Fleet racing
Fleet racing is by far the most common form of cometition in sailing. It works on the "every boat for herself" principal. The goal is to get around the course ahead of everyone else or ahead of as many people as you can manage. Working in teams is illegal.
Fleet racing is not a very common form of competiton in university sailing though. Fleet racing can be in anything from single-handed boats to huge yachts with crews of ten or twelve. Generally, college students would only be able to afford small dinghies. Also, every sailor requires his/her own boat. This means that fleet racing is the reserve of people who can afford a boat. The relative lack of team work involved makes it somewhat less socialable than team racing. This is why fleet racing is not the main form of competition for college sailors.
Having said that, fleet racing is still a great sport and IUSA are starting up a fleet racing IV championships in 2004.
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