Dave Perry’s Playbook: Winning the Boat

In this three part series, Dave Perry discusses the starting options. In Part 1, Dave talks us through how to start at the Race Committee boat:

“Getting a good start is 70% of the race.” My dad used to tell me that when I was young. My lifetime of racing has proven him right. There are basically three “neighborhoods” to start in (near the “boat end” of the line, near the “pin end” of the line, or in the middle). Each has its own culture and street rules. Here are some tips for starting well near the RC boat or right-hand end of the starting line.

When it’s time to start near the RC boat, typically you won’t be alone up there. I do several trial runs to figure out where the close-hauled layline to the RC boat is from several lengths away. Often there is something on land, or a leeward mark, that lines up with the transom of the RC boat as a reference.

I pay a lot of attention to the effect of any current on this layline. When there is less than two minutes to start, I stay out to the right of the RC boat. Here I can monitor any last minute changes in the wind direction or velocity, and can see where the fleet is setting up to start.

Between 1:00 minute and 40 seconds to start, I get on starboard tack and make a decision based on how crowded the street corner (RC boat) will be. I call this “lurking in the shadows.” If it is not looking very crowded, I try to be at the RC boat at GO at full speed.

If there are one or two other boats looking to do the same, I sail on a reach as if I am going to go under them and take their place (called “pushing”). That forces them to put their bows down to defend, and I wait until they are below the layline to the RC boat before stopping my pushing.

If there is a large mosh pit of boats at the RC boat, I either sail under the crowd and find a hole to pop through to leeward of them. Or I wait and plan to start directly astern of the boat that wins the RC boat, and then I tack onto port tack as soon as I can clear the RC boat, and I am instantly off in clear air and water (the coin of the realm), and away from larger boats in a handicap race.

Dave Perry, an entertaining and educational speaker, is available to share his Playbook and more with clubs and organizations in 2024, either in person or online in a webinar. He can be reached at davperry@optonline.net.