I started right on the gun at full speed, level with the boats around me, and still reached the first mark last — nobody sailed faster, so what went wrong?
You started at the wrong end. The wind had swung right, so the committee boat end of the line sat further upwind. That is the favoured end, and starting there is a free lead before anyone has sailed a boat-length. To spot it before the start, sit on the line and point your bow straight into the wind: the end your bow points nearer to is favoured. The wind keeps shifting, so check again just before the gun.
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<p><a href="https://sailing.kiwi.nz/v/rViDWlTKa8Y/">Source: Sailing Kiwi</a></p>Go deeper: books and gear
- Ronstan Clear Start race timer — A countdown timer made for sailing starts.
- The Rules in Practice 2025-2028 by Bryan Willis — Situations round the racecourse, worked through for the current rules.
- Tactics Made Simple by Jon Emmett — Racing tactics, explained simply.
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