Wind Shifts

Wind shifts don't stop when you round the windward mark. You need to make the most of wind shifts downwind, just as you do upwind. The trouble is that downwind shifts are trickier than upwind shifts, for a number of reasons. The upside is that if you can figure them out, it will give you a big strategic advantage.

The Main Idea

Wind shift strategy downwind is like upwind shift strategy stood on its head. Instead of sailing the lifted tack, as you do upwind, the objective is to sail on the headed tack‹allowing you to sail more of a reach, rather than a run, to the leeward mark. In oscillating winds this means jibing on the lifts downwind, the reverse of tacking on the headers upwind. In persistent shifts this means sailing away from the shift in order to jibe onto the headed tack later in the leg - the inverse of sailing into the shift and tacking onto the lifted tack upwind. So far so good, but there is more. For starters let's take a closer look at downwind strategy in oscillating and persistent shift conditions.

Fig 6. (above): In oscillating shifts, jibe on the lifts and sail the headed tack - just the reverse of upwind strategy.

Oscillating Shifts

Oscillating winds are winds which are shifting back and forth, oscillating like a pendulum. In oscillating conditions your goal is to sail the headed tack downwind. Once you are on the headed tack, watch for a lift. When you are lifted, jibe to sail headed on the new tack. When you are lifted, jibe again.

Fig 7. (below): To get in phase, note the lifted tack upwind. Assume the opposite tack as you start down the run.

The first step is to get in phase as you round from the windward leg. The best way to do this is to note the headed tack as you approach the windward mark, and then get onto this headed tack at the first opportunity downwind.

Even when you start the leg in phase with the shifts, it is easy to get out of phase or lose track‹wind shifts are difficult to detect when you are sailing downwind. If all else fails, sail the jibe which carries you closest to the mark.

Later we¹ll discuss techniques for detecting shifts‹it can be tricky.

>>ALERT ALERT<< Major Exception:

This persistent shift strategy fails in a building and shifting wind. In that case it is best to sail to the new wind‹wind strength is a more important factor than wind shifts.

(Fig. 9) below: In a building and shifting wind, ignore the shift strategy above. Sail toward the shift. - Get more wind!

Fewer Shifts, Harder to Find

There are a couple of things which make wind shifts more difficult downwind than upwind. One is that they are more difficult to detect. There are several techniques for detecting the shifts, which we discuss more below I promise.

The second difficulty is that there are fewer shifts downwind than upwind. Whoa! Fewer wind shifts downwind than upwind! We sail upwind, and turn and sail the other way, and the windshifts turn off? How can that be? Turn the page, and find out...