(l to r) Bill, Dave, Jamie. Penny, Brian. Jamie and Ben, our heavyweights are probably wise to stay low and closer to the rhumbline where they'll sail the shortest distance and be inside at the gybe mark. With their weight, they'll be well equipped for a closer, windier reach should that eventuality arise.

Right about now, Brian (or John) needs to pull the starboard spi sheet to get the spi around to the new leeward side. To make this easier, my crew Frank used to unclip the pole from the mast and the sheet just prior to the gybe - then I could easily pull the spi around without the pole getting in the way.

... to the extent that anyone who can get there will be entitled to room. In a situation like this, it is wise to get low enough that you enter the Two-Length Zone before you begin to bear away. Here 4610 is still outside the Zone and has already borne away enough to give Bill (yellow spi behind Jamie) an overlap, ergo Bill is entitled to room under Rule 18.

... broader - as Al and Marc have already found out. Since Marc has the sacred spinnaker-flying spot on the windward deck just aft of the shroud, Al is standing just aft of the thwart. By standing, Al can easily fine tune the heel to ensure no helm on the rudder. While he's relaxing, Al is thinking ahead to the fact that, if this shift holds, port tack will be greatly lifted when we start beat #2. To the point that we may be almost able to lay the windward mark - not an unpleasant prospect when you have the lead!

Aha! Now the wind has veered (clockwise shift) back to its original direction as the tight race for 2nd heats up. The second reach is often a good place to defend the windward side. In fact here, the move was to sail up in the lulls and down (insofar as possible) with the puffs. With Jamie almost right abeam and to windward, Brian (6082) especially, wants to sail up here. This does three good things: 1. in this lull, it gives him increased apparent wind and more speed when he needs it the most  2. it gets him up where it'll be harder for Jamie to pass him, not least because he can get Jamie back behind his (Brian's) stern wave  3. if Brian lets Jamie blanket him here, it's possible (even likely!) that the next three boats will also blanket and pass him. 

... ready for beat #2. This shot captures perfectly how the crew has cleated the jib in a slightly eased position and is now cranking the main in with a flourish, leaving Al with nothing to do but to concentrate on his steering - not so important here, but very useful in a crowd!

As expected, Andrew rounds to make sure no one will stick their nose in to windward of his transom. Perhaps expecting this, Dave (2nd from right) has immediately gone low with his sails set perfectly for speed. He already seems to be past Andrew's wind shadow (if not Wind Shadow!) and is far enough away from Jamie to not feel much turbulence from him. Bill has a plan, too. He goes even lower so that, as soon as he's passed the mark ...