Olympic Gold medallist Dylan Fletcher talks through leeward mark rounding strategy and how to come out on top with Andy RiceThe leeward mark is one of the biggest pinch points on the race course, with the opportunity for huge gains \u2013 or the risk of enormous losses. Dylan Fletcher says the most important ingredient for a successful leeward mark rounding is to start planning well in advance of the moment. \u201cWhere are you aiming on the next leg? And where does that mean you need to be positioning yourself half way down the run in order to get the correct rounding to execute your longer-term race strategy?\u201d
\nThis is particularly important at a leeward gate when you have a choice of marks, although the same still applies for single leeward marks. Dylan shares his five best tips for making sure you achieve the entry and, more importantly, the clean exit out of the bottom of the race course.
\nPrepare the team
\nMake sure everyone knows the plan well in advance, and that everyone is clear about their job during the drop and the rounding. That includes a plan for if, and when, things go wrong \u2013 for example, if the kite falls in the water during the drop. Who\u2019s going to leave their normal post to get up on the foredeck and help get it back on board?
\nOver time you should aim to build up a playbook, including the timings for how far in advance you should begin the jib hoist and the gennaker drop in, say, 5, 10 and 20 knots of breeze. The more you can turn the rounding into a procedure that runs like clockwork, the more boats you\u2019ll pass.
\nAvoid the slow soak
\nOne of the most critical factors is to make sure you\u2019re coming into the leeward mark zone at a pretty hot angle with good boatspeed for as long as possible. One of the worst scenarios is finding yourself trying to soak down towards the leeward mark with no speed. It\u2019s not so bad with a symmetrical spinnaker where you can square back the pole, although it\u2019s still not ideal. In a bowsprit boat, soaking down from a high angle, going slow with the sails barely filling is tactical death. Don\u2019t be that boat.
\nAvoid the slow soak coming into a mark situation, which can allow the rest of the fleet to get around the outside
\nCome in hot
\nThe ideal approach is broad reaching in towards the mark on starboard, right on layline, or if it\u2019s light winds even slightly below layline. This will enable you to build as much apparent wind as possible which will carry you through the bad air of the boats floating down from to windward of you. Now is your opportunity to make big gains. A drop-gybe on a small to medium-size keelboat is the best manoeuvre, where you\u2019re coming in on starboard below the bulk of the fleet, dropping the kite on starboard side and gybing at the mark then rounding up tight and in the high lane as you exit the mark on to the new windward leg.
\nUse the current
\nCurrent can and will have an enormous effect on the way you approach the leeward mark. When you\u2019re punching against a current that\u2019s flowing upwind, be very cautious about dropping the kite too soon. In anything but strong wind, you can be dropping as you\u2019re turning up around the mark. Don\u2019t allow yourself to get caught in that situation where you\u2019ve dropped early and you\u2019re only just making ground against the current. This is the one time when it\u2019s okay to drop a bit too late and tidy up the mess as you\u2019re being carried upwind on the current conveyor belt.
\nOn the other hand, if the current is carrying you downwind, err on the side of dropping the kite too soon and be absolutely ready to turn upwind as soon as the bow passes the mark. Even if there\u2019s only the tiniest gap between the mark and the boat ahead or on the outside of you, go for the gap! When the current is taking you downwind, once you\u2019re level with the mark, that gap will always open up for you. So don\u2019t be shy, take it.
\nExecuting your exit strategy should set you up well for the next leg. Photo: Sailing energy \/ World Sailing
\nExit strategy
\nWhen you have a choice of gate marks to go around, don\u2019t necessarily be tempted by a biased gate and simply go for the shortest distance every time. A biased gate should be just one minor factor in a number of considerations. The main thing is to give yourself the best chance of a clear lane out to the favoured side of the course.
\nSo if you know it\u2019s a \u2018go left\u2019 course on the upwind legs, most of the fleet will be turning right through the gate and sheeting in on starboard. Rather than fighting for clear air in that long line of boats, a good alternative can be to go around the left-hand mark and tack immediately, or as soon as possible, on to starboard after completing the rounding. Be prepared to put up with some short-term traffic and congestion if it ends up giving you a clean lane in the right direction for the next leg.<\/p>\n
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Olympic Gold medallist Dylan Fletcher talks through leeward mark rounding strategy and how to come out on top with Andy RiceThe leeward mark is one of the biggest pinch points on the race course, with the opportunity for huge gains … <\/p>\n