Mary, I was not responding to you directly, just to the whole post and the wonderful game of sailing in general. I was happy at the back, and now Im happy in the upper middle. Maybe one day I will be happy at near front. I learn everytime I go out on the race course, and when I sail locally I teach and learn. When I sail regionally I learn and teach. Nationally I learn and pass things on. Thats how we all learned, some of us took it a step further and had coaches, but most learned from watching the boat in front, and then over a beer that night. Thats what it makes it fun and allows me to enjoy the sport. Its generally a good group of people that we sail with. Its sad when the game becomes so important that we dont see the fun in coming in second, or protesting the race commitee for lack of wind(opening up can of worms now). Ive never owned a protest flag, and dont plan on no matter what level of competition I reach. Its just best to sail with people who follow the rules, and are sportsman enough to do whats right, and then buy me a beer when they are wrong and vice versa. It can all be managed with beer, I promise...