Tactical 'Pop' Quiz

I can think of several things, which one did you have in mind? The possible tidal lee bow, the confusion over shifts or bends....

GRF, have you been naughty and taken a statement out of context, by any chance?

Not an awful lot wrong with it. The article is about the
final approach to the windward mark, not the strategy
for the whole beat.

If the current is flowing left-to-right, I'd be looking
to avoid getting on the starboard layline too early at
all costs so "approaching from the left" is a fair call,
I'd say.

"Oscillating wind shifts are in the main bending in from
the left".
That's just a badly-worded description IMO. But if
there's a strong chance of the next shift being a lefty,
then yes, of course that'd also support going up the
last bit of the beat left-of-centre.

I can't spot too much wrong with it.

Well all the strategy I would have planned for a beat in circumstances
described would be an early lee bow off the line (fundamental imv) on
Starboard from the Port end, then if lucky enough to meet a significant
knock bang over early for the requisite time making sure not to go too down
tide and certainly nowhere near the starboard wind based layline, then
another final leebow up to the mark coming from shallow right.

Under no circumstance would I be on either wing if it was shifting around.





Edited by G.R.F.

Good stuff their thanks ... but the lee bow bit is a Braithwate for me (whooosh over me heed ) Could you clarify please?

Had an argument once about tidal lee bow, with an Olympic coach, he
didn't get it either and very rudely and abrubtly halted the lecture I'd
been giving his squad on the subject of tidal courses, startlines and the
various strategies best taken to deal with them.

Many year later I had the good fortune to spot him 'coaching' the then
Olympic squad as to the best strategy to approach a particular course and
incoming tidal scenario over a long distance race. His opinion as to the
correct approach to the tide and a wind bend over the cliffs and how and
when to deal with it clearly sketched on a white board for all to see.

My view was exactly opposite to his advice. I wasn't actually going to
enter as I'd only been there to watch, but it was to tempting to resist, so I
did, went for the 'other' cliffs and sailed the four mile beat with the
incoming tide full on my lee bow.

When I got to the windward mark, he and the rest of the Olympic Gravy
Trainers were there in the support boat, their 'squad' yet to arrive, barely
visible as they, followed by the rest of the fleet, were sailing up tide on
the wrong side of the beat about ten minutes behind tide now squarely
on their weather bows.

Leaving them to face the most delectable rant from a 48 yr old retiree on
the merits of volunteers driving all the way to Weymouth at their own
expense to offer tidal lectures to young Olympic aspirants and how best
they should be given the chance to listen next time and how much longer
did they think it would be until they caught up.

Funnily enough I've not been invited back.

So yes, tidal lee bow is often of more overiding import than some
windshifts particularly in sub planing circumstances given the increased
boat/board speed and better VMG achieved when it's favorable.

Edited by G.R.F.