Team racing

For the NASCAR team, see Team Racing. For the NASCAR video game known as NASCAR Team Racing, see EA Sports NASCAR Racing.

Team racing, also known as team sailing, is a popular form of dinghy racing and yacht racing. Two teams compete in a race, each sailing two to four boats of the same class. The winning team is decided by combining the results of each team's boats. This differs from an inter-club fleet race where boats from three or more clubs compete, with the results of each club's boats combined to determine its overall position.

Team racing uses the low-points scoring system, in which the boat finishing 1st scores 1 point, 2nd scores 2 points, and so on. The scores of all boats on each team are then added together, and the team scoring fewest points wins. Additional rules applied to decide ties in the 2 and 4-boat formats.

Short 6 to 10 minute courses are used for team races. One course form is a digital 'S' on its side, sometimes called a digital 'N'. This gives a beat from start and mark to starboard; a short reach and mark to starboard; a run and mark to port; a short reach and mark to port; and a beat to finish. The other form is a starboard hand 'box'. This gives a beat from start/finish; a short reach, a run; a short reach; and a beat to start/finish. These course formats put a premium on racing tactics so that the outcome is not decided by boat speed alone.

On-the-water umpiring has become the standard since its first introduction in 1987. After an infringement, a boat voluntarily perform one penalty turn. However, if it continues sailing and is subsequently penalised by an umpire, it must complete two penalty turns instead.

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