>>>The example you make proves the point. If the leader applies tactis to situation and covers the boats behind he looses. All he can do is go as fast a possible.

In handicap racing he has more to cover and therefor the decisions become more complex and tactics deepen. Not that I dislike OD racing but the describtion given about Handicap racing as being less tactical is just not true.

Especially in club racers where OD class are often small to minute (0-5 boats); here you mostly have only one true competitor and if you always cover him no matter what then you'll do fine. When you handicap race with the other 10 to 20 boats on the course than you'll also have to keep an eye on other competitive sailor who happen to sail a different type of boat. Now you have to adjust your tactic to out preform the sailor that is most likely to outperform you on handicap. This in turn allows you OD competition to sneak away or to choose to go the other way than the other hot shot. There is nothing more annoying than being garanteed to be covered all the time by the same boat. Now in OD fleets of some size (=+10 but preferably more) than the situation changes but in OD fleets of less than 5 boat it is all way to predictable.

Besides It wouldn't be the first time that a Prindle 16 by Frank and Hester at our club gave the big boys on F-18's and I-20's a huge scare. This season all the faster crews eyeball the boat right behind them and the Prindle 16 sailed by F and H. Sometimes they even change tactics during the races to go to the other side of the course to make sure that that P16 doesn't beat them.

Would I want a world championship in this format ? No, but it sure is a hell of lot more complex and also enjoyable than what the OD's claim.

Wouter