Mixed class starting strategies

I'd always start on port in planing conditions with that mix of boats if you're in a boat that just goes sideways when stopped. If you come hammering in on a reach on port under the slow or stopped lasers, you'll only need a gap of about a boat width and a half to get through. Even if it all goes wrong and there isn't a gap and you end up going behind the committee boat, the loss isn't that great as a tack back onto starboard and then onto port around the committee boat's bow and you're out into clear wind pretty quickly.
I used this technique quite a bit in club races in the B14, and it usually worked even though the wings made it over 10 feet wide! It does scare the laser sailors a bit though to see you heading for a gap they wouldn't be able to tack through

Just don't try it in a long boat .... it certainly wouldn't work for an FD as although almost as fast, it will take nearly twice as long to cover its own length as it's nearly twice as long as a 29er!!

Originally posted by mike ellis a boat width and a half for me is more than a boat length, 7ft wide, 15ish ft long.

I'm not that good at maths, but even I can see the flaw in this calculation...

Surely a trusty pin end start is actually what you want? We used to sail against a fleet of F/balls at Datchet, and basically were exactly the same speed to windward VMGwise.  They pointed higher, we went lower and quicker, so if we started with one on the leebow, we were stuffed. Get the pin end start, and you can sail for the speed that your design likes, to maximise the grip you are getting from the daggerboard. Of course this does leave you open if the wind lifts significantly - favouring the committee end starters, but the second major rule is always to tack and cross in front the moment that you think you can.  That takes a bit of b**ls and practice, but puts you into phase before all the boats trapped by each other....the other problem of sailing a boat that doesn't point or accelerate as fast as the slower boats around you. Good luck though, let us jnow how you do....!!