The type of boat you’re sailing will influence your decision. If you’re on a boat with an asymmetric spinnaker, you’ll always be reaching downwind. If your boat has a symmetric kite, you can sail deeper by squaring the pole, especially when the breeze is strong. If you can sail deep, it’s more critical to get on the long tack as soon as possible. The zone between the laylines is narrow, and a moderate shift can place you on or outside the laylines if you stray to the edges too early on the run. It’s less critical with an asymmetric spinnaker because, with the wider jibe angles, it will take longer to get to the laylines.

If everyone is sailing wide jibing angles (asymmetric kites, or symmetric kites in light air) it’s easier for a boat behind to “jump you” (jibe when you jibe) and steal your wind. Because one of your primary goals is to keep an open lane for clear air and speed, it’s important to set up yourself to jibe away and not be covered. You can do so by working low on the boat behind, into the ahead-and-to-leeward position. Watch a good match-race team defend its lead: they’ll position themselves in the ahead-and-to-leeward position, and from there they can “match” jibes and keep clear air. It’s often OK to briefly go slightly slower and lower to get into this position on the boat behind to ensure you can jibe away with clear air. If you can work low and go the same speed or faster, life is good, but always keep in mind your goal is to be able to jibe and keep clear air.

As you near the end of the run and boats start converging, it’s important (just as it is at the top mark) to anticipate how everyone will come together. Envision the safest path through the traffic, and keep in mind starboard tack is powerful. Think about which way you want to go on the following leg and which gate you want to round. It goes without saying that it’s best to set yourself up on the inside at the mark so you can have a nice rounding and a clear-lane upwind. We’ll get to that in the next installment.

In summary, you want to sail the headed jibe downwind, in the most pressure while keeping a clear lane. Make sure to anticipate the moves of boats behind you and set yourself up to lead on the long tack with clear air. If you can execute all of those moves, you’ll find yourself passing boats on the downwind legs.

Pro Tips: Essentials of a Good Run
›› Clear air is a must
›› Sail the long tack downwind (the headed jibe, bow pointed to the mark)
›› Stay in the most wind available
›› Anticipate clean lanes, just as you would upwind
›› Lead away from packs
›› Ahead and to leeward of opponents is where you want to be
›› Watch your Windex or tell tales to determine bad air from other boats
›› Sail low if you want to jibe, protect high if you want to keep going

Read Steve Hunt's next installment on rounding the leeward gate.