Laylines is a sailing management game set in the world of the oldest trophy in sailing. The player runs a challenger syndicate competing against five rivals for the right to face the defender. Off the water, the game covers crew scouting and contracts, training, sailor careers and retirement, boat research and development with component reliability and sea trials, design philosophy and target wind, sponsors, TV rights, merchandising and headquarters upgrades. On the water, match race duels play out in real time, boat against boat, under real racing rules: right of way, penalties, laylines, wind zones and shifts. Each Cup is made up of round robin groups, a Semi-final, a Challenger Final and the Cup Final, followed by a new season with a rule change, in an open-ended campaign.