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  • Timing the Tacks | Cabbage Tree Island Race Navigators Talk Race Tactics

Timing the Tacks | Cabbage Tree Island Race Navigators Talk Race Tactics

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  • 05 Dec, 2025 11:23:00 PM
Timing the Tacks | Cabbage Tree Island Race Navigators Talk Race Tactics

Timing the Tacks | Cabbage Tree Island Race Navigators Talk Race Tactics

Welcome to the dark arts of navigation. Some call it strategy, some call it science… and some just call it naviguessing. We checked in with a few navigators to hear how they are trying to make magic happen on the first night of the ACSBPS Cabbage Tree Island Race.

There’s a fine balance between getting it right and getting it wrong in the early stages of the race and the fleet is already beginning to split as navigators play the pressure and angles in different ways.

While the boats are tacking up the coast and will inevitably encounter stages close to shore, it is clear that some crews have very deliberate intentions about exactly where they want to position themselves. 

Alex Nolan | Celestial V70

At the time of writing, Celestial’s V70 is sitting around 10nm offshore, slightly further out than the rest of the fleet. Navigator Alex Nolan shared: “We’re a bit further offshore looking for more breeze… at least that’s the hope. We feel the general trend will be more wind out here, and it seems to be working so far. The moon has just come up and it’s a really nice evening out here. There’s not too much current against us, even though we’re further out, but this boat needs wind, so that’s what we are looking for!”

Image: CYCA | Andrea Francolini

Max Deckers | URM Group

Onboard URM Group, Max Deckers is navigating his first offshore race of this season in Australia. URM had clearly positioned itself further inshore than Celestial, he explained their approach: “We’re trying to balance the better pressure we’re seeing offshore with a better shift inshore. The breeze inshore is slightly more east because of the land breeze, so we’re working that line between pressure and angle.” 

Image: CYCA | Andrea Francolini

Andy Green | Master Lock Comanche

Andy Green, YSA alumni and navigator aboard the current Line Honours leader, Master Lock Comanche outlined some of their current strategy.

“The plan right now is to work the oscillations in the wind field,” he explained. With the shifts moving left to right, competitors can tack on each phase to make as much ground to the north as possible.

“We’re also protecting our lane against LawConnect and Scallywag.”

“We’ve got a big decision coming up on when to extend offshore to stay clear of Stockton Bight. It’s forecast to go quite light in there in the early morning. Some of the observation stations are already hinting at that and of course crew experience plays a part too.”

When asked what the defining moment of the race might be, Green shared.
“One of those key decisions will be on the way home: getting the gybe point right. The breeze might trend lighter toward the finish, so we don’t want to go too early.”

Image: CYCA | Andrea Francolini

 

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