Windward/leewards make great collectors, as well as the next upwind step for Level 1s after a windward triangle. They are fantastic because they are very easily modified for many teachable moments.
Teaching Points:
- Sail in the corner of the boat for Close Haul
- Sail all the way out for Run, wing-on-wing for doublehanded
- Telltales
- Body Position
- Keeping the boat flat
- Laylines
Modifications:
- For Level 1, give them the challenge to get up to the top mark in 1 tack. This teaches them laylines without them knowing, as well as teaching them they need distance and speed to get upwind, the less tacks the better
- For Level 2/3, you can tell them to do a specific number of tacks/gybes around the course, eg. 5
- For more advanced, you can tell them first lap 1 tack/gybe, second lap 3, third lap 5, fourth lap 7, and repeat
- Slalom
- Stop/Go on the whistle
- Increase/decrease size of course depending on focus