Jeff Morris wrote in message
...
Sorry about the late reply - this got lost in the noise
If the club boats are racing (which they do several nights a week) it is
a common courtesy to stay well clear. However, one point that has been
often discussed here is how much room should you give to a straggler,
who may be a mile behind the rest of the fleet?

That is a rather difficult one. Once I was sailing up the middle of the
Solent against the tide so as to keep clear of a whole lot of racing boats
that were working up in the slack water close inshore. I overtook a small
yacht who asked me 'Are you racing?' When I replied 'no' he said 'well,
**** off out of it then'. I pointed out to him that all his opponents were
well inshore out of the tide and leaving him well behind. He took a look at
them and without another word went inshore to join them...!