The two teams of three race to try and achieve a winning combination of places - the lowest score wins. The scoring system is usually: 1st place - 1 point 2nd place - 2 points 3rd place - 3 points and so on.

A team that scores ten or less is therefore the winner, so that 2,3,4 beats 1,5,6 - being first past the post does not guarantee glory!

If a team is lying say 1,4,6 the leading boat will go back an d try to help his team-mates through to 2,3,5 or better. How does he do this?

The team racer has two main weapons. Firstly, he can position his boat between the wind and his opponent, thus blanketing his sails and slowing him down. Secondly, he can use the right-of-way rules to his advantage, approaching his opponents in such a way that his adversary has to change course or incur a penalty. Both these weapons are deployed even before the start when the manoeuvres begin, much as in Match racing, but with six boats rather than two performing an intricate and aggressive dance.

To maintain order, and keep everyone out of the protest room, the racing is followed by umpires in small inflatables. If protested against, a competitor can accept his punishment and complete a 360deg turn or he can wait for the umpires to give a decision which may result in a green flag for 'no penalty' or a 720deg turn if the protest is upheld. Everything happens very quickly and there is no better school for tactical decision making and understanding of the rules.