Breaking Up the 2-3-4
By B.T. Spiller (Video)
For videos from the author, click the links or scroll to the bottom.
Breaking up the 2-3-4 can seem like a daunting task. The 2-3-4 is such a powerful, stable combination because it is basically three boats on two – often because the first place boat of the 1-5-6 is so preoccupied with keeping the 1, that she doesn’t engage and make things difficult for the other team.
Breaking up the 2-3-4 is possible; however, there are a few overriding principles that you must embody if you want continually chase down stable combinations. First, BE PATIENT. The only combination that matters is the one when you cross the finish line. The 2-3-4 will have many chances to screw something up. Maybe they will! Second, BE CLOSE. It is very important for the fifth and sixth place boats to be within striking range of the 2-3-4. Don’t take chances that might lead to a foul (especially when the race is umpired!), as this will take one of your “chasers” out of the game and make it basically a three on one. Finally, BE POSITIVE. Having a positive, never quit, never die attitude is contagious. If all three boats are confident and believe they will chase down the 2-3-4, their chances of success will be significantly higher.
The following is a leg-by-leg overview of what each boat should be looking for and thinking about during a team race. If you have ever team raced before, you probably know many, if not all of these things. The trick is to BE PATIENT and to not fall into temptation.
THE PRESTART (Video)
Combinations do not become apparent until after the start, or at the earliest, a few seconds before the gun, but here a few things to steer clear of in order to avoid chasing a 2-3-4.
Don’t be over early – Is there favorable current, more wind velocity coming, or a lift coming that might push you over the line?
Don’t be late – Is there foul current, a lull, or a knock that will impede your final approach?
Don’t foul!
If one boat on an opposing team succumbs to one of these “don’ts”, I’m immediately looking for another boat I can pick on – put in a tie for last – so my team can grab a 2-3-4.
THE FIRST BEAT (Video)
Typically, a combination becomes evident somewhere on the first beat. The earlier you realize you are losing, and implement a strategy to break up the 2-3-4, the better.
The 1:
Solidify the 1. Let your teammates know when you definitely have the one. If your teammates are in 5th and 6th, your goal is likely a 1-4-5. Being in first place is the best thing your team has going
for it at this time. Be
conservative – don’t be too aggressive early and lose the one.
Make helping hard. One reason the 2-3-4 is a strong combination is because it is easy to help a teammate in trouble. If someone on your team is threatening an opponent, make it hard for a teammate to come help.
Be on the look out for an opportunity to pin two boats on the opposing team. A double pin is especially valuable at the top third of the beat or anywhere near laylines. If you can pin 2 boats (even for a short period of time) and turn your 1-5-6 into a 2-3-6, its probably a good idea to go for it. If you get to a 2-3-6 you are still losing, but the play is behind for your team… at least you aren’t chasing anymore! It’s easier to trap boats at funnel points. Mark 1 is the first funnel point. If you can lock two opponents high or low of you at mark 1, do it.
Consider compressing the race by slowing the lead boat of the 2-3-4. If the race is tight, two good things happen. First, your opponents might botch a switch, as maneuvering is more difficult when boats are close together. Second, compressing the race allows for your teammates in 5th and 6th to BE CLOSE. Always compress the race if there is a large 2-3 gap (its easy to slow just one boat). You might also want to compress the race if your teammates in 5th and 6th are deep. However, be aware this means slowing multiple boats. * Note: it is difficult and risky to slow multiple boats.
The 5 and 6:
BE CLOSE. Tufts
coach, Ken Legler, calls the downwind leg of a team race the “Great
Equalizer.” You can only take
advantage of the coming downwind leg only if you are nipping at the heels of
the 2-3-4. Don’t take any huge
risks that might result in you being farther behind.
Make any “hits” last. If you are threatening an opponent and one of her teammates comes over to help, make whatever they are doing (a passback) slow and painful. Ideally, your teammate will be going fast on the other side of the course; maybe they will be able to consolidate and be ahead of a boat or boats you are going slowly with.
Don’t do a hard “sucker” drill. A good opponent will know when you are baiting them the wrong way. They will probably ignore you and sail a better course to the mark. Meanwhile, you’ll be getting farther and farther behind, and thus minimizing your opportunity to take advantage of the “great equalizer.”
If approaching a crowded mark 1 from port, consider being over-stood by a boatlength and a half. This way if a starboard tacker tries to bounce you, you’ll either be able to duck them AND fetch, or they will bounce you and your teammate (likely approaching from starboard) might be able to pin them on starboard.
If approaching a crowded mark 1 from starboard, sail slowly while maintaining flow over your foils. If an opponent ahead loses flow, you might be able to pin them on starboard.
OFFSET LEG (Video)
There is minimal action on the offset leg.
