Speed Tips from Jud Smith

This was first published in the October 2010 Newsletter. In spite of races being cancelled due to a lack of wind, Jud Smith treated the fleet to a comprehensive de-brief. Thank you to Jud and to JP Zonnenberg for lending out his inflatable as an observation platform. Some of Jud’s observations included: In General Establish … Read more

Crewing – 3 Keys to Success

This piece originally appeared in the May 2012 Fleet 5 newsletter. By Elise Mazareas Elise Mazareas co-owns 1360 with Joe Fava. She is one of Fleet 5’s top crews and can be seen driving every once in a while as well. Elise was an All-American crew at Boston College and was awarder Fleet 5’s Richie … Read more

Big Fleet Starts

This first appeared in a newsletter by Charlie Pendleton So, as of press time, we’re at 31 32 boats registered for Race Week. That’s about twice the average we see during an MRA Saturday and it’s going to be a BIG factor on the starting line. I promise you that there will be teams that tell … Read more

Defense vs Offense: A Game of Inches

This was first published in the October 2010 Newsletter. By Charlie Pendleton This year’s National Championship was determined by a point. ONE POINT! When sailing in regattas like Race Week, the East Coasts or the Nationals, points are precious. Nothing is more frustrating than getting “nipped at the finish? – losing a boat that you … Read more

Sailing Downwind: How Low Can You Go?

This was first published in the September 2010 Newsletter. by Charlie Pendleton Most sailors are highly tuned in to upwind strategy and tactics, but many mistakenly treat runs as a parade and an opportunity to catch a breather. Downwind sailing is just as tactical as upwind sailing and provides opportunities for big gains. Taking advantage … Read more

Rounding the Weather Mark

This was first published in the August 2010 Newsletter. by Charlie Pendleton With Race Week in the rearview mirror and, by my count, 15 weather mark roundings, it’s a good opportunity to discuss getting around the windward mark. It is a seemingly simple maneuver, but there is a lot to consider! Lay lines, tactics, current, … Read more

Why Wait Until Race Day to Start Racing?

This was first published in the April 2010 Newsletter. by Charlie Pendleton Racing starts before you’re on the water. And sailing, like most sports, favors repetition. With repetition, things become second nature. You’re less prone to make a mistake or forget something critical and you’re more likely to make good decisions faster. With that in … Read more