If you're beign overtaken by another F16, how high would you luff? My inclination is to just sail my course, if I'm rolled then climb back on his tail and try to repay the favor.

What if you're the one overtaking?

I am absolutly not sure, but
If you look back and try to defend, you will loose the contact to the boats in front of you. So, if it not a match race, sail your course...

Cheers,

Klaus

IMHO I provide the following -

If you luff too far you lose speed and get passed anyway.

Better to sail your course and trim to max your speed.

Are they passing you due to better trim and settings?

Sometimes it can be easy to lose sight of your direction and purpose to just block another.

Sure by all means get in their road a little and do not make it easy but make sure you are heading for your mark.

Classic rule of match racing is to position your boat between your competitor and the mark you are heading towards, this of course becomes difficult when it is fleet racing.

Watch for the disturbed wind off their tail even slightly to windward, sometimes best to tack away and go for clear air.

Some thoughts, good luck.

Best to anticipate this and protect your ground early. Sail the same line to a boat width higher.

If they are coming down in better pressure, perhaps gybe just as they are about to roll you. This will get you deep into the pressure and help avoid sailing out the front of it.

You could also sail a bit deeper, allow them to roll you, then keep on his tail on the inside and repay the favour on the next gybe.

Many different scenarios that will require different tactics depending on where you are on the downwind / lay lines.

"Are they passing you due to better trim and settings?" Sometimes. Mostly, its' a case of the boat astern getting the puffs first.

Agreed.

Next question......

So the chapter on "spinaker strategy and tactics" is complete? Nothing need be added?

There is a paucity of information for modern cats. Indeed, you have to go all the way back to "Catamaran Sailing for the '90s" for an in depth treatise.

yep. There has been an evolution in sails and techniques running with spins, but this has not changed the strategy and tactics of racing.

Which can be summarised as "Keep free air when ever possible / sensible and sail-it-like-you-stole-it"

Any chance you'll be able to make it over for the GC?

I just saw on the news, airfares are comming down quickly across the Atlantic. Sir Richard was on and talking about how bad the traffic is off right now.

I would LOVE to come over, but lack of gainfull employment means I'll have to give it a miss. Real shame as I was looking forward to it.