270 degrees: In the northern circle with the mean wind at 270 degrees, it once again pays to work the shifts left-of-middle, because of the divergence - a lighter wind band along the northern shore line. 270-330 degrees: With the wind now in the north-west sector coming over relatively high ground, it’s back into the shifty/gusty mode. Once again, know when you are high and low on either tack, and keep your eyes more out of the boat, looking for the gusts and shifts. Middle Racing Area Normally positioned due east of Paignton, this race track is the furthest from the land to the north and south. Wind Direction 330-040 degrees: From this sector, the wind is still in the shifty mode. So use the shifts, but work the course left-of-middle, looking for the increase in wind in the convergent band to the left. In the top left hand corner of the course, you may find a lift on port tack, on or near the port layline, so be careful not to overstand the mark. 040-140 degrees: This is the clearest direction for the wind and the roughest for the sea state. We have raced in some big waves and swells when the wind is in the eastern sector - exciting stu ff ! The wind is at its most stable in both direction and strength, no great gains either side of the course, tide may be a factor now, which we will look at later. 140-180 degrees: Facing the wind direction, we now have the land mass on our starboard side. If you get close enough to it, there is less wind, so you will need to be working the beat middle and left, for more wind. 180-240 degrees: Shifts again with the wind in the south-to-south-west sector, with the land mass now predominantly on the starboard side. Once again we should be working the shifts middle-to-left for more wind, staying away from the divergence wind band on the right side of the course. 240-330 degrees: Shifts again, watching for high and low numbers on the compass. The shifts are more frequent and over a wider arc as you get closer to the shore. Also, keep in mind that as you get closer to the shore, if the windward mark is within half a mile of it, the first shift of wind as it blows from land to sea is to the right, so look for more lifts on Wind Direction 330-020 degrees: Small shifts, coming o ff the northern shore, but small and not that frequent. Do not tack on them unless they are large enough to gain an advantage in the design of boat that you are in. 020-120 degrees: If the wind is a north-easterly, this is a rough part of the bay with the backwash of waves coming back at you from the south- west corner. This is the clear wind sector with the wind at its most stable in both direction and strength. 090-140 degrees: Once again, we now have the land mass on the starboard side of the course. That is the divergence side for the wind, there’s less wind on the right, so work the beat middle-to-left to stay in more pressure. port tack when you close with the land. South Race Area (North of Brixham)
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