Team Racing

Team racing is a sailing format where two teams, each of two, three, or four boats (three is the common dinghy form), race a short course at once, with the win decided by combined finishing positions rather than the single fastest boat. Under Appendix D of the Racing Rules of Sailing, a team wins by holding the lower total of points, so tactics center on blocking and passing opposing boats to swap places. Races are short and umpired on the water, with penalties given by an umpire’s flag rather than after a protest. It is a staple of college and club sailing.