Start: A timed starting sequence begins with warning signals, and boats jockey for position behind the starting line, which is an imaginary line between a pin (buoy) and a committee boat. Boats must not cross the line before the starting signal; if they do, they must take a penalty.

Rules: Racing is governed by a set of rules established by World Sailing, which can be supplemented by race-specific rules. Penalties are issued for rule infringements, either voluntarily by the boat or after a protest hearing.

Scoring: Points are usually awarded based on finishing position, with the boat in first place receiving the fewest points (e.g., 1 point for first, 2 points for second, etc.). In a series of races or events, scores are accumulated, and the winner is typically the boat with the lowest total score, sometimes allowing for the discard of the worst race results.

Types: Fleet racing can be either one-design, where all boats are the same type, or handicap, where different boat types race against each other with adjusted finish times to ensure fairness. 

Team racing in sailing involves two teams of sailors competing head-to-head, with each team typically consisting of two or three boats. Unlike fleet racing, where the focus is on individual boat performance, team racing emphasizes teamwork and strategic maneuvering to secure a winning combination of finishes for the team. 

Here's how it generally works

Objective: The goal is for a team to achieve the lowest combined score from the finishing positions of their boats in the race. A lower score wins. 

Scoring: Points are awarded based on finishing position (e.g., 1st place gets 1 point, 2nd gets 2 points, etc.), similar to fleet racing. The points for all boats within a team are totaled, and the team with the lowest combined score wins the race. In 3-boat team racing, a team wins if their combined score is 10 points or less.

Course and Duration: Races are generally short, lasting about 6-10 minutes, and are held on a specifically designed course, often shaped like a "digital S" or a "box", to encourage close-quarters action and tactical maneuvers.

Team Composition: A typical format is 3-boat team racing, where each team has three boats, and each boat has two sailors. However, 2-boat. The boats used are usually one-design, meaning they are identical or very closely matched in performance, eliminating boat speed as the primary deciding factor.

Tactics and Teamwork: Team racing demands strategic decision-making and strong teamwork. Teams actively work together, using tactics such as:

Controlling Opponents: Boats may position themselves to 'cover' or 'blanket' opposing boats, stealing their wind and slowing them down.

Using Right-of-Way Rules: Teams utilize the Racing Rules of Sailing to their advantage, forcing opponents to alter course or incur penalties.

Creating 'Plays': More advanced maneuvers like the 'pass back' (where a leading boat slows down to help a teammate gain position) and the 'mark trap' (where a boat stops at a mark to hinder opponents rounding it) are employed to improve the team's overall score.

Umpires: Team racing commonly uses on-water umpires who make immediate decisions and issue penalties for rule infringements, eliminating the need for post-race protest hearings. Penalties typically involve completing one or two penalty turns (360-degree turns). If a penalized boat does not perform the turn, they may face a more severe penalty.

Event Formats: Team racing events often involve a series of short races, frequently run in a round-robin or Swiss league format, followed by knockout stages to determine a winner.

Match racing in sailing is a head-to-head competition between two boats, usually of the same design, states the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). The objective is simply to be the first boat to cross the finish line. It's a highly strategic and tactical form of sailing, often compared to a chess match on the water. 

Here's how it generally works

Objective: The primary goal is to finish ahead of the single opponent.

Course: Races are typically held on a windward/leeward course. Each race usually takes about 20 minutes to complete.

Start: The race begins with a complex pre-start phase, often referred to as a "battle," where boats maneuver for a tactical advantage in the minutes leading up to the starting signal.

Rules and Penalties: Match racing is governed by specific rules from World Sailing, with on-water umpires making instant decisions on rule infringements. If a boat breaks a rule, it is typically penalized with a penalty turn, which usually consists of one tack and one gybe, performed as soon as reasonably possible after getting clear of other boats. Penalties can be cancelled out if both boats incur a penalty.

Tactics: Match racing places a premium on tactics, including:

Controlling the Opponent: The lead boat will often attempt to 'cover' their opponent by staying close to them, blocking their wind, and forcing them to sail a less favorable course.

Drawing Fouls: A significant tactic involves maneuvering to put the opponent in a position where they must either commit a foul or make a disadvantageous course change.

Maximizing Speed and Wind Shifts: While tactics are crucial, sailing fast and taking advantage of wind shifts remain important for gaining and maintaining a lead.

Scoring: Matches are scored as a win or loss, with the winner earning one point and the loser zero points. Events often feature a series of matches, possibly with round-robin stages followed by knockout rounds, to determine the overall winner.

Boats: Match racing is almost exclusively done in one-design boats, meaning the boats are identical, placing the emphasis on the skill of the crew rather than boat speed differences. The America's Cup is a notable exception, where boats are built to a specific class rule but may have slight differences.