How to Set Up Marks for 'Windward and Return' Yacht Race Courses

Triangle Course
Triangle or Olympic Course Layout

The Windward & Return ('Sausage') is the simplest course to set up and change. Mark 1, the top mark is positioned directly upwind from Mark 2 as the reference point. A 'protective', 'separation' or 'offset' mark is often set to Port of Mark 1 to avoid congestion and interference between yachts that have rounded Mark 2 and those that are beating upwind towards it. There are various positions for the start and finish lines.