{"id":82185,"date":"2025-06-19T11:53:37","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T15:53:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/?p=82185"},"modified":"2025-06-27T09:55:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T13:55:13","slug":"executing-a-pro-level-comeback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/how-to\/executing-a-pro-level-comeback\/","title":{"rendered":"Executing A Pro-Level Comeback"},"content":{"rendered":"\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-9446-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"J70 sailboats approaching race mark on Lake Michigan\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-9446-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-9446-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-9446-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-9446-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-9446.jpg 1620w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">Cate Muller-Terhune&#8217;s <i>Casting Couch<\/i>, J\/70 class winners at the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series, approach the top mark on the first day of racing in Chicago.<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Walter Cooper<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>Making good use of an afternoon practice session ahead of the 2025 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series in Chicago in June\u2014another step toward their goal of winning a J\/70 world title, skipper Cate Terhune-Muller and her crew\u2014husband Allan Terhune, tactician Steve Hunt and trimmer Nick Turney\u2014are circling in the starting area on board the Terhune\u2019s J\/70 <em>Casting Couch<\/em>. This is the second practice start of the informal scrimmage, which will be followed by a short windward-leeward lap. Their intent is to win the pin, a high-risk move given the caliber of teams on the other boats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe id=\"x8aa2rgac1\" src=\"https:\/\/Sailingworld.dragonforms.com\/x8aa2rgac1\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"width:100%;height:165px;border:none;overflow:hidden;\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLet\u2019s do a pin layline practice,\u201d Hunt says to his teammates, his communication clear and focused. The pre-race ritual of testing angles and timing is critical\u2014especially given that everyone is using GPS-based starting systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Turney takes a quick glance at his watch and says, \u201c3:15.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;\u201cCall pin lay, Alan,\u201d Hunt says, his yes scanning for other boats positioning themselves and gauging their position relative to the pin-end bouy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;\u201cNot there yet,\u201d Terhune responds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;\u201c3:10,\u201d Turney updates the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cadence and clarity of the pre-start conversation reflects the level of professionalism with the team and the hundreds of hours they\u2019ve spent racing, training and deep debriefing with their all-star coach Chris Larson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHeading up here and tacking,\u201d Hunt announces. \u201cBarely there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;With less than 2 minutes until the start, <em>Casting Couch<\/em> maneuvers into position. Another boat, Richard Witzel\u2019s <em>Rowdy<\/em>, is lining up for a pin end start as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cRowdy wants the pin,\u201d Hunt says, telling Muller-Terhune to, \u201cLet him go in front of you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The countdown continues as they make their final approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;\u201cOne minute, 64 meters,\u201d Turney calls out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf you overlap, go above,\u201d Hunt instructs Muller-Terhune, who is focused on maintaining clean air and a strong position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They double tack to position themselves to leeward of Rowdy, sails luffing to slow the boat. And as the seconds tick down, there\u2019s a sudden urgency to Hunt\u2019s calls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think we\u2019re in trouble here, guys,\u201d He warns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Turney jumps into the conversation with a countdown: \u201cTen, nine, eight\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their too advanced and Hunt quickly aborts the start, advising Muller-Terhune to jibe around the pin and clear themselves. They\u2019re not alone: Over the VHF, the race committee reports that all boats are over early, except <em>Rowdy<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once underway, the crew transition smoothly into their upwind mindset. The J\/70 is notoriously tricky in variable conditions\u2014underpowered in light air but requiring depowering as soon as the wind reach 8 to 10 knots, but <em>Casting Couch<\/em>\u2019s collective experience has them dialed in to the speed they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTake a deep breath and go fast,\u201d Hunt encourage his skipper as they tack back on to starboard and regroup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;\u201cLittle puff on,\u201d says Turney, who is scanning the blue waters of Lake Michigan. The gusty northwesterly wind is blowing through Chicago\u2019s concrete maze of buildings. \u201cLittle puff here in about three, two, one. Number is 040, 5.6 is the target.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;The crew constantly communicates about the wind pressure and their positioning on the racecourse relative to other boats. \u201c<em>Rowdy<\/em> crossing your bow right now,\u201d Hunt reports as they make their way up short beat. \u201cNot bad,\u201d Hunt adds, satisfied with their position despite having done two extra tacks after the start. For this practice session, teams have agreed to 270-degree penalties for any OCS starts, rather than boats returning to the line to restart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Their upwind performance has them right back among the leaders\u2014none of whom have done their penalty turns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Before they approach the windward mark, the tactical discussion shift to their downwind strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Just got a 10-degree header,\u201d Hunt says as they reach the top of the course. \u201cIt\u2019s probably a long bear-away set.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;\u201cForty-five seconds each way,\u201d Terhune says. \u201cMaybe it lasts 30.