Let me clarify .....

Let's say I'm approaching a leeward gate sailing downwind ... and what do I see but a "Mark Boat" displaying a placard ... let's say a "red square" for example, Ok?

That indicates a course change to "port", correct?

But if I look aft "to port" (over my port side) do I see a change mark??? No .... because my boat and I are heading/facing the wrong direction.

So the way I think about this is .... which way has the central axis of the race course rotated/pivoted ... or if you wish, which way has the new course rotated about the compass .... clock-wise or counterclock-wise from the origonal course.

So looking aft I will start my scan for the "change mark" by looking at the origonal Windward mark and slowly scanning/looking clock-wise or counter clock-wise depending on the placard displayed. What I'm doing is not trying to make the simple mistake of referencing the course change to my vessel's port/starb but to the origonal compass course itself to the windward mark.

So in my mind I link the course change to a compass rose ... and picture it, viewing it in my mind from above ... trying to work out how my plans/tactics have to change due to the course change .... (from entering the center of the gate) which gate mark seems to be favored if either .... how much traffic is at that gate mark .... do I want to round it or go the other way and do a short tack ... etc etc ...

I don't think that there is anyway of changing a course from a port rounding course to a starboard rounding or visa-versa w/o abandoning the race. Is there????

What I was asking was ... do you display the + or - and the red square or green triangle at the same time??? I would assume you can but .....

Harry