Sorry I should have stated it clearly, your tactics must be against the whole fleet. Generally this can be broken down into 3 boats or groups of boats. One ahead, one behind and one on the other tack that you are not sure of and have to watch. You have to weigh what you are doing against everyone.

Boat speed and boat handling are a part of the race. You can't win unless you can sail with the leaders. But, unless you are historically the fastest boat out there, sailing a boatspeed only race is an invitation for disaster. You are too predictable.

For example, make a speed boat tack early. You tack to blanket them, they will tack for clear air and speed. Now they have 2 extra tacks to make it to the windward mark. If you are evenly matched, both boats will make it to the mark at about the same time. But, you have arranged it so you are on starboard and speed boat rounds behind. Even better, if you can arrange for about 3 boats to trail behind you. The odds are speed boat is going to foul someone or be in dirty air


There are a couple of people I can't sail against. When we cross, I tack. We fight it out until we are fighting for last and next to last place. There are a couple of other people, that it's like NASCAR drafting. We will fight through the fleet, to 1st and 2nd