Michael Backburn offers some quickfire tips for racing under IRC or ORC.

A two time Olympian, bronze medallist and coach of gold medal winning sailors Tom Slingsby, Tom Burton and Matt Wearn, Michael Blackburn offers some quick advice to make quick gains when racing under a rating rule.

1.    If you’re in a slower than the average boat in your start, do what it takes to find clear air at the start (probably boat end) and in the first few minutes.
2.    Understand where/when you should be finishing compared with slightly slower and slightly faster boats to help with tactical/strategy decisions during the race.
3.    Invest extra time formulating good strategy. Make the most of the wind and current to get to the next mark quickly because every second counts!