Besides the useful comments already posted, it might be helpful to remember large size of the Express 27 rudder. With that in mind, use the rudder as little as possible. You should have someone looking behind the boat for puffs of wind. When you get the puff, instead of moving the helm have one of the more nimble crew move a body width or so to windward. The boat will lean to windward, the spinnaker will project toward the puff and without moving the rudder (which would only slow the boat down) the windward heel will steer the boat farther downwin without sacrificing a bit of boatspeed. Before the puff ends the crew you moved should move back to his/her original position to put the boat on its previous course. I've tried it on all sorts of boats and it works. It might not work at first put patience will put you where you want to be. In the really light stuff the crew can be "the rudder." He/she can move a bit to leeward to steer the boat up and then move back to windward to burn the speed off. Again, the idea is to avoid using the barn door rudder. Dave

:: HELP we sailed a light air race lastweekend 5k to6k
:: smooth water.800 pounds of weight. 2 times around
:: windward leward 1.5 mile legs. Sat on by olson 40 at
:: start, tacked away ran down a pearson flier and J29 mast
:: head. sail past to leaward tacked and crossed. Went to
:: far left but still rounded close behind. Could not keep
:: time down wind even passed by olson (2) 25s mast heads.
:: This is PHRF but is still fun. How hot should we sail
:: off the wind and would a mast head spin pay in these
:: cond. thanks for any help.