Symmetrical Spinnakers

I realised that Rick. I just wanted an attempt at explaining. Its called humour!

Soggy Doggie.

Neuro-linguistic programming strategy

I'm sorry Rick, I'm lost! What is neuro-linguistic programming strategy?

I see 2 types of tactics - boat on boat, and wind strategy.

Shorter courses tend to mean that boat on boat (traffic management) is all that  happens.  Not being able to gain separation between boats is the classic situation where wind strategy tactics become less important than boat on boat - that was my point.

I would disagree with your point about tactics mattering less on the sea - oscillating breeze does provide the best challenge for tactical sailing.  Rarely if ever are Dougal and I pointing at our leeward mark when we gybe on the layline - as we are usually taking into account the next 4/5 minutes sailing - increases/decreases shifts/traffic etc.  Typically on a lake, knowing which corner offers a 20 degree shift (or gust) is a more simplistic form of tactics for my money.

My comments were really aimed at classes that claim to be tactical purely on the basis that their sailplan forces a left or right @ the windward mark.  I enjoy sailing them too, but would struggle to "sell" them on the basis that they were more tactical.

Finally, I noted that the Wayfarer Nationals were won by a boat choosing to plane off on angles on the runs....way to go.....now that was a tactical choice......

Charlie W

Of course "tactical racing" has become just the marketing jargon.

However there is 1 factor that everyone seems to be missing........course length.

How tactical can racing actually be, when the course is so small that you are effectively looking for just 1 windshift per leg (upwind or down)?  Is that real tactics?  Suggests to me a binary choice - left or right.

Not just plugging my class (there are others who also sail longer legged courses), but tactics in our fleet (505's) is alive and well, and it's rarely as simple as one way or the other.

You have the initial choice of left or right; the choice of running deep, as opposed to heating up;  running in lighter airs you have a band of options giving similar vmg's (low and slow or higher and faster).  And the whole thing lasts about 1.5 miles, so subtle shades matter - rather than a call at the top of the leg, followed by a win/lose confirmation a few minutes later.

I have no beef with differing sail plans, there is space for all.  Merely it riles me when people market/assert things that are just plainly inaccurate...!

It seems to me, that if tactical racing is genuinely what classes want, then you need to race over a large enough course to give tactical options a chance to evolve.

Some things are better when they take a while....!

Tactical racing cannot really happen on a shorter course - can't have it both ways folks......