01 / BEARING↗
Wind & reciprocal
WINDWARD080°
LEEWARD260°
Bearings are magnetic or true only if the whole team uses the same convention.
The field guide for better racecourses
Put the course
where it belongs.
Practical guidance, quick calculations and proven routines for mark layers working club racing through to national events.
Built for wet hands, bright sunlight and patchy signal.
COURSE VIEWTRAPEZOID / 70°
70°REACH0.80NM BEAT04MARKS
Deck tools
Answers, without the maths.
Fast reference calculations for planning and on-water confirmation. Always apply the Race Officer’s instructions and local conditions.
02 / TIMING◷
Leg duration
10.7minutes
A planning estimate; class speed changes with wind, sea state and tide.
03 / GROUND TACKLE⌁
Warp estimate
39metres of warp
Estimate only. Increase for tide, waves, poor holding or event instructions; check local practice.
Core practice
The five disciplines
A fast drop is useful. A repeatable, communicated and verified drop is what makes racing fair.
Read the course
Build the picture before moving: mean wind, oscillation, pressure, tide, depth, hazards and the class target time.
Navigate precisely
Agree true or magnetic, use a stable reference, approach on a planned track and cross-check GPS with compass and sight lines.
Set cleanly
Prepare warp before arrival, keep lines clear of crew and propeller, lower—never throw—the anchor, then stream the mark.
Verify position
Let the system settle. Recheck bearing, range, gate symmetry, mark visibility and drift. Report actual—not intended—position.
Stay race-ready
Watch wind and current, remain clear of competitors, anticipate changes and keep a rapid recovery or relay plan ready.
Operational checklists
Nothing important left ashore.
Before launch
Before the first signal
After racing
!
Non-negotiable
People before precision.
A mark boat is part of the event’s safety system. Wear the kill cord and appropriate PFD, keep crew inside the boat, prevent warp entering the propeller, maintain a lookout, and stop the task if conditions exceed the boat or crew’s safe limits.
New field guides
Build a better mark boat.
Role-based equipment advice with manufacturer specifications separated from practical judgement. No paid placements.
Navigation
Choosing a GPS
GPSMAP 79s versus 67, legacy units, setup and on-water technique.
Read guide →Wind
Anemometers
Kestrel versus WeatherFlow, clean-air readings and reporting discipline.
Read guide →Boat setup
Three RIB layouts
Two-person, three-person and dedicated gate or pin-boat arrangements.
Read guide →Source library
Go deeper.
Authoritative guidance first, then specialist tools. External material remains owned and maintained by its publisher.
01
PRIMARY GUIDE
↗02World Sailing Race Management Manual
International guidance on race management, course setting, mark boats, equipment and consistent practice.
COURSE GEOMETRY
↗03RYA Speed Charts & Trapezoid Tables
Reference-system tables for 60° and 70° trapezoids, developed for repeatable GPS-based laying.
COURSE DESIGN
↗04RYA Course Diagrams
Standard course signals and clear diagrams for communicating the course competitors will sail.
TRAINING
↗05RYA Mark Layer Pathway
UK competencies, experience requirements and progression from regional to national-level work.
SPECIALIST TOOL
↗06SetCourses calculators
Independent bearing, back-bearing and latitude/longitude tools for triangle and trapezoid courses.
RULES
↗World Sailing Racing Rules 2025–2028
The current rules framework, including definitions and race committee actions affecting marks and courses.