Which Leeward Gate Mark Do I Round?

I am writing this post from the beach down at South Padre Island in far South Texas.....far, far away from the race course. I am here for a week of fun and family time and have a fair amount of "down-time" so I thought would try and put into words some ideas that I have been kicking around about the leeward mark rounding when using a "gate system".

It seems like lately, almost every regatta that I have sailed has utilized the leeward mark gate system. As a rule on most boats, I don't think quite enough planning probably goes into choosing which leeward mark to round. It seems as if for many boats, it really becomes a last second decision...perhaps one based on what side of the boat the chute is on and which mark provides the easiest way to take it down to round the mark.

The introduction of the leeward gate has really added a new dimension to the game. It has allowed another opportunity for picking off (or losing) boats that really was not afforded with the conventional, single leeward mark, port tack rounding. When behind, it gives the opportunity to split from the leading boat.

In some cases, I think it might make sense to start thinking about the gate rounding on the upwind leg prior to the run. If one side of the course upwind is particularly favored, it will probably make sense to defend the same side of the course downwind and to try and position yourself to round the gate that is closer to the favored side of the course.

If neither side is particularly favored, then I try to go through a mental check list of all of the variables that will impact which gate mark to round.

It goes something like this:

1) Which gate mark appears closest to the course that I am sailing? Usually, the less distance sailed...the better.

2) Which gate mark will allow me the easiest and fastest leeward mark rounding? Trying to make a "bat-turn", jibe-dowse usually is not a very fast way to exit the leeward mark.

3) Which gate mark will allow me to sail in the clearest air immediately after rounding? If you round a leeward mark immediately behind 3 or more boats, the odds are good that a few of the boats will remain on the tack they rounded and at least one boat will quickly tack. This will result in bad air regardless of what tack you choose to stay on, at least for a while.

4) Which gate mark will allow me to avoid the majority of the spinnakers and wind shadow of the fleet that are still sailing downwind? In a big fleet, I think this is really an under estimated consideration.

5) Which gate mark will allow me to to stay in touch with the boat that is my closest competition in the race or perhaps the regatta? If in the lead, it makes picking the correct gate that much more important. The odds are great that your closest competitor behind you will choose the opposite one!

6) If behind, which gate mark will allow me the best chance to escape the inevitable close cover that will come if I follow the boat that is my closest competition in the race or regatta? If behind....try and keep the boat in front of you in the dark as long as you can as to which mark you will round. In fact, consider giving them the impression you are going to round the "non-favored" mark if possible. Maybe you will encourage them to choose poorly.

I think there is a trap that is easy to fall into when choosing which gate to round. It is all too common for the 2nd place boat in the pack that is entering the gate area to automatically choose the opposite gate from the one that the lead boat chooses. While clear air is important, it should not necessarily out-weigh all of the other strategic reasons to possibly follow the lead boat into the rounding.

For example, if there is a very strong reason to be on starboard tack upwind and the right side of the course upwind has had an advantage, I think it is better to follow the lead boat around the port tack gate and to instruct my crew prior to the rounding to be prepared for a tack to starboard as soon as the spinnaker is stowed and the boat is up to speed.

I think this is better than rounding the starboard (while downwind) gate and probably being stuck under the spinnakers that are coming downwind (most probably on the port tack jibe since the port side of run---starboard side of the beat is in phase). This will get me to clear air and also get me in phase with the wind shifts soon after the mark rounding.

Usually, with oscillating wind shifts, with everything else being equal, I would choose the gate mark that allows me to most easily get in phase with the wind shift that results in the best angle to the next windward mark.

There are however, other strategic considerations to think about. For example, in the 2008 J-22 Mid-winters, we had about a 5 point lead over former World Champion, Terry Flynn, going into the last race of the regatta. Unfortunately, we ended up with a bad start and Terry had a pretty good gap of boats in between us on the first run. Instead of staying with Terry and trying to grind down the boats that were between us, we automatically chose the opposite leeward gate mark than the one he had chosen in an attempt to try and get a bunch of boats back...all at one time. Not a very patient approach!

From the history of prior races and the first beat of that last race, the left side of the course upwind had been favored. We ignored this fact and panicked and chose to go the other way. Had we just been patient and followed Terry to the favored side, the odds are good we would have picked up all of the boats that had rounded the port gate and chosen to go to the right side of the beat....and possibly would have preserved our lead and the a regatta win!

In closing....consider running through this mental check list early in the run and keep assessing your situation...all of the way into the gate. Most importantly, constantly verbalize with your team what you are thinking so that no one is caught off guard if the plan changes at the last second. Try to always preserve your flexibility if possible. The odds are that things will constantly be changing based on how the boats in front of you choose to round and be prepared for a last second change of plans.

With all of the chaos, try not to lose site of the bigger picture when choosing which leeward gate mark to round.