I did more training events than competition events in 2025 and it feels like things are starting to click. My race results are improving nicely too. If I had to choose the top learnings of 2025, it’d be these:

1. Keep the boat flat

Nothing new here, we all know to keep the boat flat, but doing it well and consistently really is key. 3328 is flat in this photo.

I’m not keeping 3328 flat in the photo below. Keeping the boat flat is relatively easy to improve as it comes down to technique and fitness, both of which can be worked on.

2. Boat speed first, then height

It may be a bad habit that I’ve picked up from club handicap club racing where I’m sailing against slower boats that point higher than me, but the Aero with its skiff shaped hull and thin foils needs speed first through water to get the foils working, before you can sail high.

My main learning here is to not fret about height, and just get the boat moving and keep it moving especially into waves, switching between high and low modes as needed.

3. Keep airflow over the sails, obsess over the telltales

Even if you’re forced to sail lower angles, ensure airflow stays attached to the sail to keep the boat moving. In 2026, I’m going to put a load of extra tell tales and streamers on an old training sail, and learn to read the wind better. The Aero training sessions in 2025 have greatly helped my understanding of how the sail controls affect sail shape.

4. Have great tacking, gybing and mark rounding technique

It’s striking how much distance can be lost with poor tacks, gybes and mark roundings. These things are easy to practise and improve.

5. Good bear aways

This could come under 4., but strong wind training at Hayling Island in December 2025 reinforced the importance of good technique on bear aways, which involves releasing the kicker before the mark rounding (more than you think) and getting weight back to let the boat spin more on its tail.

In heavy winds it’s easy to go swimming if the kicker is not released before the bear away.

Get it right and the acceleration could get you some positions, and it just feels good too.

6. Be bold on the start line

Sailing races really start a couple of minutes before be start signal goes off as sailors find and try to keep their positions on the start line. It’s better to be bold and get into the fray than be stuck in the second row, eating everyone else’s dirty wind up the first beat.

I tend to be too quiet on the start line but I’m going to start getting get shouty in 2026 with windward boats (and calling for room on mark rounding).

Related

I can highly recommend the RS Aero winter training program which is open to adult and youth sailors. These weekends are making a big difference to my sailing and enjoyment.