Great challenge for sailors in Level 2/3 to learn more about boat control, with the added bonus of forcing them to use the tiller extension. Get them to sail upwind normally, then sail backwards from the top mark to the bottom mark.
Teaching Points:
- Point up into the wind, push boom out, and continue steering
- Boat control
- Anticipate
Modifications:
- Change length of course, start out with a very small WW/LW, then gradually increase distance as sailors improve
- Start the drill with just stopping their boat at the top mark by heading up into irons and pushing their boom out for a few seconds. Once they have mastered this, get them to sail backwards
- Backwards races