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Different types of courses

Instructions for running a Pursuit or Average Lap Race appear elsewhere.

Pursuit Race

• A Pursuit Race are when the slowest boat starts first, subsequent ones start
at various intervals depending on their handicap.
• The race is usually 45 or 60 minutes in length for the slowest boat.
• The course should be longer than for an average lap race so that you can try

and start all boats before those that have started first, cross through the finish
line. This makes for easier record keeping.
• Keep an accurate record of boats that cross through the finish line. They must
pass between the IDM and ODM.

Average Lap Race (ALR)

• To get the best result from an ALR, the course should be short, so that more
laps can be completed, so, short courses.
• Bring the marks in if necessary, don’t ‘hit the corners’.
• Ideally no more than four of five marks.

• Before the race starts, make sure competitors know how long the race will
last, 45 minutes; 60 minutes or whatever.

Open Meeting
• Choose a course from the Pursuit Race selection.

Triangular Course
• These consist of a triangle followed by one, two or three sausages.
• Finishing downwind.
• You can only set these if the wind is in certain directions.

Windward / Leeward
• You can only set with a gate at the LEEWARD end of the course, never at the
windward end. The SI’s state a windward gate, this needs amending.
• Finish is always to leeward.

• Make sure that the distance between the two leeward (gate) marks is at least
6 lengths of the longest boat. In other words, the three length zones
applicable to each mark, do not overlap in the middle of the gap.
• Again, you can only set these courses if the wind is in certain directions.