Tactics – Playing Shifts

 Concept of Ladder Rungs

 Strategy & Tactics
Ladder Rungs can help you think
about…..
 Where to start
 Who is ahead
 Which tack is lifted
 Positioning for wind shifts
Question…..
Assume…..
Starting line is perpendicular to the wind
The wind wont shift
Windward mark off centre

Which boat will sail the shortest distance

to the mark?

Blue
Red
Both sail the same distance
 Picture the course as a set of lines
perpendicular to the wind or ladder
rungs
 When sailing close hauled with no wind
shifts
All boats sail the same distance between the
same rungs
Where you start or finish on a rung, does not
effect the distance sailed
Question
Who is ahead?

Boats A & B are even

Boats C & D are even
A & B are ahead of C & D

If the top mark is moved to

the left, is the answer the
same?
Using the ladder rungs, which is the
favoured end of the line?

How can you tell ?

The pin end is on a higher

ladder rung and therefore
is favoured.

If you point the boat head

to wind on the line, the bow
will point closer to the
favoured end.

Don't look at the top mark

to decide.
Wind Shifts
If the wind shift to the right,
which boat will be ahead?

A, B or neither?

B is now on a higher ladder

rung and gains on A
If the wind shifts right,
which boat will gain the
most?
The boat closest to the shift gains the most.
.......furthest from the shift, loses the most
............in the middle, minimize gains & loses.
Summary
 Use wind direction and ladder rungs
concept, to
Identify the favoured end of the line
Are you ahead or behind
On the lifted tack
Position for the next shift
Risk management, left or right side

 Don’t forget....boat speed & strategy