What’s new on thefinalbeat.com?
Find all the latest additions to the site here
Added 19th February 2023
Laylines for Dinghy Sailing
There’s more to laylines in sailing than you might think. Here we have a look at everything you need to know, with some simple tips and tricks to help you get it right every time.
Added 11th February 2023
Racing to Win – Leeward Gates and Leeward Marks
The leeward mark or leeward gate is a very important part of any race. You can stand to gain or lose a lot of positions in a very short space of time if you get it right or wrong – so practising this area has the potential to improve your results quite a lot. Learn more about how to improve here.
Added 11th February 2023
Sunfish
The Sunfish dinghy is a hugely popular single-hander, ideal for beginners but with a hugely competitive racing scene. Everything you need to know about the boat and how to sail it fast can be found here.
Added 6th January 2023
Averting a Death Roll
Averting a death roll is very satisfying, and knowing you can do it will also give you the confidence to learn to sail fast downwind. Here’s how to do it.
Added 6th January 2023
“The Desire to Sail Well…”
One of my favourite quotes: “The desire to sail well often results in winning; The desire to win rarely results in sailing well”. Here’s why.
I almost always remember to pack one of these
Added 6th January 2023
Approaching the Leeward Mark – The Tactical Considerations
There’s a lot to be gained (and lost) at the leeward mark, and approaching the leeward mark correctly is the first step to a successful upwind leg. Read all about it here.
Added 6th January 2023
Approaching the Windward Mark – The Tactical Considerations
You need to have your head out of the boat approaching the windward mark to assess how the fleet is shaping up and where you will fit in. Read all about it here.
Added 6th January 2023
Tuning to Win by Ian Pinnell
You’ll be sorry to hear that this last month has been rather difficult for me. The reason for this difficulty is that, until this month, I had been sure of three things in my life. And one by one, these certainties have been stripped away.
The first certainty was…read on here
Added 6th January 2023
420 Dinghy
The International 420 is a two-handed trapeze dinghy with a main, jib and spinnaker.
Designed in 1959 by Christian Maury, who also designed the Olympic class 470, it is easier to sail than its more high performance relation. It rewards good teamwork, and is commonly regarded as an excellent youth and club boat that also provides a stepping-stone to Olympic sailing.
Learn all about it here.
Added 6th January 2023
Books for Sail Tuning and Sail Trimming
Good sail tuning and sail trim are essential to being quick around the racetrack. These books are the best for improving these skills quickly.
Added 6th January 2023
Ballyholme Yacht Club
Ballyholme Yacht Club is a thriving sailing club. It is friendly as well as competitive, offering something for all levels. Find out more about the club here.
Added 5th January 2023
Boat Cleaning Products for Dinghies
Boat cleaning is not top of most sailors list of things to do, but a clean boat is generally a quick boat. These items make the job easier.
Added 5th January 2023
Bowmoor Sailing Club
Bowmoor Sailing Club is a family friendly club with a great dinghy racing scene and a well-resourced training programme. Find out more about the club here.
Added 5th January 2023
Annandale Sailing Club
Annandale Sailing club is a friendly club with a competitive dinghy racing scene as well as great social sailing. Find out more about the club here.
Added 5th January 2023
Candlewood Yacht Club
The Candlewood Yacht Club has been dedicated to sailing for over 80 years and is a family oriented club, focused on fellowship and racing. Find out more about the club here.
Added 28th February 2022
Protecting Your Space
Having a space to leeward to accelerate into is vital to get a good start. Here’s how to create and protect that space, so you can begin the race with your nose already in front.
Added 25th February 2022
Racing to Win – Accelerating Off the Line
Accelerating off the line at the start is arguably the most important skill you can have in order to get consistently good sailing starts.
Added 24th February 2022
The Port Tack Flier
The port tack start is not for the faint hearted, relying on bravery, brinkmanship, quick and bold decision-making, and excellent timing. Want to give it a go? Here’s how…
