Introduction

In a perfect, though boring world, every starting line would be exactly square to the wind and there would be no reason to start at one end instead of the other. In the real world, it is the rare starting line that doesn't reward the smart and brave sailor who determines which end of the line is favored and starts at, or near, that end.

There are several factors that go into figuring out the favored end of the starting line. One end of the starting line might be further upwind than the other, and therefore closer to the next mark. There may be stronger current on one end of the starting line than the other. One end may enable you to sail more quickly to an area on the racecourse that is favored by geographic wind shift or current relief. The longer the starting line, the greater the benefit is. Figuring out where to start on the line involves considering these factors and others (such as your overall position in a regatta), but figuring out the upwind end of the starting line is a good place to start.

Finding the upwind end of the starting line

In a typical race, you'll be heading upwind on the first leg of the race. If one end of the line is further upwind, then that end is closer to the first mark, and starting at the upwind end of the line will immediately put you ahead of boats starting at the end further downwind. The longer the line, the more benefit there is to starting at the upwind end of the line. Of course, you may not be the only person to figure out which end of the line is favored, so the traffic--and therefore the risks--often go up at the favored end.

Quick and easy: Shoot the wind in the middle of the line

The quickest and easiest way to determine the upwind end of the line is to luff head-to-wind somewhere near the middle of the starting line and note whether your bow is pointing "closer" to one end of the line than the other. When your bow points to one side, the angle between the starting line and the true wind direction is smaller, and therefore that end of the line is further upwind. This method doesn't give you a specific number of degrees of favor, but is quick and easy, and especially useful if you think the wind has shifted in the last couple of minutes before the start.

More reliable: Shoot the wind at one end or the other and look across your boat

Sail to either end of line and luff head-to-wind. (You can do this "outside" the line, for example on the other side of the pin end of the starting line, you just need to have a clear line of sight to the committee boat or mark at the other end of the line.) While your boat is head-to-wind, sight across the boat using something on your boat that is perpendicular to the wind, such as your traveler track or a cross thwart or seat. If your line of sight is to windward of the mark at the other end of the line, then your boat is at the favored end of the line, and vice versa.

Most reliable: Use your compass

Sail down the starting in either direction, lining up the fore-and-aft centerline of the boat with the starting line. Note the compass heading of the boat. Then luff your boat head-to-wind, and note the compass heading. If the two numbers differ by exactly 90 degrees, then the line is exactly square. If not, figure out which end of the line forms an angle smaller than 90 degrees to the wind, and that is the favored line. For example, you sail down the line on starboard tack on a compass heading of 200 degrees. Then you luff head-to-wind and the compass indicates that the true wind is 280 degrees. If the line were square, the wind should read 290, so there is a 10 degree favor to the pin end of the line--the pin end is 10 degrees further upwind. The convenient thing about this method is that you can get a compass heading for the starting line well in advance of the starting sequence, and then check the wind during the sequence, do the math, and figure out the upwind end of the line in time to adjust your start.

[more to come]