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As you approach the weather mark in a crowd and = sail in a=20 progressively smaller cone of water, finding a clear lane becomes more=20 difficult. It=92s important to know what boats are ahead of you, = anticipate their=20 next moves, and react accordingly. Doing so will allow you to sail in = clear air=20 for as long as possible while sticking close to your overall leg = strategy. Here=20 are tactics for dealing with situations you may encounter at the top of = the=20 beat.

Just behind, approaching a long = layline

You=92re just=20 behind a pack of boats as you approach a long port or starboard layline. = In this=20 situation, tacking on the layline will result in a lot of time spent = sailing in=20 bad air. It may also force you to overstand in an effort to find clear = air. Both=20 scenarios will cost you boats. You can avoid this by tacking before the = layline.=20 The tricky part, however, is choosing exactly when to tack. =

It=92s likely=20 that you, as well as the boats around you, are sailing towards the = layline=20 because it=92s the correct way to go. Maybe you=92re waiting for a shift = or sailing=20 toward a puff. If so, you may have to tack early to avoid the layline = and stay=20 in clear air. To avoid tacking any sooner than you need to, anticipate = when the=20 boats in front of you will tack. How early you need to tack depends on = how many=20 boats are ahead. You don=92t want to give up any more than is necessary = with=20 regard to the shift or puff. Keep in mind that everyone else will be = trying to=20 stay in clear air as well.

International 505 champion Peter = Alarie=20 explains this concept by thinking of clear lanes as numbered in order of = desirability. The lead boat is going to take lane No. 1. The number one = lane may=20 be right on the shift or on the layline. To keep its air clear, the = second boat=20 will take lane No. 2, to leeward of No. 1. The third boat will take No. = 3 and so=20 it goes down the line for all the boats that are close enough to affect = your=20 air. If you=92re in fourth position, you can=92t tack in lane No. 3. If = you try,=20 you=92ll end up in bad air.

There=92s often an opportunity to be = the=20 "vulture." If you=92re in fifth position and you see the fourth boat = sail past=20 lane No. 4, then it=92s yours. The fourth boat will end up overstanding = or sailing=20 in bad air. If this is the case, you will most likely pass them on the = next=20 crossing even though you sacrificed some of the shift or = puff.

Make sure=20 you consider how much you=92ll give up strategically and weigh it = against the=20 gains you=92ll make by sailing in clear air. Occasionally it pays to = spend some=20 time in bad air in order to get to a good spot on the = racecourse.

Just=20 behind, approaching a short starboard layline

Imagine = yourself behind=20 a pack of boats, approaching a short layline. This is similar to the = previous=20 example except that you=92re closer to the mark. When approaching the = port=20 layline, it=92s usually best to tack out early any time you=92re not = leading,=20 especially when you=92re in a pack of boats.

Approaching a short = starboard=20 layline is a common scenario. If the group in front of you is tightly = packed,=20 consider overstanding. As the lead boats tack on the layline, boats = approaching=20 on port will be tempted to leebow rather than duck a long line of = starboard=20 tackers. A boat that successfully leebows outside the two-length zone = may have=20 to pinch in order to make the mark, forcing the boats to weather to also = pinch.=20 The result can be a large group of boats all sailing slowly towards the = mark. An=20 extreme case of this can result in a pile up at the weather = mark.

In=20 these cases, you can make a big gain by coming in above layline at full = speed=20 and sailing around the pack while your competitors luff each other at = the mark.=20 How much you need to overstand will depend on the boats in front of you. = You may=20 need to overstand slightly more than a boat ahead of you trying to do = the same=20 thing. There=92s a point of diminishing returns. If a lot of boats in = front of you=20 overstand, you=92ll have to overstand too much in order to have clear = air. In this=20 case, it=92s better to slightly overstand and sail in bad air. Tacking = below the=20 pack should be avoided. If you=92re close to the mark this is likely to = force you=20 to the port layline and ultimately present you with a wall of starboard = tack=20 boats on the layline.

Just ahead, on the port layline



	Joseph = Comeau

	If you must = approach on or=20 near the port layline, duck boats you cannot cross. If you can = cross, make=20 sure to delay your tack until you're completely clear of the = crowd.

Sometimes you can=92t = avoid approaching the=20 mark on the port layline. If you=92re not crossing boats on the = starboard layline,=20 you have to duck them to avoid fouling. If you=92re crossing, be careful = not to=20 break Rules 13 or 18.3. Be sure to completely cross starboard-tack boats = before=20 you start your tack. You=92ll probably round after the boat you crossed, = but=20 that=92s better than doing a 720.

Just ahead, approaching a = short=20 starboard layline

If you=92re ahead approaching a short = starboard=20 layline, you=92re in good shape but not quite out of the woods. It=92s = important to=20 tack right on the layline. By nailing the layline you force your = competitors to=20 either leebow=97and risk not making the mark=97or duck. Since you would = much rather=20 have your competitors duck, it=92s good to give them a little = encouragement.=20

If it looks as if they=92re going to try a lee bow, bear off a = little bit.=20 One of two things will happen. A savvy competitor will realize that = you=92re about=20 to force them to tack below layline, and decide to duck you. A less = experienced=20 sailor will be forced to tack sooner than expected and probably botch = the lee=20 bow. In this situation, you should be able to use the extra speed = generated by=20 footing to pinch up and make the mark. Be careful not to overdo it. You = don=92t=20 want to foul (breaking Rule 16.2) and you still want to get around the = mark=20 without having to tack.

All of these situations call for a good = deal of=20 anticipation. Ask yourself, "what would I do if I were in their = position?" If=20 they behave as you anticipate, you=92ll have had plenty of time to plan = your move=20 in response. If they do something you don=92t expect, it means they=92ve = probably=20 made a mistake. This means you=92ll have an opportunity to take the = better lane=20 and make a gain before you round the weather mark.