Pacific Corinthian Youth Foundation Sailing Team

The First 10 Seconds

Racing sailboats is a game of inches. Starting in the middle to left side of the starting line, the crucial moment comes when you attempt to cross the majority of starboard tackers on port. Whether you make it or are forced to duck depends on first getting a good start (in motor cycle racing they call it the hole shot). Bow out on everyone around you. But then what? Speed and pointing upwind. Crucial to concentrate with your entire being for just a few seconds as some boats tack away onto port early and others hang in there. As the fleet sorts itself out you are working as hard as you can to go fast and high. If you keep your bow in clear air, speed forward, and keep gaining height (pointing upwind) the inches you gain now will translate in to launching into the top five, or if you loose those precious few inches, getting spit unceremoniously out the back. Choose to work hard during these crucial few moments, then settle into your rhythm and enjoy the rest of the race from the front of the pack.

Where do I Start Part II?

Assuming you know which end is further upwind and is favored, now which side of the race course is your preferred choice. Maybe there is more wind on the left, maybe the wind direction is steadily  shifting toward the right (persistent shift), maybe the wind is changing back and forth (oscillating shifts)? All things to consider and determine prior to your start. Relative to the favored end of the line, these factors may have a greater impact on the end of the line that is favored. Unless it is an amazingly short course, this is probably true. If the left or right side of the course is favored then you want to position yourself at the start to make certain you can get to that side. If the shifts are oscillating, then start more in the middle away from the congestion and begin sailing the shifts and remembering your race is against the wind, not necessarily the other boats.

The Fastest Route

This one is from Dave Perry's Winning in One Designs: Your primary race is against the wind. Remember that the object of the first windward leg is not to be first at the mark. The object is to sail the shortest possible distance in the strongest wind and end up somewhere in the hunt (front).

Where do I Start?

The starting line is set, you have sailed upwind and tuned up and are ready to race. First decision, where to position yourself on the starting line. Although there are many considerations, for starters, we must determine which end of the line is "favored." Which means unless the race committee has set a perfect line perpindicular to the wind (a right angle, 90 degrees) one end will be further upwind than the other. The easy way to check is to sail along the line then head up pointing straight into the wind, as if you were going to get stuck in irons, then note which end your bow is pointing towards. This simply is the end that is furthest upwind and will give you an immediate head start if you start closer to that end relative to those boats that start further away. Still more to come making your final decision regarding where to start, but this will do the trick in a pinch.