[geohan]

I believe you have a fair grasp on sailing through the waves to windward. To put a finer edge on it you might check out Chapter Twenty Two of "High Performance Sailing" by Frank Bethwaite. As for ''shifting gears'', my sense is that it is more about sail trim than helming, ie., the throttle rather than the steering wheel. Bethwaite covers this also. Be sure to note the major trim and power differences between light airs, less than 5-knots and a breeze greater than 6-knots. Regards, George.