Pete, we were on an inland lake, light air. In those conditions I look for ripples on the water and go there. Stuart Walker and many other guru's have said in those conditons, "Stay out of the middle, go to the edge of the lake."

But in that kind of really light air, I do think luck has a lot to do with it. Of course the top guys seem to get lucky -all the time-, so skill must be mixed in there somewhere. The skill would be to notice where the wind is better and go there.

In a race with stronger and more consistant direction, speed is the only thing that matters downwind, more speed makes you sail deeper, then, you are sailing more toward the leeward mark. At least that's the theory. Making it happen is a whole different ballgame though.

Oh, and did I mention I live on an inland lake that features light air? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />