Wouters point on the first upwind beat is right and if you can outpoint everyone on that beat then you stand a good chance of being first down the downwind bit.

So are we agreed then that the midpole snuffer is well tried and tested and is the way to go even if it has poor aerodynamic properties, if so that then is saying that the A's on a typical short course can get away on the first beat and then we are following from there on.

Sort of sums up my racing against the A's so far, in their dirty air I always seem to be struggling up the first beat and then catch them up downhill to just repeat it all over again next beat, ah well I've done a lot of thinking on this and its time to come up with a dastardly plan.