The Leading Edge Racing Series by Hal Smith

Racers in the Catalina 22 community know Hal Smith as an individual who has graciously served as the PRO for many of our Catalina 22 National Championship Regattas. As a US Sailing Certified National Race Officer, our Association has been blessed with his continued support and race management expertise.

Did you know that Hal Smith is also a former Catalina 22 National Champion?  Hal and his wife Sally won the 1981 Catalina 22 National Championship Regatta. Did you also know that Hal served on the Board of the Catalina 22 National Sailing Association as Rear Commodore?  He also owned the North Sails loft in Atlanta. When it comes to racing a Catalina 22, Hal Smith is a wealth of knowledge. 

If you are new to Catalina 22 racing, you may want to read a series of ten racing articles that Hal wrote back in the late 1980s and early 1990s in a column for MainBrace titled "The Leading Edge - How to Begin Sailboat Racing for Fun and Personal Growth". The articles are available in PDF format for you to easily access, download, print, and save. Although the articles are 30 years old, the concepts remain valid today. Articles are listed in their original sequence of publication (#1 thru #10), and it makes good sense to read them in this order. 

THE LEADING EDGE #1 - SAILING IN CLEAN AIR 

THE LEADING EDGE #2 - HOW TO BEGIN SAILBOAT RACING FOR FUN AND PERSONAL GROWTH

THE LEADING EDGE #3 - UPWIND TO THE WEATHER MARK

THE LEADING EDGE #4 - REACHING TO THE JIBE AND LEEWARD MARKS

THE LEADING EDGE #5 - UPWIND THE SECOND TIME

THE LEADING EDGE #6 - DOWNWIND

THE LEADING EDGE #7 - THE FINAL LEG

THE LEADING EDGE #8 - JUST DO IT!

THE LEADING EDGE #9 - STARTING TACTICS

THE LEADING EDGE #10 - COMMITTEE MEETNG AND INSTRUCTION