Uncle Al's
Pictorial Pearls of Wisdom
 from the Canadian Nationals
a potpourri of educational items suggested by the photos
They're off! Jens and Sharon Biskaborn (r) are about to ...
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... port-tack the fleet! Note how they are going up the lake almost directly towards the windward mark while ...
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... most of the other boats are going mostly across the lake and not getting much closer to the windward mark.
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Al rounds with a narrow lead over Dwight. Never mind defending his wind against Dwight. All Marc and Al want to do here is get out from under the cliff where the risk of getting no wind at all is high.
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Al holds the boom out so that he can heel the boat slightly to windward to help the spinnaker fill (and to reduce wetted surface).
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Al and Marc are already discussing how to avoid Al's upwind errors made in this race as they cross 3rd. One of the many joys of sailing with Marc is that he never wastes time and effort on placing blame.
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Mike (2nd from right) should be able to tack and cross Alastair any time now. Holding on any longer is begging to have the return oscillation pin Mike onto starboard at the mercy of Alastair (r). Cross 'em while you can, says Stuart Walker!
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Mike (2nd from right) has tacked, as has Alastair (r). The latter should probably tack again, since he could then sail into the wind patch that is giving Mike such a nice lift!
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Coming up the final beat of the day, Marc and Al (l) are doing a text book job of defending their lead: They held port around the mark until second-place Mike was about half-way to the mark, at which point they tacked such that (above) they are more or less positioned directly between Mike and the finish line (where these photos are being taken).
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With this much lead, Al (r) can easily afford to delay or speed up his tacks in order to pick better shifts or gusts in which to tack.
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I like the way John and Dolores (l) are "attacking" Jens and Sharon from leeward and ahead here as second best option to being windward and ahead if you can get it! Of course, on Fanshawe and other small lakes, nothing is very certain, but assuming you are both sailing the lifted tack, the next shift - the percentages say - should be a knock that will benefit the boat to leeward and ahead. I know! I know! There are half a dozen scenarios in which John could lose here, but on average, John's approach will bring better results. In this instance, John edged Jens for 3rd place.
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John and Dolores (l) have moved well and hold a comfortable lead over Mike Codd and Jens Biskaborn as the fleet reaches along the east shore towards the gybe mark. Marc and Al (r) lie 7th but have sailed low and further away from the dangerous windward shore - note apparent mast height - in hopes of passing a boat or two, not to mention getting inside at the gybe mark.
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Indeed, Marc came up at the last minute while the windward boats hit a lull and each other, and has moved into 4th while the rest of the fleet, similarly becalmed sits at the mark.
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Starting beat #2, John and Dolores (r) have a big lead, but are playing with fire here. No matter how nice the wind may look out in the middle, John and Dolores should be putting some of their big lead onto each tack (i.e. stay between their nearest pursuers and the next mark). Even if this means tacking off a lift or giving up on expected better winds - it's what Stuart Walker means when he advises: "Spend your lead!" Here, John should tack immediately!
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"Yah!" I used to hear my Junior Sailors argue, "But look at the great winds I got by going out here!!" "Yes, but it's a risk that you didn't need to take." Here, John could have defended against a huge starboard lift by putting half or even only a third of his big lead to windward of Mike and Jens, then tacked again, and still reached this great wind well before the other two. "Don't be greedy!" Stuart Walker wisely says.
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Lured by the possibility of better breeze, many boats went almost at right angles to the rhumb line to get here - usually a low percentage move!
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John de Boer continues his horizon job as he and Dolores near the gybe mark for the second time. Marc (3rd from right) is again taking the low road away from the shore and will move up into 2nd place.
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Marc and Al have a healthy lead starting up the second beat, with Jens and Sharon (7663) running 2nd. Marc and Al should have tacked by now, to cover, especially since Jens is virtually laying the mark here.
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Some boats have spotted better breeze under the cliff.
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Note the Finn run form for the spinnaker-less Scott Town (9239). Theoretically, this keeps the Centre of (the sails') Effort more directly above the Centre of (the boat's) Resistance, and reduces helm.
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Only Alastair (3rd from left) and Marc (note apparent mast length once more) are taking the off-shore detour and will ...
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... make their moves in more consistent wind pressure.
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An amazing come-back for Alastair but especially for Marc who will round in first or second place here as I recall.
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Uncle Al will have to foot here since he will be blanketed by Jens if he doesn't increase his speed and get further to leeward.     
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