Chalk Talk 2/28/2011

    • Fleet Racing Starts
      • objectives
        • lane (clear air)
        • speed
        • positioning
      • Pre-Start
        • pre-start homework (3:00-2:00)
          • see what the wind is doing—go head to wind and luff sails to see where the wind is coming from
          • check the geometry of the course (is the line square to the course? is the course square to the wind?)
        • set up (1:45-:45)
          • know where you want to start—decide if pin or boat favored
        • commit or bail (1:00-:20)
          • tactical starting procedures:
          • starting at the boat
            • know where the lay lines are at the boat. you want to start on the layline, so make sure that nobody is below you and able to take you up.
            • set up early, but not too early because you give other people time to mess you up. don’t be late either because then you’ll have no room to move
          • the middle of the line
            • create a hole
              • so that you can accelerate at the start. it’s important to defend it from other boats who will try to take the spot.      
          • the pin
            • a high risk move, and it’s difficult. 
        • acceleration and go! (:10-:00)
          • roll starts are the best
          • or you can just head down to gain speed