In the first part of Sam Brearey's Top Tips, the Fireball World Champion sponsored by Allen Brothers talks about who and what inspires him, how he got started in the sport, and the nitty-gritty of how to prepare for the perfect start....

GC32 World Champion skipper of Team Tilt and 49er Olympian Sébastien Schneiter talks through the decision-making and preparation process that leads up to getting the perfect reaching start in a high-speed multihull...

Watching Team Nika win - and dominate - the RC44 World Championship 2017 in Sweden was a lesson in strong, conservative tactics. No surprise when you learn that owner Vladimir Prosikhin had Terry Hutchinson as his tactician. Just as Torben Grael was known for going off on a flyer into the corner of the course (doing a ‘Torben’), doing a ‘Terry’ is about keeping the game tight in the centre of the course. As Terry himself says, “It’s a game of feet and inches.”

49er World Champion and Olympic silver medallist in the 470, Stu Bithell is also a mad keen Merlin Rocket racer back in the UK. Stu shares various tips on starting, race course priorities and many other things in these insightful MP3 interviews....

Getting a good start in races is a crucial skill whatever our sailing aspirations. We look at developing some of the crucial skills that will help you plan the perfect build-up so that you get to start on the 'B' of Bang!!!

America's Cup winning skipper and former Melges 24 World Champion James Spithill talks through his philosophy on starting and the first beat. "The first thing to consider is fleet size. If you've got a big fleet you're going to go to one side whether you like it or not. If you're in a small fleet then you've got more opportunities to play the shifts...."

Holding your position is one of those skills that separates the good from the average sailors. "He's good at holding his lane," is one of those phrases you'll hear about a really talented sailor. Etchells world champion Andy Beadsworth reveals some clues to this dark art...