunningham and outhaul to flatten or power up the sail based on feel, but do it quicker to keep trim back in the boat.

4. Are you on the correct angle

Some sailors instinctively sail too high on the reach, trying to "point" at the next mark rather than maintaining optimal VMG. Others soak low and slow, losing time in displacement mode.

Fix: Find the mode that keeps the boat planing, or at least moving at max hull speed. Angle should be a balance between speed and distance sailed. In planning conditions, it can pay to sail slightly higher to maintain speed.