Speed & Smarts is a bi-monthly newsletter packed with tips to improve your racing performance. It's written by winning AC tactician David Dellenbaugh, and each issue has 16 pages full of instructional advice on tactics, strategy, speed, boathandling and rules (plus there's no advertising!).
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David Dellenbaugh, winning Americas Cup tactician, is the author of Speed & Smarts and Learn The Racing Rules.
Find clear air and pressure
When you are racing downwind in light air, there is one thing that should always be foremost in your strategic plan – doing everything possible to stay in areas of more wind velocity. Any boat that gets into better pressure will be able to sail faster and lower, which is why boats make such big gains (and losses) during light-air runs. There are two ways of staying in good velocity. The first is to spend time in puffs and avoid lulls. The second is to keep your air clear and stay out of the extensive, damaging wind shadows created . . .
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