Flying Tadpole wrote:

Work this out: four boats racing (one FLying Tadpole II) in two
pairs on gently converging courses (roughly EbyS and EbyN), pairs
about 70m apart, FTII then another on port tack, other two on
starboard tack, meeting another boat coming W, also on starboard
tack. All five have the wind forward. FT2 is hard on a cliff with
no upwind manoeuvring room. WHat happens next? (Clayton Narrows
on the lower Murray, 1994 or 95).

Hail for room to tack. The usual call is "Water!" which I always answer
with "Beer!" but give room anyway.

Don't you find the wind diminished in strength and somewhat flukey hard
under a cliff? Or did it not matter 'cuz you could keep way on with full
topsails?

Fresh Breezes- Doug King