WOW! That's a lot of info. Let me take several points...

I have rearranged my schedule so that I can sail next June-October in
a Wednesday night "Beer-Can" race series. I'll be sailing a Catalina
250 or 27 in the "Cruiser" class. (No spinnakers)

Which is it? Since you say "Cruiser Class" I'm guessing that you are
racing handicap rather than one-design. The Catalina 27 has a one-
design fleet in many areas.

It's a handicap race. I remember our skipper working hard to cross the
finish less than 3-1/2 mins behind the guy in front. We were about 3
mins behind, so beat him.

1. Put together a crew. (Or if I can put together two crews, we can
practice/race together to keep an edge on and learn together until
June.)

That can be a challenge all by itself. Even experienced skippers with
more enticing rides can take time to pull together a good crew.

I can see that without that, nothing else will follow, so I need a
plan there. I do have access to two different marinas with weekly
classes at several levels, so a flyer or ad on their bulletin bords
seems a good idea.

I have several books on racing and rules. I understand the basics of
rules, but right now, lose most rules in the heat of the moment.

As long as you have a grasp of the 4 basic situations:
port/starboard
windward/leeward
ahead/astern
overlapped at a mark or obstruction


Got these in my head, but realize in a crowd, I'll have trouble coping
until I get more experience/confidence.

I've
ordered a bunch of sailing books.

Forget "a bunch" of books.
Get and read this one
"Start To Win" by Eric Twiname.http://www.amazon.com/Start-Win-Eric...884/ref=sr_1_1...

It is by far the clearest, best-organized, and readable book on how to
do well in sailboat races. If you grasp the material in this book, you
will be schooling most any local fleet and getting silver in most
national fleets.


I'll get it right away. Thanks!

I'm getting a feel for rigging and getting in a groove upwind

Pointing versus footing? Shifting gears for lulls, waves, traffic?
Depowering when it's gusty?

Let me rephrase: On a beginner *Sailing 101* level, I've got the idea.
But in this area, I'm nowhere near ready for the big time.

but
have no clue what I'm doing downwind. (If the strategy is anything but
head for the downwind mark, I'm not sure what course(s) to steer and
why.)

Again, a complex subject. Basically you maximize VMG according to what
options the apparent wind gives you. It's the opposite of sailing
upwind (duh) in that you *want* to go into a header. You go up in the
lulls, down in the gusts. When the is powered up just aim at the mark.


And I've read this, but know that I don't "feel" it yet. Working on
this.

What can I do when there are no other boats around to find out how I'm
doing?

Routine drills to learn how to SAIL your boat. For example, pick a
mark like a channel bouy (when there's no traffic going by) and
practice 1 minute starts. When you can get you bow slicing a few feet
from the bouy, close hauled, right at GO, then you will be prepared to
get a good start in a racing fleet... provided you can then prioritize
getting a spot in a jumbled fleet, something you can't practice
alone.... but you stand NO chance of getting a good start until you
can get the boat ON the spot, At the second, and MOVING.

THANKS! The best practical tip I've gotten so far. I can do this! I'll
work on this this weekend.

Again, thanks for your time and insights!