I recall the Noordwijk race course to be about level with the NAM-REM race marker that Greg missed initially. Its gate was on a beam reach from the NAM-REM race marker. I actually spinnakered down deep for the first 2/3 of the leg to this marker and then doused the kite to broad reach to the mark. I felt that was the fastest way I could cover the ground. In doing so I passed only some 200 meter above the gate of the Noordwijk race course. I had been running very deep under spinnaker as in those waves I could not trapeze and keep my footing.

All in all, I too feel that Greg didn't loose too much time by this mistake. But Greg and Frank can tell us all exactly how much it was. But either way I fail to see how they had to sail upwind to make the marker when the gate of the local race (downwind mark) was already on a beam reach to the NAM-REM marker.

Wouter