Light air days seem to be the norm in the summer months around here. So you might as well make it be your friend instead of your foe. Two weekends ago while you were off to Eustis, we had our usual club race at GYC- gone were the A-cats and the usual top f16 sailors (you know whom I mean) we had 1-f16 2-Hobie 16 and 1-Hobie 14 now all but the hobie14 were skippered by some what novice sailors.
So the first race I head towards the A mark on starboard tack heading out into the middle of the bay. All the while I'm watching Tony on the H14 hugging the shore. I don't think I need to tell you who rounded the A mark first. So thats that and race one is done. Race 2 I run a similar course as I saw Tony run in race 1 and what you know good air,better pointing and more speed.
So the local knowledge or knowledge of the conditions in similar areas can make a hugh difference in your abilities. Now I love to race, actually I sail to race, but I find when I am racing, I concentrate on the boats around me and focus on them more and not on the sailing elements. Now when I practice there is usually not to many boats around and all I have is the elements and the boat to focus on.
So I think a combination of the two, racing and practicing can really help compliment each other.
The one thing I have read over and over on this forum
is get out there and sail and that is what I am doing. So sometime instead of coming up for the race come up to practice, get out there and sail with just your boat and or your crew.
My schedule for this weekend, Friday afternoon take the wife out for the Sunfish sailing let her get some expierence with herself and just the boat, Saturday afternoon I'm out for some F16 practice and Sunday take the wife out for some F16 practice. It is suppose to be a gorgeous weekend with good air.
All this while you will be at JPOR.

One thing that Commodore Bob has mentioned to me several times is, he would like to get a sailing clinic going on the Fourth Saturday of every month with the main purpose of learning and practicing.Using our expierenced sailors to help our not so expierenced sailors and who knows maybe they might learn a thing or two from us. This sounds like an excellent idea to me and I think I shall help him get it off the ground and rolling.
Hey all you out there have fun at JPOR. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />