Bart Senior wrote:

Case 1:

The apparent wind would shift aft and increase slightly.

I'd ease the fine trim on the jib and the main, and trim
back in as I headed up.


Very close. The trim should be carried out automatically by the
trimmer(s). When/how do you head up?


Case 2
I assume you mean the true wind direction does not
change. That would not be immediately "apparent".


Huh? The apparent wind changes immediately.

My immediate reaction would be to wait a bit and coast
while I studied the water upwind for clues.


In this case, your pragmatism is close to what I think is the best response.


In this case, I'd have the option of coasting in the same
direction hoping for the wind to fill in again--powering
through the lull with the momentum of the boat.

Yes. You keep the head slightly too high (due to the wind moving
forward) until boat speed drops to that expected for the wind conditions
and only then bear off slowly. The key is to hit the polar spot on with
minimal drag inducing helm changes (i.e. it's OK to take helm off but
not to add it). Your immediate reduction in helm applied that results
from the reduction in pressure helps the coast carry too. Less able
skippers cause the boat to bear off immediately to follow the apparent
wind shift by not immediately easing the helm or even worse by adding
it. Sail trim happens as the boat comes back onto her polar.

Or, if
I felt the original puff was not representative of the
typical conditions of the day, I'd bear away slightly to keep
the boat in the groove, which you might be forced to do,
if the wind did not pick up immediately. I'd try to get a
little bit of coast on my present track before bearing away
to power up. At that point I would want fuller sails for
more power and make adjustments accordingly--easing
the backstay for example.


Much better answers than Doug by the way. You can helm.

Cheers