Going left on upwind has paid off on all races.

‘One thing that should be ruled out by your boy though is going for the left buoy, then tacking right, under all the dirty air of the oncoming fleet, then coming back left again to do it all over, sorry whatever you might say, not many windsurfers at the front of our fleets would do that, in their right minds that is.’

Try this scenario:-

·         Fleet of 60 boats.

·         Boat ‘X’ in about 30^th position heading for the gate.

·         Starboard mark at gate about 20 metres further to windward than port mark.

·         More pressure on the right up the beat so right is the favoured side.

·         A string of port tack boats heading right from the port gate mark.

·         Boats behind compressing  as they close on the gate.

Should boat ‘X’ join the string of boats heading right from the port mark or round the starboard mark, tack and cross through the running boats looking for a clear lane once it is clear of the running fleet?

BTW I have never questioned GRF's skills on a sailboard and am pleased that he has transferred his enthusiasm to dinghy sailing.  Have his legendary sailboard skills transferred to dinghies?  Perhaps we will see at the Forumites Open Meeting (if we get any interest).