[paulk]

It''s a bit like how you get to Carnegie Hall --- practice, practice practice. Each boat is going to react a little differently in different conditions. Each wave is different from the next, too. Essentially you have to go out and see what works. Knowing some theory and having an idea of what you want to do is great, but the only real way to "shift gears" is to be in the situations that require them. On a standard-shift car, you need to be going fast enough for the next gear before you can shift into it. If you shifted before that point, you''d stall out. On a boat, the boat, the wind speed, point of sail, and wave conditions all factor
in to the equation, and you need the experience to know how your boat handles and to know what you think you should do. Sometimes you make the right choice, and you come out fine. Sometimes you make the wrong choice and you still come out fine. Sometimes Murphy shows up, and there''s a problem. Practice.