Re: tacking

>>>
>>> Just to clarify a bit to keep the naysayers from complaining, the five

>>> degree rule is used unless a certain wind ****ft is in the offing.

I'm glad you clarified that! An unpredictable wind****ft is just as likely
to 
be in your favour as out of it of course.

Given a
>>> more or less steady wind that requires a beat to the destination a
yacht 
>>> should get directly to the leeward of the destination in one long tack

>>> at the beginning of the beat. Overshoot by five degrees and then come 
>>> about and overshoot on that tack by five degrees again and repeat
until 
>>> you fetch up at the destination. The reason for this five degree rule
is 
>>> valid because a yacht that puts herself in that position has the 
>>> advantage should the wind ****ft in any direction by virtue of having a

>>> shorter direct distance to the destination. Getting to leeward of your

>>> destination right away and working towards it using short tacks is the

>>> seamanlike way to sail and many a race has been won that way. Many a 
>>> race has been lost not using the five degree rule.

Mostly other factors are more im****tant. If cruising, the ability to lie 
back with a G&T
on one tack for longer means higher angles are more comfortable, whereas 
dinghy racing up a narrow
river may require a 2º rule! Also in dinghy racing tacking slows one down
so 
a balance
between the shortest course and speeds need to be made.
 Further, I doubt if the single handed ocean racers stick to a 5º rule as
it 
would
mean far too many tacks, straining both the sailor and the gear. Can't
argue 
with Wilbur's maths ( or should that be
math? ) though.

TonyB