Hi Mary,

Yes, Portsmouth is different, but it's a lot closer to chess than you describe (checkers anyone?). Unless you're the only boat on the race course, there are lots of tactical decisions to be made. There are good lanes and there are bad lanes. There are boats you should/can cover, and boats you should let go/avoid. Often, there are other boats with very similar ratings, so you are practically racing boat for boat. The rules for starts, mark rounding, etc don't care if you're sailing 1-D or handicap – you still have to consider who will have what rights when you converge. Note that this little fact makes it hard to have true 1-D racing . . . I'm used to seeing multiple fleets on the course at once. It's easy to lose time/distance because you owe room to a boat that isn't even in your fleet!

I do agree that one design, in a fleet where everyone has 'similar condition' boats, is a better test of sailing skill, but Portsmouth racing is much more challenging than you make it sound. If you make decisions as if there are no other boats on the course, you'll usually lose to those who are looking around.

Kind Regards,
Kenn