Team Racing Offers a Fun, Alternative Version of Sailboat Racing

The San Diego Argonauts have discovered the fun of team racing, pitting teams of two boats against each other in a game of maximum tactics. Commodore Rod Sturgess and WVRCM member Mike Fruciano teamed up to compete as Team Dry Heat. Here's Rod's description of how the game is played.

By Rod Sturgess, WVRCM Commodore

There are two boats on each team. Each race is two against two. Your team wins by not finishing fourth. (Your team can place first and fourth and you lose.) Each race lasts about 7-8 minutes, and each team sails against all the other teams.

This means if you’re in first, it doesn't help your team to sail away to victory. Often you need to slow down to help your teammate so neither of you end up in the deadly fourth position. This means your knowledge of the rules and the ability to use them become as important as boat speed.

In team racing competitors are perfectly willing to slow down to force opponents to slow even more. They do it tactically to let a teammate catch up and pass the slowed opponent.

Races are umpired. Either you or an umpire can claim a foul, but the umpire’s decision is final, and he can administer as many penalty turns as he deems necessary. There are no protests.

In team racing the zone is only two boat lengths in size because getting to a mark first, establishing mark room, and then waiting for a competitor to prevent them from rounding the mark is so powerful ("the mark trap"). Because the zone is smaller, it’s harder to stay in it. Also, rule 18.4 (Gybing in the Zone) is turned off. This rule is better seen in a video than explained but essentially turning it off allows a boat to prevent another boat from rounding the leeward mark.

The racing was all in good fun; no one was taking it too seriously. In San Diego there were about 10 spectators, dubbed "the afterguard" who provided a cheering section and color commentary. They weren’t afraid to call you out with their humor-laced "expertise” that added more comedy to the event.

All in all, the racing is fun and action-packed—and a good way to test how well you know the rules.

Dr. Jim Sears launched a drone to record some of the action.