Steve,

Take a close look at the relative angle your competition is pointing into the wind and your own. Then look at who got to the weather mark first. Most often the boats looking like they are out pointing you are in reality just pinching. Cat sailing is about boat speed. Within reason if you are making better speed, chances are you are going to get there faster.

That said sailing under control with the crew controling the sail shape as opposed to the skipper running the main sheet is somewhat difficult to get used to and takes a lot of coordination and communication. When the moves are all anticipated, the contol line adjustments needed are ususally very slight, and coordinating them with the tiller to maximize up wind gains takes practise. Tiller motion needs to kept to a minimum to keep drag down. Yet you want to put that foot or 2 in the bank every chance you can get without moving too much or sacrificing your boat speed.

To me that is the thrill of sailing. Trying to run that tight edge to get everything out of the boat possible, all while going very fast and having fun.

...oh ya, and the rum.

Matt