Outer Distance Mark

The main skill to learn is how to stop your boat suddenly! If you can do that, and realize that the gap you were going for no longer exists, then you can stop, wait a few seconds for a new gap to appear, and then accellerate (another good skill to learn!) and go, without having to sail a big loop to get out of the way. I'm pretty sure that back issues of Y&Y have articles by John Emmet on how to do such things, or there are youtube clips, no doubt. Then go practice without lots of other boats around... Using a mark as a point of reference is useful.

Thanks everyone for the various references and experiences relating to the treatment of the Outer Distance Mark. I think I'll keep away from the extremeties of the start line in the near future.

Spithill didn't put Coutts into the committee boat. Coutts was barging, but there was actually enough of a gap for him to get through. Problem was his approach was too high and he couldn't get the boat to bear off fast enough.

Much more of a problem, of course, with an ACWS style reaching start.

I agree but recently in France I spotted at least 6 boats lining up for a non existent gap by the committee boat.  Oggie says he is new to dinghy racing and I would suggest that he takes care to avoid getting into this situation.  The fact that you can't just ram people into the committee boat is covered by giving room to keep clear but it doesn't mean they will.  My advice is to avoid the trap unless you are sure that you are perfectly lined up with no risks of being stuffed up into the mark or committee boat.  I have lost count of the number of times that I have been perfectly lined up and people have barged in and forced me to bear away to avoid damage which also is not always possible on a crowded start line.  Thank god for port biased lines 

Edited by rodney - 16 Sep 12 at 3:02pm