Team Racing Companion

Chris Atkins has won the UK Team Racing National Championships 3 times and the Wilson Trophy twice. He coached Team GBR to gold at the first ISAF World Team Racing Championships and has twice been chief umpire at the World Championships. He is an international judge and ISAF Umpire Instructor. He coaches and umpires team racing, running coaching sessions for the Optimist Class throughout the world.

• Why go team racing?; Formats; How to overtake; Slowing round the course; Race winning strategy; Controlling the start; Controlling the final beat; The winning habit; Practising; Climbing the ladder; Team roles; The three essential rules; Other important rules; Umpires & being umpired; Race courses & programmes

“For the first time, what every team racer needs - a quick, concise guide to the game. Chris Atkins has distilled years of team racing knowledge to produce this handy guide. As an introduction to the game, there is no match. For those running a sailing programme, this is a great place to start if you are thinking of a weekend of team racing. Totally readable, great diagrams and in a very handy format.” (Bruce Hebbert)“Team racing is often perceived as being overly complex, but this neat little publication from Fernhurst Books does its best to dispel that myth and break the subject down into bitesize chunks. The splashproof flip-book format is easy to flick through and perfect for teams and coaches wanting to refer to points on the go. Authoritatively written by Chris Atkins, a team racing competitor, coach and umpire of some 40 years' experience the book crams heaps of expertise into just 23 pages with diagrams and plenty of summary bullet-pointed sections throughout, ensuring something on every page for every level of experience. After a concise intro to various team racing formats, the book swiftly introduces tactics and team strategy; slowing, controlling, attacking and defending are all broken down and made relevant to each part of the course. It also divulges plenty of golden rules, top team secrets and ideas for practising manoeuvres. Topped off with a thorough explanation of the three most relevant team racing rules, you'd be well-armed going into any team race after having read this book. This is a book that you will keep in your kit bag or pocket and refer to again and again!” (Yachts & Yachting)