Tacking

ok i belive that you should tack forward to be able to see anything that is coming your way and if i remember corrctly all of the coaches teach people to tack facing forwards
but i need your vues.
ED
(team ABN-AMRO)

I was taught to face backwards in a boat with aft main and forwards in a boat with centre main. When I swap from one to the other I usually face the wrong way for the first couple of tacks and get a bit tangled up!

It is recommended you tack backwards in a mirror. It's easier to tack properly when you switch hands in front of you. The only reason you tack forwards in centre main boats is because the position of the centre mainsheet means you get tangled if you don't. Fast boats tack in a matter of about 2 seconds, and you should regularly look away from ahead of you to check your sails, look at clouds, the committee boat and other competitors for more than this, your field of vision isn't really an issue.