When This Tactic Works Best Use wind shadowing at any point during the race in order to overtake a boat in front.
So you have completed the beat or upwind leg and rounded the mark. Most people now just sit and play follow the leader until the next beat.
However, people who want to actually win the race will instead try to get in front of the sailboats ahead. The way to do this is to take advantage of a technique called Wind Shadowing.
In order to do this, your boat must be windward of the boat ahead of you if on a run, and if you are on a reach, you need to try to get windward of the boat in front. Of course, if the sailor ahead of you knows their stuff, they will anticipate your windward maneuver and will try to keep control of their wind by heading up as well, so make sure you are quick on your toes rounding the mark to try and get windward of the boat ahead.
If you are on a run, this technique will cause the boat ahead to slow down, because essentially you are taking their wind by creating a wind shadow in front of your boat. This will cause you to continue to go at the same speed (and take any available gusts), while the boat ahead will keep slowing down as their source of energy disappears.
The only way to overtake a boat downwind is on the windward side, because going the leeward side (despite having the right to call the windward boat to give you room) will mean you are stuck in the other boat’s windward shadow.
Your wind shadow can also have an effect on the beat, but this time you will be in the wind shadow of the boat ahead. In order to overtake the boat ahead, you will need clear air. If you find yourself slowing down or unable to point high, or your sails are flapping, it’s because you’re in somebody’s wind shadow, so tack to get clear air.
Advice •Boat speed is the most important aspect in a race.
•In order to get boat speed, you need clear air.
•In order to get clear air, you need to not be in somebody’s wind shadow.
•In order to overtake the boat ahead, you need to have clear air and get them in your wind shadow.