Starting Line Basics

The start is the most important aspect of the race. You can be as fast as the road runner but if you can't get off the
starting line it is pretty rare that you will come in first place.

With one minute to go you should start to get on the line

30 seconds you should be getting to the spot where you are wanting to start at

15 seconds you are trying to get room for you to
start moving

5 seconds to go, get on going and make sure that you have power in your sail

when the flag goes up you should be already going
full speed and pointing high

• Go out early and check the starting line.
• Run up and down the line getting your bearings on where the line is.
• Find out which end of the line is favored by checking the wind angle against the starting line angle.
• Make sure that you are on the line with around a minute to go.
• Start to get on your plane with 10 seconds to go.

Common Mistakes:

• Being too far behind the line
• Coming into the starting line too late
• Following the fastest guy!

The Start

The start of the race is the most crucial part of the race. You need to be focused and in the right place at the right time. My tips are make sure that you are on the line but not over the line. Getting a good start is key but going over the line early you have no chance of wining the race. Do your own start, don't try to follow the guy who is always winning the start. You can look at him and watch what he is doing but if you try and follow him, more often than not you will be doing just that....following. Check the starting angles as well as which side of the course you want to be on. If you want to be on the port side of the course maybe a port start could be favored even though the starting line is not favored for that end of the line.

Kevin