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GarethT View Drop Down
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    Posted: 29 Sep 17 at 7:45am
But then how many adults ever practice anyway!

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Posts: 3401 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Sep 17 at 9:15am
When I was racing Raceboards we used gate starts for our Thursday night racing at the club for several years. Saved anybody having to do RO so we could all race. We just sent the pathfinder (third in the previous race but nobody did it consecutively) off on port (starting at the leeward mark) and the rest started astern of him. Numbers were small and windsurfers have always been pretty self sufficient from a safety POV so no need for a safety boat either (worst case scenario it wasn't much more than half a mile or so to walk back 'round the lake). Worked for us.......
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Posts: 6499 		Post Options Post Options   Quote iGRF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Sep 17 at 9:20am
Originally posted by Oinks

But what is the best way to determine when to go through a gate..early...mid...late! I always go early if I think I'm quicker than the pathfinder, later if not. Interested to hear other people's approach.


Depends what the wind is about to do, if there's a header due anytime soon then go early, if it looks like it's about to lift, then go late.

Or the tide, if it's favorable, go early, if it's not, go late.

We used to have gates starts in the early 80's 505 style, nothing like a well run Mike Mountifield gate start with the correct application of dan buoys and nanny boats, banging in early into a knock, quick tacking then over taking the gate boat watching a fleet of 200 boards struggling to get by.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Sep 17 at 10:25am
If you want to go left, start early. If you want to go right, start late. (persistent shift, topography, tidal difference across course; all the usual stuff).

If it's shifty, start early, as you will gain on the pathfinder (and hence late starters) by tacking back and forth to stay on the lifted tack. The pathfinder have sail port only for 5 minutes through headers as well as lifts. However, you do have to have enough boat speed to get your nose out so you can start taking advantage of the shifts. If you're just stuck in a starboard lane then there's no benefit. 

If you're fast, and good at starting, go earlier. If you're slow or bad at starting, go late (less time spat out the back). 

If you see the pathfinder lift, bail out and start later. Similarly if we see the pathfinder get headed, sail down to him to get out of the gate sooner. Sail u wind on port, about 100-150 m ahead of pathfinder. When you get a header, gybe round and start. You should be starting just after the pathfinder gets headed, which puts you in a nice 'bulge' in the line and reduces the chance of a later starter rolling you.

Often the gate boat will continue after the pathfinder has been released. It's worth noting early in the regatta how good the gate boat is at holding a steady speed and course after release. 

Not sure I understand GRFi's "if tide is favourable, start early". If it's favourable, then it's favourable for everyone, and the pathfinder will be being swept upwind just as quickly as the early starters... 


Edited by mozzy - 29 Sep 17 at 10:31am
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iGRF View Drop Down
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Posts: 6499 		Post Options Post Options   Quote iGRF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Sep 17 at 2:28pm
One day somebody will forget that idiots book about the tide being the same for everyone - it ain't, unless you're deep sea, it never has been never will be and I'm buggered if I'm going to explain it all again here.
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Posts: 1345 		Post Options Post Options   Quote davidyacht Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Sep 17 at 2:34pm
I can feel some leebow effect discussion coming on ...
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Posts: 6499 		Post Options Post Options   Quote iGRF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Sep 17 at 2:36pm
All I'll say is I love racing against sailors in tide who believe all that guff they're fed about there being no such advantage.
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Posts: 822 		Post Options Post Options   Quote PeterG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Sep 17 at 2:50pm
Of course there is are tidal advantages - but they mostly due to there being differences in tidal current on different parts of the course - most notably for shore based clubs nearer or further from the shore.
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JimC View Drop Down
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Posts: 6662 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Sep 17 at 2:58pm
Originally posted by mozzy

Not sure I understand GRFi's "if tide is favourable, start early". If it's favourable, then it's favourable for everyone, and the pathfinder will be being swept upwind just as quickly as the early starters... 

Well, that does presuppose the tide is constant across the course, which at most venues seems unlikely. If the tide is better on the left you don't want to start late and thus right.
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Posts: 6499 		Post Options Post Options   Quote iGRF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Sep 17 at 3:13pm
And if it's a cross tide?Say 3 knots in a 7 knot wind?

The pathfinder on port with the tide on it's weather bow and by starting early you get the tide on your lee bow with the associated combination of apparent wind (10 knots)with the fleet stationary being fed by a pathfinder boat (4 knots) ?
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