Starting at the Pin EndWally Cross, 3/21/2006
We just finished a regatta in Miami with many good starts at the pin. I believe the pin is a nice place to start in tough fleets with the wind either square or left of square. Starting to leeward in the Farr 40 allows you to quickly get up to target speed. In big fleets the boat that gets to target speed first usually has an advantage 30 seconds after the start. Many boats up the line are usually sailing well below target trying to survive in a narrow lane. For awhile it seems fine yet slowly the leeward boats starts moving forward giving the windward boat only one option. The only option is tacking and usually it is the wrong direction. There are rules for starting to leeward and the first is if you can not tack with in five minutes and cross after starting, the leeward end becomes risky. The advantage for starting to leeward is getting up to speed first and then slowly sailing a high angle to force the windward boats to tack first. The reasons for considering the leeward end: · Wind is left of square, the pin end is favored · Many boats for the line length · Less current to the left of the course · A left shift up the course · In an oscillating wind the right shift makes the line square · More pressure up the course to the left To start successful at the leeward end you must have a system that can change based on the set up of the competition. The system has to be based on being the last boat back on port. The problem is sometime it becomes a game of chicken to see who will be the last boat back. This is our system for starting to leeward: · The latest we can be on port at the pin is 30 seconds · Try dragging the fleet back at 2 minutes, once all the boats set up on port, gybe back to be the last one on port · Know your pin end lay line and never tack shy of the lay line · When approaching the starboard fleet aim at the transom of the first boat · Tack at the last possible second, then luff hopefully well aft of the first boat · Be patient and only lay off for the pin once you know have the time to start safe · If a boat tries to sail from behind and to leeward protect by laying off if you are well above the pin end lay line or you have the distance based on sailing fast · If a boat tries to hook from behind usually just let them go · If you win the pin, quickly get up to target speed and then sail high · If you are one to windward and you can not tack and cross, sail down below the first boat and try to sail with the first boat until they tack boat Starting at the pin takes commitment from the tactician and helmsman to make it work. It is easy to start up a group or avoid the pin end, yet the sign of a good start is the result of your position after 5 minutes. The pin end start will allow you and your team to get up to speed first and after 5 minutes have the ability to tack and cross the fleet. Next time you have the opportunity to start at the leeward end: 1) Determine the lay line to the pin 2) Determine the current and direction 3) Practice sailing by the pin end on port at 30 seconds and tack to starboard, get a feel for the time and distance 4) Try dragging the fleet up the line at two minutes and bail out around 1:30 and go back 5) Be the last boat back on port hopefully passing the pin at 1:00, yet remember it can be as late as 30 seconds 6) Aim at the transom of the first boat, yet make sure you have room to tack 7) Complete the tack, then luff and slow down all the windward boats 8) Start sailing between 10-15 seconds and aim at the pin 9) Once the line is cleared, quickly get up to target and then sail in a high mode Good Luck, Wally Cross Jake Scott Cell 214-929-5908"I never let the classroom interfere with my education." Mark Twain _________________________________________________________________ Need to know the score, the latest news, or you need your Hotmail®-get your "fix". http://www.msnmobilefix.com/Default.aspx_________________________________________________ seisa mailing list [email protected] http://www.collegesailing.org/mailman/?listname=seisa
