4/16/2012 - THE DEBRIEF Coaches talk about setting goals – reasonable and achievable goals before a competition. These goals get us to train, practice and fine-tune ourselves and our boats leading up to a regatta.  But what about after the regatta?!  What you do after each competition is just as important as the preparation leading up to it.

2/11/2012 - SAILING A SPORTBOAT UPDATE:  Thanks to the sharp eyes of one of our Melges 24 customers, this article has been modified below when speaking of sailing "bow down" while sailing on the wind (see Understanding the Design).

1/24/2012 - STARTS: Time vs. Distance Here's a quick tip you may not think of when preparing yourself and your crew for getting better starts. It's very easy to practice and will help improve your starts tremendously. How many times have you ended up 15 seconds too early or 10 seconds too late when approaching your desired spot on the line?! This small amount of time can spell the difference between a great start and the dreaded second or third row.

1/1/2012 - SPEED TESTING: Use the Buddy System to Go Faster Speed testing is the quickest way to improve your boat speed and your straight-line sailing technique.  The same principles apply to all types of boat and all levels of sailing ability.

1/1/2012 - CREW ORGANIZATION: Spinnaker Hoists, Jibes & Douses Many sailing articles have been written describing how to perform the perfect jibe or spinnaker set, but rarely do you read exactly what the specific tasks of each crewmember are for those maneuvers.

1/1/2012 - SAIL MAINTENANCE: How to Care for Your Sails Proper sail care and maintenance can increase the life of your new Ullman sails. Whether you race or cruise, proper storage and cleaning affect your speed and sail longevity. Over the last few years, sailcloth has become increasingly stiff.

1/1/2012 - THE GENOA STAYSAIL: A Secret Weapon? In the last few years, I have learned more then I can remember when it comes to sailboat racing. One thing that keeps coming back is this lesson: Genoa Staysails can add a lot of speed to a lot of boats.

1/1/2012 - GENOA TRIM: How to Optimize Power and Pointing Use these rules of thumb for genoa trim as a starting point, then experiment with small changes to see what works best for your boat. WIND RANGES It is important to always follow the recommended wind range for your genoa.

1/1/2012 - MAINSAIL TRIM: Make the Most of your Mainsail Controls Use these rules of thumb for mainsail trim as a starting point, then experiment with small changes to see what works best for your boat.   MAINSHEET & TRAVELER The mainsheet and traveler are the two main controls that help you trim the mainsail upwind to maximum efficiency.

1/1/2012 - MAINSAIL BATTENS Battens have a significant impact on your mainsail's shape and your boat speed. Here is how to select, install and adjust your mainsail's battens to gain a speed edge. On a mainsail, battens are used to support the roach of the sail – the sail area that extends beyond a straight line from the head to the clew of a mainsail.