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Rules & Tactics
PERFORMANCE RACE SEMINARS
Powered By North U
Tactics are dictated by the Rules. At this American Sailing Performance Racing Seminar powered by North U you’ll learn how the rules create rights, obligations, and opportunities. Taking place all across North America, these in-person seminars involve a full day of classroom-based instruction. The interactive presentations are taught by experienced North U sailing coaches.
Complex issues were described clearly in a manner that was both easy to understand and in depth.
JD
The instructors grasp of the material and informal manner put the class at ease and allowed for great interaction. Tremendous knowledge and entertaining too!
J. Franklin
Why Attend A Seminar?
In-person seminars offer personal interaction with instructors. You can ask questions, seek clarifications, and get feedback tailored to your needs and skill level. Seminars also provide an opportunity to engage with the sailing community and make connections with other local sailors.What Will I Learn?
This Rules and Tactics seminar will teach how the rules create rights, obligations, and opportunities all the way around the course. We'll cover starts, upwind legs, downwind legs, and mark roundings and for each, we'll break down the rules and tactics that will help get you to the podium.Who Should Take This Seminar?
This seminar is geared toward sailors of all levels. If you're new to racing this course will introduce you to the rules, and the tactics, to help you be competitive. For those more experienced racers, there are plenty of in-depth discussions of rules, and different scenarios, plus lots of tips & tricks that you can use to improve your results.Powered by North U
North U has been the leader in performance sailing courses since 1980. Their programs offer the latest in sailing techniques in an engaging interactive format that makes the course fun and effective. North U seminars feature great instructors – expert sailors with years of teaching experience.Rules as Tactical Tools
This seminar takes an in-depth look at key areas around the race course and demonstrates how the rules can be used as a tactical tool in various scenarios. The presentation includes spectacular videos of many of the tactical situations being discussed. Common scenarios are analyzed from the perspective of each boat. You’ll see how to play through the moves and counter-moves to get to your best solution.
Rules & Tactics at the Starts
Starts can be chaos, but a good start can set you up for an even better finish. Learn how to make order of the frenzy. Success in these fast-paced and changing situations depends on a clear understanding of regular and special rules that apply at starts.
- Regular Rules at Starts
- Special Rules at Starts
- Transitions, Rights, Obligations
- Changes at the gun
- Avoiding Common Starting Pitfalls
Rules & Tactics on the Upwind Legs
How hard can it be? There are only two choices: Keep going or tack. Learn how to position yourself versus rivals to create opportunities to gain while minimizing potential losses. Understand tactical positioning across the fleet, and how to attack and defend in one-on-one battles.
- Port Starboard (and Starboard Port)
- Two Boat Scenarios
- Three Boat Scenarios
- Positioning Relative to Groups of Boats
- Control
- Freedom
- How to Attack! Defend!
- Quality Tactical Communication
Rules & Tactics on the Downwind Legs
Explore reaching and running tactics where the trailing boats attack and leaders defend! We’ll look at how to attack, how to defend, and how to extend.
- Port Starboard (and Starboard Port)
- Windward / Leeward
- Overtaking and Rule 17
- Attacking at arm's length
Rules & Tactics at the Marks
Learn the many tactics for fast and smart windward and leeward mark approaches, roundings and exits, including leeward gates and finishing line tactics. You’ll see how a clear understanding of the rules can pay big dividends as the crowds converge at each rounding. We'll cover a variety of common scenarios and will review the rights and obligations of each boat as the situations evolve. You’ll leave with an understanding of mark rounding priorities that will allow you to quickly assess any situation.
- Windward Mark approach, rounding, exit tactics
- Leeward Mark approach, rounding, exit tactics
- Tactics at Leeward Gates
- Finishing Tactics Upwind and Downwind
YOUR INSTRUCTORS
DAVE PERRY
Dave has been actively working in the sport of sailing since 1977 and was inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2020. Dave’s racing prowess is but the half of it. He is a masterful instructor and coach with decades of experience training and mentoring sailors. He has led hundreds of seminars and has been an author and instructor for the North U Rules & Tactics seminars for many years. [READ MORE]
ANDREW KERR
A veteran North U Seminar leader, Andrew combines outstanding teaching skills with practical real-world insights derived from his championship experience as both skipper and crew. Andrew is a winner at every level – from dinghies to small and large keelboats, round-the-buoys, and over distance, in local, national, and world championships. His racing prowess combined with his easy, approachable teaching style have earned him renown as a seminar leader. [READ MORE]
