Normally tacking twice in succession is slow. Here are two instances when the double tack can be very productive. Also here is the technique to execute this maneuver.
When team racing you can use the double tack to escape a cover, pin, or pick. When fleet racing in a large fleet you can use the double tack on the starting line to move to the windward edge of a hole.
Double tacks are best done in FJs since the shape of the boat is the most conducive to rolling. The trick is to start the second tack just before flattening from the first tack. As such, the boat rolls right into another tack. In order to have legal tacks, the boat must come to a close hauled course before luffing into the second tack. This technique is definitely worth practicing for each skipper/crew combination for both communication and execution. Practice on your own anytime, such as when waiting for your coach to get a practice race going.
I learned of this trick for team racing from team racing legend Tim Fallon, Tufts'97. I learned of this trick for fleet racing from coaching legend Skip Whyte, URI'71. Skip applies this to the massive 470 fleet starts where you are holding a spot on the line for a long duration and the hole to your windward side becomes sufficiently large. Of course if the leeward boat follows, it backfires. In most college fleets you are not waiting on the line long enough for this need to arise very often but in big competitive fleets it can come in handy.
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