Race the Wind

About this board game

Race the Wind is a sailing race board game for 2–5 players, with games lasting around 60 minutes. Designed to reproduce a regatta or a two-boat match race, it creates a tactical contest without cards or dice.

The course runs along the board’s longest side, between the downwind gate—bounded by the mark and the Committee boat—and the upwind buoy. Competitors can change the course length at will. At the start, the wind blows from the upwind buoy in the north toward the downwind gate in the south.

Before the main race begins, boats perform seven starting moves. They must then exit the downwind gate and sail three times upwind and three times downwind, moving with the wind while watching for falls, gusts, and changes in wind direction.

• Plan precise sailing strategies around the wind.
• Apply overlap rules during close racing.
• Use wind-shadow tactics to gain an advantage.
• Play individually or form crews.

The race rewards careful maneuvering and an understanding of how wind affects every move. Players must balance their route, positioning, and tactics as they work toward the finishing line.

Learning the straightforward yet ingenious rules means getting on board, hoisting the sails, and maneuvering the boat as in a real sailing challenge. The first player or crew to cross the finishing line wins the coveted sailing cup.

Race the Wind was released in 2007 by Ghenos. Its alternative name, Velagiochiamo, referred to an earlier prototype by authors Saverio Robberto and Domenico Troia; after Ghenos acquired the rights and developed the game, the official version became Race the Wind.