Performance Boat Handling
with Kristen Berry | NorthU

Turn hesitation at the helm into confidence at the mark. Sharpen the boat handling skills that separate sailors who react from sailors who win.

90 Minutes English Unlimited Access

Boat handling is where races are won and lost, usually long before the finish line. A clean roll tack, a fast spinnaker set, or a quick recovery from a broach can be the difference between a podium finish and a mid-fleet slog. This online class is built for sailors who want to know how to sail better and are ready to sail faster, and with more control when it counts.

American Sailing Members - Save $10

NOT A MEMBER? JOIN OR RENEW TODAY







Online class overview

Performance Boat Handling is a hands-on, on-the-water course focused on the maneuvers and decisions that separate competitive sailors from the rest of the fleet. Over the course of the online class, you’ll drill roll tacks and gybess for speed retention, practice spinnaker sets, gybes, and douses under time pressure, and work through crew coordination so every maneuver happens fast and clean, not just eventually. We’ll also cover recovery technique for when things go sideways (broaches, mis-trims, wipeouts) and how to read wind shifts and puffs to make tactical calls in real time. Expect repetition, feedback, and drills you can keep practicing long after the class ends.

Who is this online class for?

This online class is for competitive and racing-focused sailors who want an edge at the start line, around the marks, and in traffic. It’s ideal for club racers, one-design sailors, and anyone gearing up for regatta season who wants to shave seconds off every maneuver.

What will I learn?

You’ll leave with sharper reflexes at the helm, tighter turns under sail, and the muscle memory to execute maneuvers quickly and cleanly under pressure. You’ll also gain a clearer read on wind shifts, boat positioning, and mark-rounding tactics you can apply immediately in your next regatta.

List of topics:

  • Roll tacks and gybess for maximum speed retention
  • High-performance spinnaker sets, gybes, and douses
  • Crew coordination and communication under race conditions
  • Starting line strategy and boat positioning
  • Mark rounding technique and traffic management
  • Recovering quickly from broaches, wipeouts, and mis-trims
  • Reading wind shifts and puffs for tactical advantage

Your Instructor

KRISTEN BERRY

Kristen Berry is a performance sailing coach, North U instructor, and Director of American Sailing Performance — with years of experience turning sailors into faster, more confident racers on the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. He has competed at the club, regional, and national levels and brings a coach’s eye and a sailor’s instincts to everything he teaches. Kristen’s approach blends technical precision with real-world application: he doesn’t just explain what to do, he explains why it works — and what to do when it doesn’t. When he’s not on the water or in front of a classroom, he’s probably trimming something on some boat somewhere.