Start Line Transits

Just been reading about the value of getting a transit for making a fixed-line start. I've read the same sort of thing in lots of other racing tomes. But in all my years of sailing (quite a lot), perhaps ok in small fleets but rubbish in big fleets unless you are at one end of the line or the other (otherwise every other boat obscures your transit). My starting has never been a particular problem for me but I'm not certain this regularly proffered advice is actually especially helpful.

Some good points RS400atC(for I am also an RS400!)(and I'll try and remember this if ever I race at Portchester!). But you only need one starter (maybe even OCS) to obscure the view. And I'm not even sure with my eyesight I could spot the second window brick

I'd never contemplate lining up for a start without one, especially in big fleets (100+) if the pin end is closed out there is virtually always line sag in the middle and if the committee boat is big enough and you've bothered to ask what the OOD is using at his end there's always a big hole most have missed.

The only time it's not worth bothering is when the line is so biased you have to beat up to the right end, then there isn't much point unless it's a dip the line scenario and your trying to scare off port enders, Got to say it's a bit trickier in these bloody boat things with so much out front that they can see, it's been my experience most RO's on windyplank courses go for the rig, not the nose of the board (fortunately), which is easier to judge.

I must admit though since my conversion (almost) to this sat down lark I am often amazed at how little importance many do not attach to the start, where I come from, the start is everything and in One Design I'd say 60% important. yet you see lots of folk content to go off the line 2nd or 3rd rank and even at Olympic level is it something I'm missing is it no longer taught as important or is it because the fleets are so small and it doesn't matter as much, genuine question, I'm not much of a dinghy boat handler/sailor but when I do do well it's usually because I've creamed the start.

It's easy to lose sight of the ends on any start line.


What have you been using as a start line up till now?



Edited by transient - 12 Sep 16 at 1:16pm

I always try to get the transits if I can even if, in the heat of the moment, I ignore them. There are times when they are really useful, e.g. on a heavily port biased line and/or with adverse tide and the best approach is to keep to windward of the line and duck below it at the last moment.