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think it&#8217;s winging conditions, so let&#8217;s wing pretty early in the run and just wing the whole time\u2014kite on port,\u201d Hunt calls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the bow passes the mark and Muller-Terhune turns downwind and the spinnaker fills with a crisp snap of sailcloth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGot a kite,\u201d Turney says, after quickly pulling the halyard and taking the spinnaker sheet from Terhune. \u201cMine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cStay low, winging main shortly,\u201d Hunt says as they turn downwind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The run presents a new set of challenges, given the J\/70 wasn\u2019t intentionally designed to be a boat that\u2019s winged downwind. The perfect technique is next-level boathandling, requiring constant adjustment and communication between trimmer and helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Winging is a tactical sailing technique that allows the boat to sail directly toward the leeward mark with less sailed distance by having the jib or spinnaker out opposite the mainsail, avoiding the main\u2019s wind shadow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In light winds, winging is less effective due to insufficient sail pressure, and in heavy winds, transitioning to planing is typically better. The crossover isn\u2019t always obvious. The technique requires a clear wind lane to ensure the sail remains stable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The strategic use of winging involves making decisions based on constantly changing wind conditions, fleet positioning, and mark proximity. It\u2019s essential to adapt quickly to changing winging angles and assess when to shift modes, such as during a lift or a header or positioning with other boats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Practicing winging involves refining communication and timing within the crew to switch modes swiftly and effectively. When done right, winging opens up tactical opportunities like cutting corners at marks, forcing competitors into difficult positions, and maximizing speed toward downwind gates or finishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }<\/style><div class='embed-container'><iframe src='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/\/OM-VCJ2tgAo' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDoes it feel a little light to wing maybe?\u201d Hunt asks Turney, considering their options.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMaybe it\u2019s borderline winging. Yeah,\u201d Turney agrees. \u201cNo lower Cate, going straight here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Their refined teamwork and technique are on full display as they navigate the short run to the finish, with Hunt watching behind, calling out waves and pumping opportunities and then looking forward to the find the leeward marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;\u201cSee the gates? Probably 50-50,\u201d he says, already planning their approach to the leeward gate even though they\u2019re only halfway down the leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;\u201cOne little pump,\u201d Turney calls, feeling a slight pull on the spinnaker sheet in his hand. \u201cNo higher than that Cate, and a wave here. Three, two, one, flatten and pump. Good angle there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;\u201cNice job,\u201d Hunt replies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;As they approach the leeward gate, they need to choose which mark to round and what the best approach will be. \u201cOK, nice lane here,\u201d Hunt observes. \u201cHigh wing is probably best. High wing right now. Looking at the gates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;\u201cAlmost kicking a field goal,\u201d Hunt says, referring to their position between the gate marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They continue their downwind run with fluid precision, constantly making small adjustments to waves, puffs and wind shifts. \u201cLittle righty here,\u201d Turney tells Muller-Terhune, who responds with a small movement of the tiller extension laying in her lap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;\u201cThe high wing mode looks pretty good here,\u201d Hunt confirms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Setting up for a jibe near the bottom of the course, Hunt takes over the spinnaker sheet from Turney, who will focus on jibing the mainsail. They quickly talk through it beforehand to ensure they\u2019re in sync. The main comes across, Hunt trims the spinnaker to the new exit angle and the two of them call out in unison, as if finishing each other\u2019s sentences: \u201cTwo-one, flatten\u2026and pump\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another flawless jibe, and they finish overlapped with several other boats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For this practice session, the gates serve as the finish line and <em>Casting Couch<\/em> glides across the line with the leaders. A solid comeback, and possibly a race win had the race winners done their 270s, Hunt suggests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The outcome of this 15-minute practice race confirms why <em>Casting Couch<\/em> is one of the top teams in the ultra-competitive J\/70 scene. The crew\u2019s ability to read the conditions, make quick tactical decisions, and execute maneuvers with precision had put them in a strong position. It\u2019s also proof, that while everyone will have an OCS or second-row start at some point, the best teams put the mistake behind them and focus on advancing one boat, one puff, one pump and one good call at a time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ever wonder how the top teams recover from a bad start? One step at a time. We go onboard with team <i>Casting Couch<\/i> to learn how it&#8217;s done.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":82231,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Dave Reed","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"","hydra_display_updated":false,"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","arc_story_id":"","arc_website_url":"","custom_permalink":"","arc_subtype":"","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"sponsored_image":false,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":true,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","ad_targeting":"","ad_settings_ads_on_this_page":true,"ad_settings_automatic_ad_injection_into_the_content":true,"sponsored_url":"","social_share":true,"alternate_title_newsletter":"","alternate_content_newsletter":""},"categories":[156],"tags":[181,2812,335,177,178],"class_list":["post-82185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to","tag-helly-hansen-sailing-world-regatta-series","tag-how-to-2","tag-j-70","tag-racing","tag-sailboat-racing"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82185","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82185"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82185\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/82231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}