Racing Starts & Sequences

Jonathan Anderson

Racing

There are many sailing clubs throughout the UK and nearly all of them organize races.

Races are separated by class but different types of dinghy can race together using a handicap system called the RYA Portsmouth Yardstick Scheme.

Each boat is given a Portsmouth Number (PN) calculated by the time a boat takes to go around a course in seconds. A boat that takes 1000 seconds would be given a PN of 1000. A faster boat would have a lower number.

The Start

A Race is started with a countdown leading to

all the boats crossing a start line sighted

between two points; either buoys, boats,

markers on land or combinations of these.

Start Sequence

5 Mins

Start Sequence

4 Mins

Start Sequence

1 Min

Start Sequence

GO

Race Signals

AP Races not started are postponed ↑ • • ↓•.

N All races that have started are abandoned↑ • • • ↓•

P Preparatory

I Flag Rule 30.1 Z Flag Rule 30.2 Black Flag Rule 30.3

X Individual recall First Substitute ↑ • • ↓•

Starting Tips

• Sound signals are used to draw attention to the visual signals (flags) from which timings should be taken

• Take a transit to help judge the start line.

• Aim to cross the starting line immediately after the start signal at full speed.

• Keep clear of other boats to keep clean air.

End