Despite an evidently over-vanged main (note excessive mast bend and mainsail wrinkles) Marc and Al begin to pull away from Dwight and Pat who appear to have less wind but have in turn pulled away from Dave and Carol. Note how Al continues to stick close to the rhumb line while defending the left side.

Note how John and Dolores (2nd from left) have found themselves a nice lane of clear air and continue to make inroads. In these conditions where we're doing hull speed even straight downwind, there is little to be gained by sailing too far off the rhumb line unless the wind is strong enough to permit planing by sailing a few degrees higher. Our fleet is doing a good job here of sticking to the rhumb line.   - click here for full-size pic

A lovely view: the fleet nearing the leeward mark with the shore as a backdrop. I can't recommend being where Dave Hansman is (under the 9657 boom): that position would make me far too nervous, having to cut through all those wind shadows plus the fear that a few of these boats might end up with buoy room!!   - click here for full-size pic

Beat #2: Al has rounded ahead of Dwight and his #1 priority here is to pinch up and make sure he is to windward and ahead rather than to leeward and further ahead. Again, the windward/ahead position protects against shift-related disasters, and it also lets the boat ahead come out of a tack to cover, still windward/ahead.

Note how John (7351) has made his move: a fine rounding has left him in clear air with the option to tack. Everybody seems to like port tack though? And yet their sailing angle would suggest that starboard tack is currently the favoured one? Marc and I have an excuse: we really have to "follow Dwight from in front" - any other course of action would be foolhardy, if not conceited! (l to r) Fred, Geoff, Michael, John  

... pass the RC boat. If Dave and Carol can hold 3rd ahead of John and Dolores (7351) the two teams will end up tied for series 3rd, and the Hansmans will win the tie-breaker by virtue of having won race 3. But again, Dave has not defended the left. And now it's likely too late, since they probably can't gybe to port and cross John without fouling him. This is why Marc and I discuss any upcoming run as we approach the windward mark. We then round knowing exactly what we want to do - which, 90% of the time - is to defend the left. I don't know how John finally got past Dave and ended up 3rd in both the race and the series, but here, he is certainly well placed to control Dave until he gets an overlap and the crucial inside edge at the mark!!  

... still within striking distance of a 3rd-place finish that might well give them series 3rd. Ah, the beauty of defending the left side: note how John's position to the left of Dave, controls the latter who can't gybe until John chooses to let him. Don't you hate it when that happens? Marc and I most certainly do!!!