Reading Water and Wind

Use visual cues to anticipate power changes and shifts.
Awareness All levels

Overview

Ripples, darker patches, and flags indicate gusts/lulls. Anticipate by pre-trimming and steering early.

Objectives

  • Identify gust lines vs. calm patches.
  • Pre-trim and pre-steer.
  • Hold steady heel through changes.

Key Concepts

  • Gust lines
  • Lulls
  • Shifts and paired adjustments

Drills

  1. Call out gusts 3s early and ease at impact.
  2. In lulls, bear away a touch.
  3. Practice paired course-trim changes.

Common Mistakes

  • Reacting late.
  • Over-trimming in lulls.
  • Ignoring small shifts.
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