Maybe then I could give some insight into the slalom starts. I can’t really say I’m am Top-10 PWA level to be an authority on slalom starts at this point … :-/

Interesting stuff to take in. I guess ‘experience’ is key when it comes to starts. That’s why the top guys have been in the business so long.

Are you ever going to make a post regarding slalom starts?

Something I didn’t think about before. I notice this a lot more in RSX in non planing conditions also as its so much harder to stay up on the line whilst you are luffing and blocking other sailors (and not planing) - although this has depreciated somewhat now that its almost mandatory to run split fleets in RSX these days, even if the fleet numbers are below 50.

Back in 2004, when a lot of FW events would get +100 competitors, the startlines could almost be 300m long! In a pro fleet, there are many who know the transit-sag exists and generally keep up to the line, which is why there will be more than one transit-sag as you suggest.

The top sailor will sail down the line looking for the different transit-sags (generally made by another top sailor being up on the line and the leeward boats in front of him will all be below the line [making the "sag"]) and find the most clear one, accelerate into it and away he goes.

This triggers my memory of another great tactic to use with long startlines, which is to park 30-40m on the course side of the line (to windward) during the last 2 minutes of the countdown which allows you to see where the gaps (sags) are in the line. Nearing the 1 minute mark you can sail down into the gap over the top of people.

This makes it so much easier to find the gaps (and weaker sailors to target on the line and sail over) as you can see the whole line at once, rather than sailing around the boat on starboard and having to dodge sailors down the line who will most likely try to block you anyhow.

Sure, you can pass the URL on to your webmaster. Thank-you for asking that also. I don’t really have a problem whatsoever who is linking to this website, but it’s a nice change (and a slight suprise) to have someone ask permission :) :) :)

Cheers,

Nick

I have done my fair share of super-short startlines up at ‘The Lake’ over the years. These require a very different approach and usually result in only 1-2 people getting off the line cleanly and everyone else getting left in the vacuum…

Getting away cleanly on short startlines is very similar to how you attack a port start. Generally speaking (unless your race crew are really whack!), short startlines are usually very boat-end biased which means you should aim to get away as close to the boat as possible.

To do this, you need to be very aggressive and territorial. It also requires the skill of very quick acceleration and good footwork on the board. I suggest staying close to the line within the last minute; within 100m of the startline and try to make yourself the first boat in the procession towards the line.

That’s harder to do in reality than it is on paper. What you need to do is become the first boat in the line (ie, closest to the startline) and stall/luff-up aggressively to keep that spot on the line. Block everyone you can. Let them yell at you…

As a result of you blocking, everyone will start heading to the line rediculously too early to try and get in front of you. Keep your cool. Edge toward the line as slowly as possible (no feet in the straps and not hooked into the harness for control - or one foot in front strap in windy conditions). Its possible somebody will sail below you and sneak in front - try as best you can to block him but that’s not always possible.

With 15 seconds to go get your feet in the straps but still don’t hook into the harness (be ready to pump). Stall to a complete stop to make sure the guy behind you has nowhere to go and is in your dirty air. With 8-10 seconds to start pumping like your life depended on it. Foot off a little to get speed and time your run to the line to arrive on 0.

Quick acceleration is the key and this skill takes a bit of practice and also some strength. You might not always be the first on the line but you at least want to be one of the first 3 boats to the line.

If someone is in front of you, foot off about 10-15m below him to get clear of him whilst accelerating to the line. He will get a better start than you but at least you will be in clear wind… work on passing him on the second lap ;)

Remember the key points to these starts are: aggression, blocking your territory, stalling/luffing, quick acceleration to the startline.

At the end of the day this is a really hard start to do. Similarly to a port start, very few people get off the line clean but just remember that if you DO get off the line clean, you are most likely punishing the entire rest of the fleet with your dirty air - rather than a long startline which allows a number of sailors to get a good start.

The thing I find hardest about formula starts is the time over distance stuff. I get the thing about sailing down the line, then heading up just before the gun. However, in our local races (as you know), the lines are often so short you can sail the length of them in about ten seconds. This also means that everybody starts accelerating well before the boat end, which turns the start into a procession around the boat. How do you approach finding a spot to accelerate into in this situation?

Jaime