Here s a good book to dip into if you spend long hours on the rail. The 44 articles have been culled from ... SAIL magazine and they add up to a valuable source of go-faster tips. Each piece stands alone in an easily digestible chunk (about four pages), occasionally with a diagram. The 34 authors include hotshots such as Ed Baird, past laser world champ and coach to the kiwis successful America's Cup bid, Tom Whidden, North Sales supreme and America's Cup sail expert, and Brad Dellenbaugh, top tactician and coach. Subject areas range from sail trim basics to cruising set-ups to spinnaker handling to modern materials and, closest to Y&Y reader's hearts, racing. There are some neat ideas here, such as tricks to speed up roll tacking and roll gibing, a controlled gibing technique which keeps the boat going fast. Another good article is on how to spot and use gusts and windshifts, which takes many sailors a considerable time to master and yet offers big-time racing gains. One of the finer racing pieces is Brad Dellenbaugh's Finding the Upwind Passing Lanes, which promises even with a bad start, you can get back into the race. Brad, you're talking the right language here... After describing favored side options, passing techniques and layline strategy, Brad sums up by saying: The next time you find yourself somewhere back in the fleet in the cheap seats, don't yell, pout or whine. Get yourself and your crew psyched. Stick to the tactics and guidelines I've mentioned and start grinding down the competition ahead of you. That s how the top sailors do it. This tactical advice is all mixed in with sail trim and how to get the best from your boat, which is music to the racing man's ears. Elsewhere in the book, there's some excellent cruising trim advice, plus tips on catching a tow downwind from another boat and getting maximum speed from asymmetrics.
