Terry Hutchinson or Torben Grael?

by Dave Perry, five-time and reigning U.S. National Match Racing Champion
At the Carlos Aguilar Match Racing Regatta in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the venue had beautiful weather, gorgeous water, and was surrounded by mountains and cruise ships… so yes, it was very shifty and puffy! When ahead, it was always tricky to know whether to “cover” your opponent or “sail your own beat,” meaning sailing to the pressure and tacking on the shifts. I call this decision “Terry or Torben.”

Terry Hutchinson is a world-class fleet and match racer (America’s Cup, TP 52’s, Farr 40’s, etc.) who likes to keep the race tight and under control when he’s leading. His belief is that if you can stay just ahead of your opponent, it is hard for them to pass you. Once you start to separate from them, looking to extend your lead, you give them leverage and you increase the risk of them passing you. Terry’s races are always close and tight to the end, win or lose.

Alternatively, Torben Grael, also a world-class fleet and match racer (America’s Cup, five time Olympic medalist in the Soling and Star class, etc.), believes that if you sail the beat to best advantage, sailing in the best pressure and always on the favored tack, the other boat can’t beat you. His races are much more wide open, and he wins by a mile…and loses by a mile.

I think both styles have their place in match racing. To help guide my decision making, I try to think before a race or a day of racing, is this a “Terry day” or a “Torben day”?

“Terry day” characteristics:
• Steady breeze (in direction and velocity)
• Not a one-way track (think current, shore affects, etc.)
• An opponent I should be stronger/faster than
• Above 10 knots

“Torben day” characteristics:
• Shifty breeze (in direction and velocity)
• One-way track
• An opponent who may be stronger/faster than me
• Below 5 knots

The reason you have to play it a little more open (“Torben”) when it is shifty or light is that it is often difficult to be on the same tack as the other boat. Say the other boat is several lengths to leeward and just ahead of you. When they tack, you could tack at the same time, putting yourself to leeward and ahead of them, go to their line and tack on them, in which case they will usually tack away setting up a split, or you could cross them and carry on, setting up a split.

The best option is usually to stay in phase with the breeze and sail to the next pressure (meaning either tacking on them and forcing them the wrong way, or carrying on and letting them carry on in the wrong way). However, if it is a steady day, you might choose to cross your opponent and tack a few lengths to windward of them, staying near them (“Terry”) on the beat. And when in doubt, I like to keep it close (“Terry”).

Stay near your opponent or ignore your opponent and sail the best beat possible? That is the conundrum of every match racer. Hopefully thinking “Terry or Torben” will help.

Source: The Dial Up, a FREE e-newsletter covering all things Match Racing in North America. Sign up to receive it here. Additional match racing information at the US Sailing.