That Extra 2-3%

Not quite so - my boat was 8419 - nearly 20 years old at the time, ok I had 'upgraded it' twin poles, decent mast and sails - but actually the basic boat was going every bit as fast Mike's and Andy's - they just did those 2 tacks in a choppy sea, far better than I did and they just made fewer mistakes.  Now as to who won the race between them, and why, the 2-3% bit, I can't answer that!

My claim to fame was going through the start gate at a 505 Nats next to Mike Holt and Andy Smith, more by luck than good judgement.  On the first beat, we were hanging on ok, I'd clearly got the rig about right (see above about luck and judement) but by the windward mark both boats had literally gone - all that had happened was 2 tacks.  So I go with Mike, I know his preparation is excellent and clearly so is his practice - clealy shows.  From what I've seen from the mid to rear of the fleet, the guys up front get the rig right, and then make very few mistakes and keep it clean.  I haven't seen too many heroics, - just solid sailing - when I've been close enough to see!

Not do it better, but see it better. Be better at picking the right options whenever they occur. We all know to sail to the shifts but we still get stuck on the wrong one more or less often. We know to pick a clear lane, but still get stuck in dirty air when we could have avoided it, had we seen the situation clearly, seen the possibilities early enough.

Maybe that is the 2%.

 so what we're actually saying is "to get that extra 2-3% all we have to do is do everything 2-3% better" 

Originally posted by Mike Holt I have been that sailor who bangs a corner and takes flyers. Being the better prepared and better practiced sailor who plays the percentages is far more effective!