Son't fight them, keep sailing your own race with YOUR optimal pointing angle and YOUR optimal speed. When don right a sloop 2-up I-20 or F18 will not pass you without some serious effort. Often you slow down by actively fighting them and allow them to pass sooner that way. I found that if you can stay ahead for a short while by sailing your own race that they tack away themselves. A good I-20/F18 racing crew knows that any elongated fight to pass any boat in front is a performance killer. In the F16 case they are not racing you so they tend to try to get away from you unless they are forced to sail the same course.

Don't be scared when they point a little higher, when they come close to you, the dirty air of your sails will reduce they pointing angle and often force them to sail towards your boat. Then you just keep sailing your own race and halve the time they wash out the back. Shout back abuse if they get frustrated. remember they are the dumb fucks to try to overtake a uni-rig so close while sailing a sloop rig.

If they indeed (eventually) pass you tack away behind them towards clean air unless you are close to the mark or this leg is REALLY favoured.

Get this down properly will be enough work for you. Hell, I still get angry with myself for for getting these simple rules sometimes.

Wouter