Does sailboat racing seem mysterious or off limits? Have you tried racing but wondered what was going on most of the time? Does racing seem like a foreign language? Do you find yourself at the back most of the time?

In this introductory seminar‚ Nick Hayes will walk through the fundamentals of sailing a boat in a race‚ highlighting situations that may arise and‚ importantly‚ the thinking that goes into preparation‚ crew coordination and on-the-water decisions. This course will build up from geometry‚ strategy and rules‚ and then explain the fundamental tactics based on those factors. It is the first in a two-part series‚ setting the stage for "Next Level Racing Tactics".

Newcomers are welcome‚ but basic sailing skills — points of sail‚ common maneuvers and boat handling experiences — are suggested.