That is a hell of a well timed down wind run to the start

good to see the small bloke win it !!! (mind you, he's only small compared to slalom riders.... )

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lao shi said..
That is a hell of a well timed down wind run to the start

Seems like a good tactic:

- you have right of way.
- You are upwind.

Just point at the start boat and you'll either start exactly as he did, or you'll hit the line a little later and be upwind of everyone in front of you, like the other sailors using the same tactic behind him.

Fully hedged starting tactic.

Why does the boat blast across the start and almost wipe everyone out?

It is a "gate start" which is employed when there is a large fleet and the boat is the actual "gate" you have to go behind to be classed as a starter. A fair way of dealing with a large fleet but certainly scary for those who get too close.

See the poor guy who crashed at the start when he hit the boat's wake, bad luck there....

The two guys going hard at 2.03, the inside lad was working at near on crash speed to get a run on his mate, then right at that moment catches a rail on the swell running, and cerrrrrsplash

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wbailey said..
It is a "gate start" which is employed when there is a large fleet and the boat is the actual "gate" you have to go behind to be classed as a starter. A fair way of dealing with a large fleet but certainly scary for those who get too close.

See the poor guy who crashed at the start when he hit the boat's wake, bad luck there....

That's actually a mate of mine who where there on holiday and could only find some formula gear to borrow





. No bad luck, he told me he tried to go to close to the boat