Building a Starting Strategy

• A.   "Non Conventional” conditions: 

- Very shifty and puffy – sail the shift (proper rules)
- Very light – light air as his how strategy due of the time and distance - versus penalty for bad air – cost of the tack –  wide angle upwind - importance of the speed versus the position etc…
- Big tide – create different type of start – time and distance and laylines etc…

“Non conventional conditions” have their proper rules.

• B.   "Conventional” conditions: 

-    Wind more than 9nds.
-    Relatively steady.
-    Manageable sea states.

•  1.  80% - Looking for a “BEST START”.

You leave all the option wide open to Jimmy to "kill" the start if opportunity showed up.
You don't compromise the short term: crossing the line faster on a good control position (could be enough to win the first cross) for an hypothetic wind shift that you might not be able to play because you've paid for it.
Then you organise your start to get one of these option and you focuss on the launch and timing out of the line.
In absence of any other evident “big” strategic element that should be the default plan (and should occur 80% of the time in conventional conditions).

a. Wide right – hold position all the way to the layline or tack before loosing and protect the right.

b. Split Right – If equal speed build should have a piece next cross. (Race BOR against Aleph)
Thinking not be able to hold on windward (not enough gage or light air) or more speed build for us on port.

c. Tight leeward – Tight on the right side of the line. Make him tacking (sooner is better) tack 4 lengths after (less than full speed build) and push to the right or cross.

    

•  2. Line advantaged Pin 

a. Tight leeward - That’s a best start and that's more easy to manage with this line.

b. Leeward - Is the line bias big enough and the starb long enough to give up the right (race BOR against Luna Rossa).

c. Windward - Starbord short tack (Race BOR against Synergy and ENTZ).
Most of the time the course is short on starb when pin bias.
Is the gage big enough and the wind stable enough to hold 2’ on windward (layline)? What if the wind veer right or back left?

d. Split left - Best geometrical gain. (Race BOR against Azzurra).

e. Push and Tack - That's not really a BEST START because there is a price to pay (one tack and the geometry of the line) but could be a good plan B. If Grey really want the left you could make him pay a lot for that start.
Don’t want to lose the geometry of the line but on a left phase or long port and right at the top or shift back. (could be a good plan B)

   

• 3. Line advantaged Boat 

a. Split Right - That’s a best gain based on the geometry of the line. What if the wind shift back left?

b. Wide Right - Bow forward very powerfull. The risk is to be locked out of the comity if big righty.

c. Tight Leeward on port - You're not really controling Grey if you Split Right but that's a good start anyway.

• 4. 20% - Call for One Side.

When we call one side we must assume that we shall “Compromise” our timing and/or position to gain the side.

The question is how much we can afford to pay to win a side and be in front on the first cross?

a. Call Left:

• Is it something “Big” to the left so you’re happy to start in these positions and win the first cross? 

Split start us on the left - Grey tacks full speed after or before the gun.

On leeward with separation. If you fight for the left the opponent can get decent right normally.

• Are you ready to pay for the left and by how much and win the first cross?

b. Call Right:

• Are you ready to pay for the right and by how much?

Push and tack:

Small right: