Page 3 - Suggested Courses 0318

General considerations when setting a course

• Always aim to start direct to windward.
• The first mark (windward mark) should always be rounded to port, otherwise

there are complicated rules issues with rule 18.
• If a pursuit race, with a shifting wind, try and set more than one beat.
• The initial beat should be as long as you can make it, this may be that you
have to set a committee boat start. Alternative courses are shown if the wind

is in the direction where you can get problems.
• The difficult start to get a good length first beat is if the wind comes out of the
Mount Pleasant corner. From Troy, it is almost impossible to have a Club line
start.

How to set the start line

The start line should be correctly set so that it is fair to all competitors.
It should be:
• Square to the wind.

• It can have a port or starboard bias.
• It must be the correct length. Formula is 1.25 x overall length of all boats
minimum.
• The IDM and ODM should be in a line with the transit from the starting box
mast, through the IDM and onwards until it hits the far shore unless there is
an ODM in the correct position.

• If the ODM is to windward of the transit, it is better than being to leeward.

The finish line

• The IDM and ODM should be in a line with the transit.
• If the ODM is to windward of the transit, it is of no relevance and the finish can
be at the far end of the transit.