The Start Line - Who"s Your Neighbor?
Who's your Neighbor? The start line.
No matter how many times I line up on one I still get a bit of the "butterflies".
Guess that's what makes this sport so much fun.
On the line you have no idea who your "neighbors" going to be.
But you should.
From Dave Perry, "Regardless of whether there are three boats starting or 30 or 130, the only two boats that really matter to you right off the starting line are the boats just to windward and to leeward of you.
I call these boats my neighbors.
Therefore, one of the secrets to getting a good start is picking your neighbors wisely.
" These two "neighbors" will largely determine how your first leg goes.
Get pinched off and you have to tack and take a lot of transoms.
Get rolled and you'll be taking, well, a lot of transoms.
In most local PHRF racing we know most of our competitors.
Here are four easy tips to remember when choosing your neighbors.
1.
DO NOT start above a boat that can point higher.
You know Boat "A" can point really well or the Skipper is a notorious pincher.
Don't start directly to weather of them.
They will force you to tack, if you can, and you're already working Plan B.
2.
DO start below a boat you can out point.
If you can point quite high with speed (wouldn't that be nice!), you want to line yourself up underneath a competitor that cannot point as well.
This way you can get them to tack away thus providing you with a bigger "lane".
3.
Do NOT start below a bigger, faster boat.
For instance, if you're on a 35-footer, one of the worse places to start is underneath a fast 50-footer.
No matter what, you will get rolled, the oxygen masks will fall out of the boom, and it will hurt! 4.
DO start below a boat that likes to point high or pinch.
This will give you great separation, a clear lane to weather, and hopefully they will be pinching off the boats on their hip.
Now all the above does not say picking your neighbors must completely define where you start on the line.
If you want the Leeward end go for it, but once lining up be mindful of who's around you.
It is definitely worth starting a few boats away from the exact spot you want if you can sail in a clear lane for as long as fits your first leg tactics.
With all that said, do unto your neighbor as you'd want done unto you! Have fun.
Sail fast!
No matter how many times I line up on one I still get a bit of the "butterflies".
Guess that's what makes this sport so much fun.
On the line you have no idea who your "neighbors" going to be.
But you should.
From Dave Perry, "Regardless of whether there are three boats starting or 30 or 130, the only two boats that really matter to you right off the starting line are the boats just to windward and to leeward of you.
I call these boats my neighbors.
Therefore, one of the secrets to getting a good start is picking your neighbors wisely.
" These two "neighbors" will largely determine how your first leg goes.
Get pinched off and you have to tack and take a lot of transoms.
Get rolled and you'll be taking, well, a lot of transoms.
In most local PHRF racing we know most of our competitors.
Here are four easy tips to remember when choosing your neighbors.
1.
DO NOT start above a boat that can point higher.
You know Boat "A" can point really well or the Skipper is a notorious pincher.
Don't start directly to weather of them.
They will force you to tack, if you can, and you're already working Plan B.
2.
DO start below a boat you can out point.
If you can point quite high with speed (wouldn't that be nice!), you want to line yourself up underneath a competitor that cannot point as well.
This way you can get them to tack away thus providing you with a bigger "lane".
3.
Do NOT start below a bigger, faster boat.
For instance, if you're on a 35-footer, one of the worse places to start is underneath a fast 50-footer.
No matter what, you will get rolled, the oxygen masks will fall out of the boom, and it will hurt! 4.
DO start below a boat that likes to point high or pinch.
This will give you great separation, a clear lane to weather, and hopefully they will be pinching off the boats on their hip.
Now all the above does not say picking your neighbors must completely define where you start on the line.
If you want the Leeward end go for it, but once lining up be mindful of who's around you.
It is definitely worth starting a few boats away from the exact spot you want if you can sail in a clear lane for as long as fits your first leg tactics.
With all that said, do unto your neighbor as you'd want done unto you! Have fun.
Sail fast!
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