Racing without these is like running a 100 metres with your boot-laces ties together
- A stopwatch. I like the the Optimum Time big yellow watches (but tape around the circumference so it cannot jump out of the black frame) but something, anything waterproof will do
- Tell-tales on both jib and main (body and leech). Most modern sailcloth is too stiff rely on it backwinding to tell you if it is set correctly (and that is too crude a measure anyway).
- A burgee/wind indicator. What is happening up there is different to water level – burgees are a must for virtually every club race venue