Sailing Virgins
Racing yacht heeled over with colorful spinnaker flying, crew hiking out during competitive sailing

Sail Faster: Master High-Performance Racing Techniques

Whether you dream of racing regattas or simply want to get more speed from your sails, learn the techniques that separate fast sailors from the pack.

Find Your Course
American Sailing Association Certified Training Facility
ASA CertifiedTraining Facility
Racing ExpertiseRegatta Winners
4.98/5228 reviews
5-7 days
Duration
Racing & Speed
Focus
$3,950
From
Performance Yachts
Boat Type

Is Performance Right for You?

Find out if this course matches your experience level and goals.

Perfect For

  • Experienced sailors wanting to unlock more boat speed
  • Aspiring racing crew looking to join regattas
  • Cruisers seeking better sail trim and efficiency
  • Club racers wanting to level up competitive skills
  • Sailors preparing for offshore racing or regattas
  • Those who love the thrill of sailing at the edge

Prerequisites

ASA 101 or equivalent sailing experience is required. You should be comfortable with basic boat handling, sail changes, and helming in varying conditions. Prior racing experience is NOT required - we start with fundamentals and build up. This is about learning to sail faster, not just racing.

What You'll Achieve

  • Advanced sail trim for maximum speed
  • Spinnaker handling and asymmetric flying
  • Racing starts, tactics, and mark rounding
  • Crew coordination and communication protocols
  • Weather reading for competitive advantage
Crew working together to fly a spinnaker on a high-performance racing yacht

What You'll Learn

Our performance sailing program combines the thrill of speed with technical precision. You will learn the techniques used by professional racing crews - from optimal sail shape to tactical decision-making. Whether your goal is racing regattas or simply sailing faster, these skills will transform how you sail.

Understanding apparent wind and how speed creates more speed
Telltale reading and optimal angle of attack
Jib lead and traveler positioning for different points of sail
Mast bend, backstay tension, and sail shape control
Heel angle management for maximum speed
Weight distribution and crew movement
Upwind VMG optimization (point vs. foot)
Downwind angles and reaching for speed
Spinnaker packing, rigging, and pre-flight checks
Symmetrical spinnaker hoists and douses
Asymmetrical (gennaker) flying techniques
Gybing under spinnaker - smooth and controlled
Pole work and guy/sheet management
Emergency recovery: wraps, hourglasses, and broaches
Crew positions and choreography
Light air vs. heavy air techniques
Pre-race preparation: wind readings, line bias, strategy
Starting techniques: timing, acceleration, position
Windward mark approach and rounding tactics
Layline judgment and covering strategies
Leeward mark tactics and inside overlap rules
Match racing principles and defense/offense
Rules of racing: port/starboard, windward/leeward, room at marks
Protest procedures and sportsmanship

All certifications issued by the American Sailing Association (ASA)

A Day in the Life

Performance courses are hands-on and intensive. Expect to be on the water most of the day, practicing maneuvers until they become second nature. The thrill of speed makes every rep worth it.

07:30Morning weather briefing

Analyze conditions for optimal training

Academic
08:30Rig tuning and setup

Optimize sails for the day's conditions

Active
09:30Upwind drills

Perfect pointing, tacking, and sail trim

High Focus
11:00Spinnaker practice

Hoists, gybes, and douses until smooth

Active
12:30Lunch break on the water

Refuel while reviewing morning performance

Social
13:30Practice race starts

Nail timing, positioning, and acceleration

High Focus
15:00Short course racing

Apply tactics in competitive scenarios

Active
17:00Video debrief ashore

Analyze footage, identify improvements

Academic
18:30Boat care and rig inspection

Maintain equipment to racing standards

Zen
19:30Crew dinner and tactics talk

Bond with your team over sailing stories

Social
Zen
Academic
Active
Social
High Focus
Celebration

Ready to Sail Faster?

Performance sailing transforms how you experience the water. Learn to harness every gust, optimize every tack, and feel the rush of a boat at full power.

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