Slow boat in a big mixed fleet - where to start?

Seeing as you are the pointy slow boat, make the most of it by forcing boats above you to tack off, so clearing a lane for yourself. I can't see the proper low and fast working. Or start right at the stb end and tack onto port straight away, tacking back into a clear lane.

Or take a picnic and accept that 230boats, even on Ullswater, will chop the air to pieces, and relax.

The latter approach I dream of being able to master, and fail totally, even in small events, so I suspect the Birkett would drive me insane.

Unless it's a really biased Port end line and or all the breeze is on the left side of the course, I think Rupert pretty much nails it, try and get out the back door from the starboard end early and clean and Port Hand it as long as you can, at least when you flack over you'll have right of way over any dithering muppets in faster boats, which you'd probably be wiser to hail to cross you rather than have them on your lee bow for a bit.

Get left round the point into sharrow bay as quick as you can if wind is down the lake and stay middle left to the narrows

Originally posted by Matt Jackson Originally posted by Rupert Seeing as you are the pointy slow boat, make the most of it by forcing boats above you to tack off, so clearing a lane for yourself. I can't see the proper low and fast working. Or start right at the stb end and tack onto port straight away, tacking back into a clear lane. Or take a picnic and accept that 230boats, even on Ullswater, will chop the air to pieces, and relax. The latter approach I dream of being able to master, and fail totally, even in small events, so I suspect the Birkett would drive me insane. Unfortunately if you start at the starboard end and tack on to port you'll sail into the shore

That is a snag!

A graduate in clean air will be about the same speed as a 400 in dirty air, so best advice I can give is don't believe that because you're theoretically slower you need to start behind.
If it's less that about a force 3 if you manage a flat out front row start, you should be able to keep up with/ahead anything in displacement mode.
Crucial thing I have found in the Streaker in handicap racing is that you have to tack a lot up the first beat and take every opportunity for even a few seconds of clear air.
Also important is to spot the badly sailed fast boats before the start uand keep well clear. With the sails set wrong, they produce even more dirty wind, and if you're really unlucky they think they are facing you boat for boat and really slow you up.