Still recognizing that John (7351) is virtually tied with us (3854) in the series, we have decided on a simple race strategy, which is to pace ourselves against John. To that end, we have placed ourselves to leeward and ahead of him. Note how most of the fleet remains in "edging" mode, a technique easily acquired with a bit of practice. Doing what Colin (929) and ...

... Jason (nearest the camera) are doing here is very risky not only to yourself but to your fellow racers who are doing things the right way. Running down the line this close to it, leaves you no real hope of ever slowing down and sitting in the place you want to be. Worse, most sailors who end up running down the start line out of control, also instinctively refuse to be over early. Anything, they seem to feel, is better than that! So instead, they end up bouncing off leeward boats or forcing the right-of-way boats to join them in their suicide run down the line. We all deserve better than this!! That did not happen here, but it does happen more often than not. So, if you feel targeted by my remarks, do yourself and the rest of us a favour, and learn how to edge up to the line. (Well, that's my Ontarios rant over with!)

... is now letting him move into a decent slot to windward of Bill (937). And since Frank (648) is about to be blanketed by Al, John will end up with relatively clear air. A fine start for Tony (4105) who is being helped by the fact that Bill (937) is ragging his main, which on the other hand, makes life tough for Dave Hansman right behind him!

A split second later, fresh developments: To windward of Al (3854), Andrew Gumley is doing the often very useful "slightly late at the windward end" start to perfection, having waited just long enough so that Al is no longer in a position to squeeze him out at the RC boat. A well executed, slightly late start at the windward end, leaves you freedom to tack for clear air pretty much immediately. On the far right ...   

Quite apart from the fact that he may have to rely on Jamie's good nature to escape having to do a "tacking too close" 720, the tacking boat here is virtually certain to get buried, almost immediately - and at this point in the race, buried by most of the fleet. In this situation, it is wiser to take the long view, namely that by bearing away behind this (relatively) short line of boats now, one is only perhaps 30 seconds away from having far more viable options. Most of the boats you'd go behind, won't (be able to) tack for some time, so you'll still end up with port tack pretty much all to yourself, at least long enough to re-consider your strategy! Meanwhile, back at the RC boat, Andrew is almost ...  

... to the point of taking Al's (3854) wind. The latter must get up to speed at all costs, so definitely no pinching here! Note how John (7351) has in fact made a silk purse from a sow's ear, as has Dave. Both have reached clear air and their fate is now in their own hands. Still champing right along is Tony (4105) as well!!

What an excellent racing moment this is! It underscores the need for speed at the start line more than at any other place in the race! At left, Al (3854) is indeed bearing away to urgently get SHADES up to full speed, and does so just in time to escape the Gumley axe! Buoyed up by this narrow escape, Al proceeds to go back to ...  

... has Andrew G, and more importantly for Al's series, John (7351) safely tucked away. Of course, if John tacks here, he can get away from Al who, for the moment at least, is trapped on starboard by Andrew (4610). The other Andrew (9657) should be footing off, not pinching here, since doing the latter has only gotten him into Al's wind shadow faster!

... likely to bring one of two useful results for Al: either Andrew will get tired of being slowed down by the backwind of the pinching Al and tack away, or Al's seriously disturbed air will cause Andrew to fall off far enough that Al will be able to tack without fouling Andrew.

In this much wind, both Colin (929) and Paul (3933) need to vang their main until the upper batten is parallel to the boom. Letting the leech twist off like this kills pointing. It works much better to use vang to de-power. This flattens the main, and if that's not enough depowering, then the mainsheet can be eased with its leech still tight and helping you to point!!