Re: Light air racing [was: Back Stay tension on a 2-29]

Mark wrote: > It is fun when you can slowly walk away from the fleet to a win. I don't race now but in college I was on the sailing team and we raced dinghies of various sorts. Tufts had the most challenging venue; it was on a lake that was like the bottom of a salad bowl with notches cut around the edges. Wind shifts were extreme and unpredictable. I remember one particular race where we were on a beat to the windward mark in light air when all of a sudden, what little wind there was died completely. I smoked in those days (stopped when I graduated, fortunately), and I remember watching the smoke rise from my cigarette. The wind was now coming from dead astern. Staring off into the distance, I quietly said to my crew member, "Don't look at me, but as quietly and slowly as you can, push the main all the way out." In moments, we were gliding through the fleet. A few other skippers finally figured out was going on, and slammed their mains forward which caused their boats to go backward. I don't remember if I won the race, but I certainly enjoyed being in the lead on that leg. Alfred Poor 1973 Tartan 34C #288 "Jambalaya" (and former Cal 29 owner)