High Performance Racing

Previously successful in their own right, John Merricks and Ian Walker teamed up in 1993 and have since dominated the competitive world of 470 sailing. Their combined experience is remarkable: 1994 IYRU World Doublehanded Champions 420 World Champions International 14 World Champions 470 European Champions 10 National Titles (470, Fireball, 420, Mirror, Crebbin Cup) Winners of nine 470 World Cup regattas Britain's 470 representatives at 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta - Silver medal winners

Introduction. Part 1: Preparation. Preparing the boat. The sails. Sail controls. The crew. Food and drink. Mental fitness. Part 2: Boathandling. Tacking. Bearing away. Spinnaker work. Asymmetrics. 360 and 720 turns. Capsizing. Part 3: Technique & Boatspeed. Upwind. Very light airs. Light/medium winds. Medium/strong winds. Very strong/survival weather. Two-boat turning. Downwind. The theory of apparent wind. Asymmetric spinnaker technique. Setting up the rig. The centreboard dilemma. Reaching with the asymmetric. Tactical tips. Part 4: The Racing. The old Olympic Course. The Olympic Trapezoid. The start. First beat. The inner loop. The leeward mark. The second beat. Top reach. Second run. The Windward-Leeward (Super-Cup) Course. Gates. The finish line. Rules. Championship Strategy. Risk management. Play to strengths and minimise weaknesses. Part 5: Planning To Succeed. What is a goal ? The team. Time and money management. Equipment. Learning. Conclusion.