Create and protect a ‘hole’ at the start

In order to start with a good space to leeward, your main tactical goal during the last few minutes before the start should be to carve out and then guard a hole on the line. This is not so easy to do, especially at a crowded start. It requires good boathandling skills, rules knowledge and a number of different tactical moves depending on the wind strength, waves and the type of boat you're racing.

In a dinghy, for example, you may need to sit in one place on the line for the last two minutes. Heavy boats are always moving, they set up farther away from the line and require a timed approach.

• Reserve your spot early. It's usually better to set up a little too early than too late, especially with dinghies and in lighter air. If you wait too long on a crowded line, the front row will fill up and vou mav never have a chance to create any space for yourself.

• Shift right in your hole. Always keep working to the right in your hole, toward the boat on your windward side. This gives you more control over that boat and increases your space to leeward.

• Don't allow other boats to sail into your hole. Post a "Do not enter" sign around your space by aggressively defending it using the tactical moves described at right.

• Save your hole as long as you can. There are times when you must use up a little of your hole to keep other boats out. But otherwise save it until the start. If you trim too soon before the gun, for example, you will accelerate too early and wind up just to windward of the boat on vour leeward side.

The reliable port-tack approach

No matter where on the line you're planning to start or what type of boat you're sailing, a port-tack approach usually works pretty well. This method allows you to see all the starboard tackers as they start to set up on the line, and you can pick a good place for tacking into the starboard line-up.

There are typically two places where you might tack:

1) Above or below another boat; or

2) Between two boats. Here are some comments about each.

Setting up near one boat

This may sound backwards, but I usually set up on the windward side of a boat that's already luffing near the line. I know that I will almost always end up with a boat to leeward of me at the start, so by tacking into this position I maintain some control over which boat is to leeward of me and how big a gap is between us. Of course, I look for a slow boat here and create a gap that is only as big as I can realistically defend.

Setting up between two boats

When you are making a port-tack approach and the line is starting to get crowded, look for two luffing starboard tackers with a decent hole between them. In this situation, tack so you end up on the windward (right) side of the hole, just to leeward of the boat there (D).This gives you the largest possible hole to leeward (between you and C) with good control over the windward boat, D (see right).

Tacking underneath another boat

When you tack underneath a starboard tacker on the starting line, you usually want to end up quite close to leeward of them.This prevents them from bearing off behind you and allows you to control them by luffing.

It's not always easy to get close under the other boat, especially if they bear off at you to "close the door." To prevent this, make your initial approach as if you are going to keep sailing past them on port tack.When you are almost astern of them and they have let down their guard, make a quick tack so you end up to leeward of them.

If the other boat does bear off at you, begin your tack early so you don't foul them. As soon as you begin to tack, the other boat usually heads back up to close-hauled. Instead of making a normal tack, hold your boat head to wind so you glide up right underneath them and burn off your speed.

Don't be a line hog

When you're setting up for the start, don't be greedy. You can only guard so much space, and having too big of a hole will attract other boats. Therefore, take only as much space as you really need -perhaps a boatlength. If another boat can easily sail between you and the boat to leeward (C), you probably have too big a hole. As you get close to the start and boats no longer threaten your hole, try to make it a little bigger.

Use your sails to rotate

When you're luffing before the start, you often need to turn your boat sharply to defend your hole against other boats. Since you are going slowly and you don't want to move forward very far, you can't rely on your rudder for turning. Instead, you must use your sails to rotate. When you want to bear off, overtrim your jib and undertrim your main. When you need to head up, do the opposite. With this technique, you can almost spin your boat in place without moving forward.

Defend your spot on the starting line

From a port tacker

I .When you (A) are lined up for the start and you're protecting a hole to leeward, beware of port tackers (B) coming from your leeward side.These latecomers are looking for a space where they can tack, and you definitely don't want them filling up the hole to leeward. Keep a good lookout and use the moves below to discourage them.

2.When you see a port tacker eyeing your hole, rotate your boat so you are ;

aimed right at them. This will make it 1 much harder for the port boat to tack into the hole on your leeward side. Try to rotate your boat without moving forward. If you go forward too much you will use up the hole you've been protecting and end up just to windward of the leeward boat (C). Since you're probably not moving through the water very fast, you can't turn with the rudder or by moving your weight. Instead, rotate by over-trimming your jib (or genoa) and letting your main out.

3.Your goal is to discourage the other boat from tacking into your hole and encourage them to keep sailing past your stern in search of a better space. As soon as the port tacker commits to passing astern of you, use your sails (trim main, ease jib) to rotate your boat back up to a closehauled course (or above) so you maintain as much of your hole as possible.

From a starboard tacker

I. Another threat to your leeward hole are starboard tackers (B) who can't find a spot on the line and start reaching along behind the front-row lineup, looking for a hole. It's harder to see these boats coming, so keep an eye over your shoulder. Use the moves below to guard your space and avoid getting luffed head to wind.

2. When a starboard tacker comes from behind and threatens to sail into your hole (and probably luff you in the process), discourage this by turning your boat to a reaching course, as if you are going to sail into your hole. Turn your boat with your sails and try not to move forward any farther than necessary (so you don't use up your hole). Push your boom out to take up more of your space. Try to make the other boat think there will be a better hole to windward of you than to leeward.

3. As soon as the starboard tacker turns and commits to going on your windward side, rotate quickly (using your sails) and luff them toward the wind. This accomplishes two things:

1) It gives you control over the windward boat, which will be helpful when you come off the line; and

2) It moves you as far as possible from the boat on your leeward side (C).

Instead of turning up to windward of you, it's possible the starboard tacker may continue past on your leeward side. As soon as she commits to going behind the boat to leeward of you (C), head up and maintain your hole.

David Dellenbaugh, former starting helmsman for America3, publishes Speed&Smarts, a monthly newsletter of how-to information for racing sailors. For subscription information call: 800-356-2200. To order a new subscription, click