Your final approach to the start line

by Kim Couranz, SpinSheet
What makes a good start in a sailboat race? To vastly oversimplify, it’s crossing the line at full speed, heading in the direction you want to go, with clean air and little traffic, ideally at or near the favored end of the line if one exists, as the gun goes off.

Lots of elements go into getting a good start, and I’ll offer that the decision when and where to start your final approach to the line is one of the top factors. Getting this timing down is tough. Set up too early, and you’ll end up a sitting duck with no momentum, and other competitors can take advantage of you. Set up too late, and you risk not finding a spot. – Full report