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"Stefan" wrote in message
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I've used gates in some large fleet events e.g. Cork Week and
championships. In practice it is almost invariably boat-on-boat
considerations which determine which is best to use. The gates are close
enough together that you are not choosing which side of the beat to go.
Therefore I will usually make a late decision based on which side I am
most likely to have an inside overlap. This is based in part on
decisions nearby boats appear to be making. The crew has to be capable
of being very responsive to late calls.

If there really was no other traffic, I'd generally just go for the one
with the simpler rounding e.g. approaching on starboard gybe - go for
starboard gate (looking downwind), or for the nearer one if one were
more upwind that the other (which they often are although they are not
meant to be).

If I had a strong preference to go, say, on the left side of the beat
I'd probably go for the port gate, on the basis that I usually tack
shortly after the rounding to clear my air and would then be heading
left. I always try to decide which side of the beat is preferred as part
of my pre-start routine and then review that decision after the beat
ready for the next. In principle you ought to be able to say things
like: I am headed on port on the run therefore I want to tack early onto
the starboard lift after the mark. In practice I find boat-on-boat
tactics almost invariably take over until you are clear of the mark.

Gates are fun and create more passing opportunities; I wish we had them
more often.

Keep in mind its not just the traffic at the mark you need to
worry about. If you're sailing in a large fleet and you're not
near the back, you're going to be stuck on one side of the
course or the other until you clear the rest of the downwind
boats. This could mean that you will be forced to sail on a
headed tack for longer than you'd like.

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