How to Set a Mark When Sailing

Although most sailors avoid race committees like the plague, some know that understanding the intricacies of race management is the key to competitive success. Setting course marks is just one of many tasks a committee boat tackles.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Inflatable Marks
• Handheld GPS Navigation System
• Air Horns
• Anchor Chains
• Anchor Lines
• Anchors
• Sailboats
• Stopwatches

1. Find the middle of the starting line, which should be set perpendicular to the wind, and set a waypoint on your GPS titled Start.

2. Take a compass reading dead into the wind, and drive the committee boat in that direction until your "Distance to Waypoint" reads the length described in the race guidelines for that course's windward leg.

3. Double-check your position in relation to the starting line, and then drop your mark.

4. Lower your anchor by running the line through your hands so that you can gauge the depth of the water and are certain that your anchor has hit bottom.

5. Return to the start line, and repeat the same process, if necessary, for the leeward mark, but head directly downwind.

Tips & Warnings

• Communicate by radio with the committee boat at the starting line. If the wind shifts you may be asked to drag the mark to the right or left.
• Take extra anchor line ' you never know when you'll be over a ledge and have not enough line to set your mark.
• Watch the fleet on their windward leg. If the fleet is roughly split, with half on the right side of the course and half on the left, that is a good indication that the mark was set in the right area and that the wind has remained constant.
• No matter how good a job you do, someone will have a complaint.

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