I vote for that feature too - something like a minutes average so any optimum changes gets averaged out - this way if you are using a display showing optimum sail you have confidence that the one being displayed is the long term average optimum

Nick wrote:

My philosophy is slightly different. I would prefer to have the information there and just ignore/use the items I wish.

With the KND style sail chart, you get multiple sail options too.

 
This is a simple example of what I'm trying to avoid, you can see I'm on J4 and eventually have an upcoming change to J2 as I’m rounding this small island and later a slight change in heading will allow for my Asymmetric.  However as I’m rounding a small island – I have a 36 second downwind leg with S2 recommended.
 


As the wind shifts I’m trying to check it the upcoming Asymmetric leg opens up to allow for S2 … what  I’m trying to achieve is to “declutter” the 36 seconds S2 sail change from the table to make sure I’m not misreading the table thinking the longer leg is now S2 (being stressed sailing shorthanded on a tight inshore course).
 
But if the change is the other way around long S2 – short J4 – long S2 with a short beat to windward in between downwind legs, similar to this example



I would definitely like to see and plan for the sail change – so I’m guessing this might only apply to short downwind sail changes.
 
I will try and play around with the KND style sail chart and see what it would look like.

Surely the table is an aid to  make a decision rather than something to fully rely on, my suggestion was only an option to set some simple rules for some of these considerations -  but I realize it´s more complex than I first thought, 

Long down wind - short up wind - long down wind
Long up wind - short down wind - long up wind
Long down wind - short down wind - long down wind
Long up wind - short down wind - long down wind
Long down wind - short down wind - long up wind

Would all need to be treated differently and with a large sail inventory this could get rather complex - I guess a smart choice could be automated, but it would most likely require a lot of data on each sail..

So perhaps - I just need to be more focused reading the table  

It all works well Nick. There is no need to over complicate this. The job of the navigator is to interpret information. My vote is to leave as is.

I think you just have to make the call even short handed. I always feel the more information you have the better.
For example you can't hold a kite no matter how short a time if you need to go upwind. (yes you can do things to rag the kite or gather the foot depending on conditions/size)
You may recommend staying on a reaching sail to get as much height as possible if you have to use it for a short leg before going to a deeper kite if the leg after requires a deep running kite rather than 3 sail changes -- but you need all the info to make the call. Hiding information just makes that call harder to make.