The Start Line

admin July 8, 2025 Sailing Previous Lesson Learning Racing Comments (0)

The Anatomy of a Race Start – or, How to Join a Stampede Gracefully

There comes a moment in every new sailor’s life when they realise racing isn’t just about sailing fast – it’s about starting fast. And nothing tests your nerve (and boat control) quite like the chaos and beauty of the start line.

For the uninitiated, the start of a dinghy race is like herding very determined cats – all aiming for the same bit of river at exactly the same moment, with varying levels of control, ambition, and awareness. It’s a ballet. It’s a battle. It’s a borderline bumper-car convention with sails.

Let’s break it down:

The Start Sequence (Or How to Panic in Stages)

Your club will likely use the standard 5-4-1-GO sequence:

5 Minutes: Warning signal. Flags go up. Whistles, maybe a hooter. You check your watch. Realise you don’t have a watch. Panic slightly.
4 Minutes: Preparatory signal. You decide this is the perfect time to adjust something you should’ve sorted on shore.
1 Minute: Final signal before go-time. Nerves peak. Someone shouts “STARBOARD!”. You duck.
GO: Mass acceleration. Sails fill, tillers jerk, someone misses their mainsheet and yells something nautical.

If you're still facing the right way and moving, congratulations – you've survived the hardest part.

The Line Itself

The start line is an imaginary line between a buoy called the pin (usually orange and sullen-looking) and the committee boat (usually bobbing and slightly judgmental). Ours is an orange flag on the Clubhouse and two poles on the opposite side of the Thames. Two poles so you can imagine when they line up that is the line.

You must cross it after the GO signal. If you cross early, you'll be recalled – or worse, disqualified. If you cross late, well... at least no one shouts at you.

The art lies in getting as close to the line as possible without going over it. Think of it as dinghy brinkmanship.

The Clean Start (Aspirational)

A clean start involves:

Good timing
Clear air
Not being trapped beneath another boat's wind shadow
Avoiding being squeezed between two more confident sailors

So naturally, most of us get one clean start a season. Cherish it.

Start Line Strategies for Beginners

If you're new to racing, here are some completely reasonable tactics:

Start at the less crowded end: Fewer boats, fewer shouts, less risk of collision. Possibly less wind, but at least you'll breathe.
Hang back slightly: Gives you space and time to react. Yes, you'll be behind, but you're learning without incident.
Follow a boat that looks like it knows what it's doing: Bonus points if it's not going backwards.
Avoid the middle of the line: That's where the chaos lives.
Remember to breathe: Often forgotten, always helpful.

Final Thoughts

The start of a dinghy race can feel like the scariest part, but it’s also one of the most thrilling. It sharpens your reactions, boosts your confidence, and teaches you more about boat control than any YouTube video ever could.Yes, you might be late to the line.

Yes, you might hear the dreaded word “PROTEST” float across the water. But with practice, patience, and the occasional biscuit reward, you’ll soon be joining the stampede like a pro – gracefully, even.