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Mastering Starts

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/03/2008 : 16:04:05

I am generally bad at starts, begining the race 1 to 2 minutes late, so last night I practiced starts for 2 hours.

I made a start line with a buoy and a tree on shore. I set up a 5 minute start sequence. I tried to hit the line at full speed a few seconds after the start.

It is very hard to do. I got to the point where I could hit the line within about 15 seconds. I was generally about 1 minute early and had to luff, run down the line, or do a circle.

I can do a 360 circle in 1 minute.

Running down the line is not always an option in traffic.

Suggestions or tips for starting?

Indiscipline 1978 FK SR #398

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 06/03/2008 : 16:51:12

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">last night I practiced starts for 2 hours.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I've been practicing starts for 15 years. Now I get it right about half of the time, so take what I say with a grain of salt, I'm sure others will have additional suggestions.
One of the keys to hitting line at full speed at the start is knowing how long it takes your boat to accelerate from a luffing position. Practice doing that and keep a record of the time and distance traveled for various wind conditions. That will help you develop a feel for when to "attack" the line.
Of course speed is only half the battle to getting a good start. Position on the line relative to other boats is the hard part because they generally all want to be in the same "sweet' spot at the same time. So, sometimes it's better to be a little slower or a little later to gain an advantage in position.

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3323 Posts

Response Posted - 06/03/2008 : 18:11:16

Jim - I race on an inland lake which obviates worrying about tides or currents, but does present it's own problems with shifting/variable winds.
I usually do a "Vanderbilt" or timed start. After your sequence starts, come over the line and tack around. As your transom crosses the line (be on a broad reach) note the time. Sail away for 1/2 the time to the starting gun PLUS however long it takes you to tack in that wind. Come back close-hauled aiming for the stbd side of the RC boat (it tends to discourage any bargers!) but watch for close overlapped boats to leeward of you. If your timing is on you will hit the line at full speed at the gun.
If you have a current or a tide running then you need to modify the timed runs to accomodate the difference in speeds. (The timed start is predicated on the fact that a broad reach is the same speed as close-hauled (all conditions being equal).

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2008 : 06:58:49

A few things not already touched on:

One of the biggest things I've seen new skippers forget to factor into the equation Derek has above is how much time it takes to get the boat moving again. In a real racing boat with a solid crew you don't lose more than a knot in average wind on a tack. In a C25 you knot only lose more than that, it takes a heck of a lot longer to get the boat back up to speed. Be sure to factor the entire thing into your "tacking time" that is mentioned above.

Second, don't be afraid to be over early a few times. You'll be surprised how much more time and room are there once you are in the middle of it. If it costs you a start or two it still will be worth it.

Last - once you get close to the line you have to trust your bowman. He's the one who is essentially driving. Make sure you have a good set of hand signals to communicate.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2008 : 07:03:10

We've been lucky this year in that we have been second across the line in all the races we've started. Of course second across the start line is different from second across the finish line.

What has worked for us is:
- running the line and heading up about 30 seconds before the start, or
- port tack start, tacking through the fleet onto starboard

our club races are smallish with about a dozen boats in the fleet. We are the second smallest boat with the only smaller one being a tanzer 22, and the largest a pair of Pearson Flyers (which I hate simply for their ability to outrun the fleet and have clear air).

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2008 : 08:31:24

There are lots of different ways to start a race. One size doesn't fit all. If there are not many boats starting in the class, you can just beam reach back and forth along the starting line, and, at the starting signal, harden up your sails to a beat and cross the line within a couple of seconds of the start. If there are a lot of boats, the Vanderbilt start, or other start might be better.

Consider the windspeed. In light air, or if the wind is coming in puffs and lulls, stay close to the starting line. If you get too far away, and the wind lulls, you might not be able to get back to it by the starting signal.

Learn how to put on the brakes. If you're hitting the line early, slow the boat, and kill some time. Head up to windward, luffing the sails, but keep the boat coasting, so you can bear off and accelerate back up to speed when necessary.

I like to linger near the favored end of the starting line, and then watch the others approach the line, and find a hole that I can steer into. Unless the racers are all very skilled, there'll usually be a hole open somewhere.

For a beginner, don't be shy about following the best starter, and let him show you the way to good starts. After 2-3 times, you'll beging to understand his thinking, and get a sense of his timing, and be able to do it yourself.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2008 : 11:34:46

Last night practicing the Vanderbuilt start in super light wind (2 - 3 knots) and a 2 knot current setting you away from the start line was very tough.

My fist start was 90 seconds late because I didn't time the current right.

My second was about 30 seconds late, but then it took me 1 hour to sail 1/4 mile to windward against the current, round the mark, and coast back over the "finish". So that was all the practice I got.

I did practice starting the mark rounding wide and ending up close and it seemed to help carry speed through the turn.

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2008 : 13:22:40

Two weeks now of practicing starts every night that there is wind and I am getting better. A bad start is to hit the line 30 seconds late. I am now getting within 15 seconds most times, and at full speed.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2008 : 21:01:00

One thing I have learned from a former C-22 national champion is to always have a plan B in case you get the door slammed on you near the start on plan A. Sometimes not being first across the starting line can be an advantage, but you still want to be first around the windward mark. Getting clear air and water as soon as possible after the start is critical.

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