Downwind Sailing - Do It Better

I think that I've read at least a hundred times to 'not crack open a beer at the windward mark'. I know that I'm supposed to stay focussed, play every shift, use minimal rudder, stay focussed, and stay focussed. While I fully believe all of this stuff that I've read to be true and would love to do all of this, sometimes that beer just tastes too good, or maybe I've got a five boat leg lead or am trailing by even further.

Sometimes I just feel "safe" and feel that I'll just easily maintain this position for the downwind leg and can use the upwind leg to make up the difference or extend. I think part of me not fully appreciating how to get the most out of a downwind leg is the simple fact that I haven't seen, with my own eyes, many people actually sail a good downwind leg. The fact is, no matter how many of us read all about it, very few people practice what is preached.

All that said, I think there definitely are those who maximize their downwind performance...and you can find these people on an olympic podium near you. Simply stated, the best downwind sailors are the best sailors. Tough to believe, but I would bet that the person on the podium may not always be the best upwind sailor, but more often than not they are clearly the best downwind sailor. I know, I know, I'm just repeating what's been said a million times. Well, take a look at this video of Andrew Campbell, the 2008 US Olympic Laser sailor, sailing downwind... actually, he's PRACTICING!...this isn't even the real deal. What you'll see is a guy trying to get every last bit out of each wave, each puff, and every little shift. While admittedly, you probably can't do the same thing in a 40' keel boat as a laser, you'd be surprised at how much you will be able to gain by using the waves to your advantage and keeping your VMG up with every wind shift. Anways, enough blabbering, take a look at the video.

Hopefully you now have a little appreciation for what all of those articles on downwind sailing are trying to tell you. I think this example is a little extreme and you probably won't make huge gains by steering your boat all over the course downwind, but you get the idea. The best sailors work hard and get every inch out of their boat when sailing downwind. Hopefully, as they say, videos and pictures are worth a thousand words, and you have a little larger appreciation for what it takes to be fast. I know I've certainly gained some insight, and I'm working on developing the sail this fast and focussed while enjoying my frosty beverage at the same time scheme. Unfortunately, I don't foresee much success in this, so I'll stick w/ saving the drink for after the race is over and pay more attention to my downwind tactics.

Read some more about downwind sailing by searching the article database... guarantee you'll find something interesting in there.