Race Course Question - Start Line

[Ducati]

Good day

I have read that in sailboat racing the general rule of thumb is to have the wind square to the start line. Is this correct? If so, why is it that every race that I have been in, one side of the start line is favored over the other? Could it be that the wind shifted after the committee boat placed the anchor?

Thanks

 

[tommays]

The wind tends to shift left and right in a big S and a big part of racing is picking up on that and using it to your advantage

If its a REALLY big shift a good PRO would try and reset the line and in bigger events they could thowout the race

 

[Witzend]

Having done my fair share of racing , one design and PHRF, the biggest reason is so that the committee will have a clear view of the start line, to see who may be over early. This generally results in the rock stars bunching up at the pin end leaving the committee clear.
My start tactics in PHRF would be, full head of steam/timed crossing at the committee end, and generally worked well with the heaver boats. With J22s, the lighter boats would accelerate more quickly, so the advantage of a favored pin end would negate my momentum advantage. To be competitive in lighter one design your pretty much forced to go rub elbows with the rock stars. Good Luck keeping out of the protest room if you don't have your shit together!

 

[djplatt@cogeco.ca]

It is not that simple to get a start line square. You have to contend with wind shifts which come and go, scope of the anchor line on the pin end, anchors dragging on either end of the line ... That being said, most race committtess do a remarkable job. The potential for a disastrous start however, is much less with a line that favours the starboard end. One mistimed port tacker, on a pin end favoured start can throw a whole fleet into chaos and result in protests that will keep the race committee in protest hearings when they would prefer to be in the bar or in bed.

 

[Ted]

Start Line

You read correctly. The start line should be set square to the wind. Shifts happen. In our club, we don't have a dedicated committee boat. Each participant takes a turn serving as the committee boat, using their own boat. So, any skipper who values their pride and joy will never set the line with the committee boat end heavily favored. You can count on a huge pile up of boats at the committee boat end of the line if that end is heavily biased. It increases the odds that you, acting as committee, can be involved in a collision. Many will set the line to slightly favor the pin end to avoid the pile up at the committee boat end of the starting line.

 

[Witzend]

I've raced in 2 North Americans, 1 World's, bunch of NOOD's, and the J boat Thursday night series for many years in the one design J22, 24, 105's and at that level they are predominately favoring the pin end due to the reasons I stated in my earlier post. At the club level anything can happen.

 

[Tim R.]

Another huge factor in race tactics can be current which the start line is generally not adjusted for.

Also consider traffic. I started an overnight race last year on the pin end of the line while all the other boats bunched up at the committee boat end(which was favored based on wind and current). We were well clear of the other boats and had clean air. We steadily pulled away from all the other boats in our class. In fact we even pulled away from boats that had much lower ratings than us. By morning, none of the other boats(in our class) were in sight and we went on to win the race.