Always especially capable in these wind strengths, Dwight and Pat have pinched off Uncle Al to take over the lead. Right here, both Dwight and Al have to be worrying about Leo (r) way over to the left. With this much separation between us and Leo, slight changes in angle can translate into huge gains or losses. The oscillation cycle indicates that we are due to get a port knock, and we need to sail our own race here, i.e. wait for the knock and then tack, letting the rest take care of itself.   - click here for full-size pic

The same applies to Marc (864) who rounded onto this beat ahead of Leo (r) only minutes ago. If another boat gets lifted inside you in oscillating shifts, as has happened between Marc and Leo here in a big way, the absolute worst thing you can do is to tack with the rationale: "Look how well he's doing over there!!" In these winds, both Leo and Marc have to be doing hull speed, so it's not as if you'll go faster if you go where Leo is now. Leo has gained on angles, pure and simple, and if you tack over, all you do is confirm his lead. No. Marc must put Leo out of his mind, and concentrate on keeping his boat moving instead. Sooner or later, the expected 30° knock for both boats will almost instantly eliminate most or all of Leo's advantage. The only time I would consider tacking across with the boats positioned as they are here, would be in light winds, if the windward boat was clearly getting far better breeze.   - click here for full-size pic

... start the run in the lead with Al a close 2nd. Marc (l) has been lifted way high of the mark. Grounds for debate here: There are those (including Dr. Stuart Walker) who say that you should do what Marc is doing here, and "put money in the bank". I disagree: I can't see any difference between what Marc is doing here and underlaying the mark if starboard were giving him this direction. For my money, you simply cannot do better than going faster (footing towards the mark above) and sailing the shortest distance. Though I am willing to concede that one (Marc here, for instance) can sail out of the lifted streak sooner by footing towards the mark. But I only worry about that possibility if I am defending a lead and my pursuer insists on pointing to the max - especially late in the race! If this were the finish mark, I would go as high as my (only close) opponent until the latter bore off for the mark or until I was so high of the mark that I could beam reach to it.

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A lovely, close three-way race: (l to r) Leo, Dwight, Al. The latter is already starting to "defend the left". This is Al's default strategy on any buoys-to-port run where the left leaves you well placed for buoy room at the leeward mark, and leaves you in a right-of-way position over the right-side boats until then. Julia allows that Al might consider raising the pole instead!!!

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