The 1:
Keep the 1. In fact, you might probably want to extend from
a condensed 2-3-4. You don’t want to get covered downwind and lose the 1.
The 5 and 6:
Start thinking about how you want to position yourself for
the run. Obtaining a slight
leeward overlap (and having mark room at mark 2) is nothing to write home
about. You’ll just round the mark
and the windward boat will ask you to bear off to proper course and she’ll have
control of you.
THE DOWNWIND LEG (Video)
The majority of the action on the downwind leg is between the 5 and the 6. They will be attempting to unbalance pairs. The goal is to unbalance the opponents covering your 5th and 6th place boats. Once unbalanced, the 5 and 6 will try to consolidate (bring pairs together). This changes your combination into a 1-4-6. Obviously, you’d then attempt a 4-6 passback, giving your team a winning 1-4-5 combination.
The 1:
Keep the 1. Be
far enough ahead to definitely have the 1, but close enough to be able to act
quickly if you have an opportunity. If you get a chance to lock two opponents to weather, it might be a
suitable time to go for it. Initially, you most likely want to stay high on port tack, protecting
your starboard tack advantage and the inside at mark 3
The 5 and 6:
Your primary game plan is to unbalance your opponents and go
for a 1-4-5 combination.
There are many ways to do this.
The High-Low – one teammate (usually the 5) sails high in an effort to make the opponent covering the 5 sail extra distance. Meanwhile, the 6 sails their best course to the mark. Once the pairs are unbalance, your team can consolidate and hopefully be in a 1-4-6. Then attempt a 4-6 passback.
The Double Cover – Sometimes an opponent will not bite high. In this situation, the 5 and 6 should double cover the opponent. Two windshadows are better than 1. Hopefully, you’ll be able to obtain a slight leeward overlap, or gain the starboard tack advantage.
Long-Gybe Slowing – One teammate positions themself on an opponent’s wind shadow on the long gybe. *** Note, the long gybe may change halfway down the run!
THE LEEWARD MARK (Video)
You are nearing the end of the leg where the trailing team has the advantage. Be patient and wait for your opponents to make a mistake.
The 1:
Keep the
1. Condense the race and try to cram as many boats into the two boatlength zone
as possible at one time. Remember,
you will be exonerated for a breach of rules 15 and 16 when you are rounding
the mark on your proper course.
If you are forced to round, try to pull one of the opponents around the mark with you so they can’t help their teammates.
Again, if you can trap two opponents and turn your combination into a 2-3-6, do it.
The 5 and 6:
Try to gain a slight leeward overlap by the two boathlength zone.
Look for an opponent to sail out of the two boatlength zone. If you are positioned on starboard tack and on the inside, you will likely have room when the boat re-enters the zone.
One teammate my try to pull an opponent out of the zone, or break an overlap (turning off rule 17) and forcing the opponent to sail their proper course (round the mark). Forcing the opponent to round the mark, takes away another “helper”.
THE LAST BEAT (Video)
Your situation is dire. It is time to be a little bit more aggressive.
The 1:
As always, make helping hard for the opponents. On the windward legs, the leading boats
have the windshadow advantage. For
this reason, you need less than a boatlength cushion to be sure you have the
one.
Look for an opportunity to pin two boats. One of them will have to bear off and duck – hopefully this will be enough to get at least one of your teammates in touch with her. It is slightly better to pin on starboard. This way you and your teammates will have the starboard tack advantage.
As you get closer and closer to the finish line, you’ll want to be more and more aggressive. Somewhere in the last half of the final beat, you may decide to give up the one.
The 5 and 6:
Consider attempting the “Sucker Drill”. One teammate will deliberately tack often, sail knocks, and
sail into lulls in an effort to “sucker” an opponent back with them. Meanwhile, the other teammate will sail
fast. Hopefully, the combination
will turn into a 1-4-6. Then, it’s
time to consolidate and attempt a 4-6 passback. The sucker drill is dangerous for the 5 and 6 because it
deliberately sacrifices one of your boats. A good team will realize they are being “suckered” and not
take the bait.
The 5 and 6 will often want to split to different sides of the course. If one side gets an advantageous shift or pressure, they will likely be ahead of the unfavoured side.
General Notes (Video)
The 1:
Stay on the side of the course with more
opponents. If your teammates split
and are single covered on the left side and double covered on the right, you’d
want to stay on the right side. If
you went to the left side of the course and the right side got an advantageous
shift, you’d be losing to a 1-2 combination. However, if you stay on the right and the left side comes
in, you are likely to be in a 2-3-6 combination.
The 5 and 6:
Always work together and communicate. Never be afraid to tell your teammate
what you are going to do or what you want them to do – team races are rarely
won by sneak attacks.
If your team works together and maintains a positive outlook, you will chase down the 2-3-4. Good Luck!
