The Start
- All starts are reaching starts
- Schedule a start every 6 minutes (10 races per hour)
- Short postponements might be necessary depending on time required by riders to go upwind again to be in time for their next start.
- Start on the outside with sufficient space to line up. Mark 1 ideally shall be set close to the beach to create picture opportunities and easy viewing for judges/umpires and spectators.
- With onshore or offshore wind, preferably equal number of legs on each tack
The Start Line
- Small RC boat on the windward side of line, displaying heat numbers and flags
- Starting line is set square to the first leg. Depending on the line length, there should be up to 10° bias for the pin (referring to direct line to mark 1) – look for bunching on either end and adjust. The best place to start should be the middle of the line.
- Line length: number of competitors x 10 meters
Starting Penalties
- Black flag rule on all starts.
- Competitors must be informed on the finish line about BFD scores (Bravo Flag)
Starting Signals
- 2/7 minutes before 1st Warning:Orange/white chequered flag
- - 3 minutes: division flag + heat number (Warning Signal)
- - 2 minutes: red flag (Preparatory Signal)
- -1 minute: red flag removed and yellow flag (1 min signal)
- 0 (START)yellow flag removed and green flag
- +1 minute: green, division, and heat number removed
Rabbit Start
For full fleet races and depending on the number of riders, a rabbit start may be used.
- At the start signal, high speed vessel progresses from the pin mark to committee boat at full speed.
- Course of the vessel shall give a line bias to provide all riders the same starting chance.
- Practice starts shall be made before the actual start
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