Stuff to remember - lessons learned and re-learned lately

Pre-race homework: Do a drift-off test before the starting sequence to measure current and how much it pushes you while you are holding your place on the line. 1 min holding your place either at the boat or the pin is good. Repeat the tests if the current is strong.

When you want to go right after the start, but you can't quite tack and cross, force the issue by tacking and lee bowing.  Don't forget that the tack and duck can be a totally valid option - maybe better in windy conditions.

Upwind tactics: You may choose to cross a pack of boats instead of leading them back. If you cross them, you must go at least 5 boat lengths past them. This eliminates the possibility that you lose your lane due to a shift or the other boats pointing higher than you. this is especially important when racing against people who are lighter than you, and even more important if it is also light wind.

Be more routine about clearing mainsheet in approach to windward mark.

Windward mark bear-aways. Initiate with mainsheet dump, and move weight back, ready to move to leeward.

Downwind wave surfing: initiate the down turn with mainsheet ease. Often this means easing the sheet as soon as you are finishing your up turn. Easing sheet early allows you to move your body more over the centerline of the boat so you are ready to press to leeward as soon as you reach a by-the-lee angle. Finish the down turn with a reverse pump and press to leeward to accelerate down the wave.

Leeward mark rounding tactics: When approaching the mark overlapped outside of another boat, know which way you want to go upwind. If you want to go left, slow down and round behind in a high lane so you pin them from tacking, and you can tack freely. If you want to go right, it can work to force them in to a tight slow rounding while you maintain great speed and round low, blowing through their lee. This can only work if you get up a huge head of steam and are bow forward on them. If you can fake them into doing a defensive, tight, slow rounding, then it is better. Works best if it is very windy or very light so the inside boat stalls. When you are the inside boat, pay attention to what the outside boat is trying to do and don't let them get the advantage.

If you would like to learn more about my Olympic campaign in the Laser Radial, click here: