Breaking it Down

I have jumped at the chance of sailing in the fledgling Express fleet we have here in town, with three active this year and possible the club doing another hand-me-down purchase of a fourth next year. Ok, it is only crewing until maybe someone invites me to helm or I get in the woodwork enough to ask politely What though, can I learn about helming and racing from being crew? Well tonight's practice will have a fortuitous wind direction, hugging the coast line and making for two good course possibilities with shortening also possible given the permanent bouys and skerries to round on W-L So then I want to look at line bias, favoured tack , favoured side and maybe wind shifts This means looking at the compass 1. shoot the breeze 2. note compass direction on both tacks 3. See if it varies, look at the land for lifts and knocks and verify. 4. Check the bearing when coming out of each tack after we are near fine in the groove. That is it. Broken down.