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Shifting gears
Strategic reasons for
shifting gears
Any time there is a gain to be made by either sailing faster
or higher to get to the weather mark first, is said to be strategic.
Usually this is to get to try to get to a shift first or get
into or out of current.
After starting at the pin end of the line and you are expecting
the wind to shift to the left or there to be more wind on the
left it can be a huge advantage to sail the boat in speed mode
to get to the left quickly. This will allow you to get both
to the shift first and have more leverage on the fleet when
you get to it.
If you start in a header and are expecting a lift before you
can tack sail the boat in high mode to allow yourself to get
to the lift first.
When you are sailing with current on your lee quarter, it can
pay to sail the boat in high mode to stay in the current longer.
If you are sailing with the current on your weather bow or trying
to get out of foul tide, try to sail the boat in speed mode.
Page 5... Changing conditions
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