Start Tactics: How do I not get stuffed?

No kicker, boom out, heel a lot to windward.  The kicker and heel make a lot of difference.  You can leaglly jab the rudder as long as it doesn't move the boat forward.  Watch the RYA volvo training videos http://www.ryachampionclubtv.co.uk/

Edited by Garry - 14 Feb 11 at 7:22pm

Originally posted by dave101 Last year I did an open meeting where everyone lined up on the start line early, waited on the start line for a while and accelerated just before the start gun. From what I read that is the correct way to start. Since that open meeting I have been trying to do the same thing myself. However I have trouble stopping the boat at the right point, and when I do try to stop the boat tends to sneak forward/backwards or go into ions. Does anyone have any tips on approach position and timing, and the best way to hold the boat (angle to wind, centerboard position etc.)?

I've just posted a load of videos to You Tube from this weekend Finn Masters at Roadford Lake. 6 of the 8 are about 2 minutes long starting from just before the 1 minute to go horn. Well worth a watch to see the different tactics. Fleet size was 15, so busy but not overcrowded. I was on the Committee boat so all the action is close up but I was about 5 foot back from the line - i.e. not looking straight down the line.

Also . . . check out the 'Higher & Faster' DVD for some
pre-start techniques. Then look at the results tally for
Alistair Richardson & Peter Greenhalgh, realise that they
are making it look very easy, and go for a nice cup of tea
and a quiet lie down :-)

The 4000 is a very tough boat to handle in pre-start,
especially if you're used to a boat with soft sails that
is comfortable sailing 'almost stopped' - we learned this
very dramatically the other day doing club race training
as the only 4000 among lots of lasers!
I presume you've read all the stuff on the L4k website
cos I have seen you posting there ;-)
One approach is to keep some speed on and plan a start
based on time-over distance; either by sailing up to the
line on a slowish close reach and protecting your lane as
you go; or come in from the left on port and hope to find
a lane to tack into.
Otherwise you need (like we do!) to find ways of slowing
almost to a stop, which is v v difficult - there is
always the possibility of the boat heading up into irons
and then tacking, so the crew needs to have the lazy jib
sheet in hand ready to back the sail and flip the boat
back round. Coming to a complete stop involves backing
the main and learning then how to get the boat moving
again. What makes your life extra difficult is the
influence of the extremely long L4K daggerboard - when
flow over it breaks down at low speed, the boat becomes
very hard to control.
Learning how to do a 'bail out & gybe round' routine
under control is probably useful too :-)
We feel your pain!