When I'm teaching, I've noticed that students, especially those relatively
new to sailing, get very focused on the boat alone, rather than what's
around them... typically ignoring the small waves, lulls and puffs. I try to
get them to look away from what's happening on the boat and toward the
environment they're in. I think that helps, because then I can give them
help during tacks.. e.g., not tacking between chop but rather at the top if
possible.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"DSK" wrote in message
.. .
Yup... straight line sailing is faster.. turn = slowing.


OzOne wrote:
Yup, it's faster, but letting the boat roll up in the gusts and
shooting just a tad gains a whole lot of ground to windward.
Straight line an Etchells and you'll get murdered!


The way I think of it, in windward sailing you are either gaining speed or
gaining height. THe ideal would be to go fast & high, but usually as you
put the boat closer & closer to the wind, it loses drive and begins to
slow. The key is to do it gently and to know how to flatten & super-trim
the sails so as to produce a long "hang" time. Then you also have to know
the point at which the boat's underwater foils lose enough effectiveness
that you're making more leeway than gaining ground to windward.

Also, anticipate waves & lulls so as not to get caught high & slow.

If you're going to get into a pinching contest, go into it with speed!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King