A quote from Tim Wright on this week’s Soling regatta supports the rise in skill: “I wanted to comment on the racing yesterday. The level of sailing has gone way up, the racing closer than I remember it being as evidenced by the photos B. B. took. The downwind shots had ten boats going for the third mark, not the first, and the downwind shots with the boats going to the outer mark were on their way to the fourth mark. The photos of many races show boats close together and yet I saw very few collisions. If there was a foul, people worked them out. I am impressed by the group of sailors who have learned how to race well and have made themselves competitive. Every race saw different people do well. It makes for challenging and exciting racing.”