Further up that shore, we have the three leading boats, getting pretty close to the starboard layline while still a fair distance from the mark. Everyone here ought to be looking actively for an excuse to tack. Of course the problem is that port tack is at this time very lifted, allowing us to sail parallel to the shore. Compare this to Brian's heading on port in the previous picture and you'll see why no one is eager to tack onto a really knocked starboard tack!! Right about here, Uncle Al (l) decides that enough is enough, and ...

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A calculated risk for Dwight here: if he can't lay the mark, he'll have no place to go and will have to gybe away instead. Since his original alternative was to bear off to pass astern of Leo and Al and then round 3rd, and since no other boats are very close, even the worst-case scenario of a gybe will still leave him 3rd. Thus, Dwight is taking a very worthwhile gamble here.

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Looks pretty grim for Dwight here but he might as well hang in. Meanwhile, Leo's inexperience is showing through as he gets nervous and begins to luff and slow down. What he should be doing is footing off for speed (as much as he can without fouling Dwight), and then luff up at full speed as much as may be necessary when he reaches the mark - the way Dwight ...

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Looks like a spinnaker would be a borderline option on the upcoming reach towards the dam. Al (3854) is due to ease some vang very soon. There is a subtle difference between this reach and the one in race 3, Al consoles himself. The windward mark has been moved into the West Arm and we are thus not nearly as close to a windward shore as we were last time around. So, it's OK, we hope, to go a bit high - especially since Dwight and Leo are in exactly the spot we'd prefer to be in.