Olympic Triangle - Some Practical Considerations

Some Practical Considerations

Some practical considerations include:

• Whether to set the wing mark higher (more to windward) by using an angle at the top mark of more degrees than the angle at the bottom mark and more than 45 degrees. This can reduce the problems of boats approaching the top mark on port tack having to give way to boats rounding the top mark to port and going low on starboard tack on the reach to the wing mark. For example the angle at the top mark could be 75 degrees, 45 at the bottom mark leaving 60 at the wing mark.
• Whether to set the triangle so the competitors are assured of a good reaching leg even if the wind shifts and the marks are not moved.
• Whether to have Starboard roundings - Port roundings where the mark is left to the port side of the boat as it rounds the mark are most commonly used as they facilitate traffic flow around the top and bottom marks.