How to Time the Starting Line in Sailboat Racing

A good start depends on a number of factors. Your location - in relation to other boats, the pin end and the committee boat - is especially important.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Knot Meter
• Felt-tip Pens
• Spiral Notebooks
• Binoculars
• Air Horns
• Stopwatches
• Wind Gauges

1. Raise your headsail and begin sailing on a reach at full speed.

2. Sail from the outside of the starting area toward the committee boat.

3. Cross the transom of the committee boat and start a stopwatch timer counting up from zero.

4. Make a mental note of how long it takes you to reach the center of the starting line.

5. Stop your watch when you reach the pin end of the line.

6. Estimate the total length of the starting line in yards.

7. Reference the time it takes to sail the length of the line to gauge how far in any one direction you can go before you need to head back toward the line.

Tips & Warnings

• Have a crewmember do the timing and relay the information to the tactician and skipper, who should be focusing on pre-start tactics and boat speed.