The best way to check the start line?

There are a variety of legitimate ways to determine the favored end of the starting line.  I’m going to explain my favorite method since I believe it to be very effective and underutilized.  I like to position the boat head to wind off the pin end of the line at a beam reach angle to the pin.  (see diagram)   From this position I sight 90 degrees off the boat through the pin to determine where the boat end of the line should be.  By comparing the sighted line to where the boat end actually is I’m able to determine the favored end.  I also get a unique visual representation of the line bias that you can only get by checking the line in this way.

By comparing the 90 degree from head to wind angle (solid line) to the actual line set (dashed lines) you can see not only what end is favored but also how much it is favored by, at every point on the line.  This method tells me how many boatlengths I would be giving up starting mid line or at the unfavored end.  Solid info to formulate a tactical strategy.  I prefer the info I gather from this method to the info gathered by the precision of a compass which tells you the degrees of skew but doesn’t give you the line bias in terms of boatlengths.  Of course there is no harm in using both methods.  I also find it to be far more accurate than going head to wind mid line and choosing the end you’re pointing closer to.

The pre race routine is to repeat this line check at set time intervals that way you notice any changes and start to pick up any wind shift patterns.  By doing this you not only check the starting line but also gain a ton of extra valuable information about the larger race course. 

Other advantages of checking the line off the pin

• In position to quickly confirm you have pinged both ends accurately
• Best place to watch any starts before yours
• Potentially picking up a boat end line sight when possible

Challenges

• Going head to wind too close to the pin, you’ll find yourself out of position quickly, err on the side of farther away
• Confirming your exactly head to wind when everything is all lined up, take a little extra care to confirm the boat is perfectly flat and sails luffing perfectly down the middle of the boat when you’re sighting the line.  Have care, patience and don’t be scared to repeat the process multiple times.

by, Greg Dair