It is amazing how many races are lost before they start! We have all done it – not launching in time to make the start, missing or broken equipment (even a back bung), not understanding the start process (Black, U and P flag), sailing the wrong course or perhaps worst arriving at the start line well in time to assess the wind and then getting stranded too far upwind of the line in a dying breeze. Most of this can be mitigated with a well-practised pre-start routine.

It starts before launching with reading the Sailing Instructions (or least the important bits). Then my simple rule is to fully rig the boat before changing (and I mean every bowline tied 😊) and then running through a simple checklist of possible gear failures. Once done, I know that the boat is 100% ready even if I must launch in a hurry or something unexpected happens. Once changed, I bring my water bottle and food to the boat. Same process every time ensuring I don’t launch with an empty water bottle!

Once ready, I can judge my launch time on both the scheduled start time AND when the fleet is launching. If I think the fleet is launching late, I am first to go. On the way to start, the focus is on collecting data points on wind and conditions (see Blog #51). Once at the Committee Boat I go upwind, ideally on both sides of the beat BUT I always aim to arrive back at the Committee Boat at the scheduled start time. If a start is postponed I am never more than 5 minutes sailing from the start line so I can be there at the warning signal. Many sailors will have a detailed routine or process to determine strategy, tactics and start bias but while at the Committee Boat at the warning signal a couple of checks are key - what course is displayed? have I seen all the marks? can I get a start transit? is the Committee boat lying in a current?

These routines are personal to each sailor, but developing one that you can use repeatedly will avoid major mistakes before you even start.

Snippets:

ILCA Welsh Championships - 28-30th July - report

Open and National Championships - 20 - 26th August

VOLUNTEER at the nationals

Super Grand Prix at Castle Cove - 12 - 13th August

Youth Open at Royal Lymington YC - 2 - 3rd September - entries open 7pm today

AGM 2023 - Notice