In setting the line, the PRO must set the tone for the committee that “A good enough attitude,” is not acceptable. It must be done well, and with a desire to make the racing fun and challenging for the sailors. It all begins at the Start. Poorly set lines reflect negatively on race committee performance, and lead to frustration among the sailors when subjected to general recalls, and unnecessary use of “I” flags, “Z” flags, and the like. So how do we prevent this?
Keeping a wind log before the start is of primary importance. It is a good idea to have a mark boat set up in the vicinity of the starting area to record wind direction, time, and velocity data at least an hour before the scheduled starting time. This information will be of value to the PRO and Line Setter for picking a place to start and determine the course that is to be sailed.
Once a location has been selected and the course chosen, the Line Setter needs to consider the Class of boats, the aggressiveness of the sailors, boat performance, obstacles in the area, and potential shoreline impact. He should think about the wind data collected by the mark boat and the potential location of the weather mark. Will there be adequate room to set the line for a good start and a true weather leg? Will there be room for the PRO to shift a mark later in the race if conditions warrant a change of course? Will there be room enough for good line length and adjustment in case of a major shift? Are there any obstacles up the course like shoals, meaningless marks, or structures? Think about the visitors who may not be aware of certain danger zones and try to avoid them.
The first leg length is a major consideration, as a short leg will necessitate a short line. A long line with a large fleet and a short leg will result in the boats at the ends laying the mark on a single tack and no clear air for the boats in the middle. Make the line long enough for maneuverability. Take the largest fleet’s total length and make the line at least that long for light air. For wind over 10-12 mph make it about 1.5 times that length, and over that, double it. A line too short in difficult conditions leads to frustration, general recalls, and collisions.
Know the weather forecast, and use the wind data collected. Now that the PRO has put you on station, continue to have someone collect the data every 4-5 minutes, so that once you are ready to set the pin, you will know approximately where it should be placed. Have your mark boat standing by in the area.
Think about your options for the line. Pin end favored, starboard end favored, square to the wind, and the length based on the number of boats and conditions. With sailors as savvy as they are today, a pin or starboard end favored line will almost surely lead to a pile up at one end or the other. Try a square line first. Surely one end of the line will end up favored a little just due to shifty lake winds, but it won’t be as bad as it would have been with an intentionally favored line and an unexpected shift at the last minute.
About ten minutes before the Warning Signal, you should be ready to commit to the starting mark location, assuming the PRO has anchored the Signal Boat by now. You have seen the wind and velocity data, and any trends that are occurring. You can now pick an average wind direction and set your line accordingly. Remember that you only have one minute after the Warning Signal to tweak the line, as the Rules do not allow moving the starting mark or signal boat after the Preparatory Signal.
For this reason you should have lots of anchor line available and lots of scope at the Signal boat for a last minute tweak in the time period between the Warning and Prep. There won’t be enough time for the mark boat to help at the pin end. Use a hand-bearing compass to check the line, which should have a ninety-degree angle to the average wind.
Once you are under the preparatory signal, you are committed to the line. HOWEVER, if there is a major wind shift, which could cause a pile up at one of the ends, you may want to consider postponing and adjusting the line. If there are lots of boats OCS there will probably be a General Recall. Now what do you do?
In this case, you need to re-evaluate the line setting. You should consider the following questions. Is the re-start competitor induced, or is it condition induced?
1. Competitor Induced - The re-start is necessitated because of competitors being too anxious or aggressive.
2. Condition Induced - The restart is necessitated due to a wind shift, favored end too much, line too short, or maybe a race committee timing error.
If the re-start is competitor induced, it is normally because the fleet is overly anxious or aggressive, so the PRO needs to take action that will put him in control of the race. The only solution for this condition is to initiate the use of the “I”, “Z” or “IZ” combination, etc. If General Recalls continue to persist, he should make the prospect of a penalty more severe with each re-start.
If a re-start is required due to a condition induced circumstance(s), then the line must be re-set to correct the problem. On the other hand, in the case of a race committee error, the situation needs to be rectified before progressing. In a condition induced situation, the PRO should not resort to use of “I”, “Z”, “IZ”, etc. The sailors should not be constrained for reasons they cannot control. They should be allowed to start again without restraints.
Keep the following observation in mind. Use of the “I” flag will often times shut down the middle of the line resulting in crowds at the ends. This happens because the competitor can sail around the end of the line quicker in the event he is over during the one minute period before the start.
Now that all of the corrections have been instituted and a new starting sequence is under way, all should go nicely. Remember to have the pin pulled after the start, but be sure the PRO agrees before doing so. A good starting line does not necessarily make a good finish line.
Serving on a race committee that executes well is a great experience. Everyone will have a good time and the sailors will appreciate your efforts if they see that you care enough to be there for them and not yourself. Take the time to prepare and execute precisely, timely, and professionally, then have a great day!
Bill Ross