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There Are Three Kinds Of Sailboat races=97ones = so short=20 that the advantaged side doesn=92t matter, ones so long that the = advantages tend=20 to even out (or other factors are equally or more important), and races = of=20 medium length in which getting to the advantaged side is paramount. On=20 medium-length courses, which are typically set near shore, there=92s = usually an=20 advantaged side. The first boat to reach the advantage usually = wins,=20 because after it does, there=92s insufficient time remaining for anyone = to catch=20 up.

In big fleets sailing long courses, the best strategy is = to start=20 in the middle of the line, keep to the middle of the course, expect = that any=20 advantage to one side (unless extreme) will be reversed by some = advantage to the=20 other, presume that boatspeed will get you into the top 10 at the = weather mark,=20 and await the mistakes of your opponents.

In small fleets on = short- to=20 medium-length courses, the opposite is true. Here, the best approach is = to start=20 at the extremities of the line, head immediately toward the = advantaged side,=20 and realize that boatspeed is of little value unless you get to the = advantage=20 first.

One side is almost always advantaged, either because of a=20 persistent shift, the onset and subsequent veering of a sea/lake breeze, = the=20 dominance of a particular phase of a series of oscillating shifts, by = favorable=20 current, stronger wind, or smaller waves. Before the start, the = competitor must=20 evaluate the conditions and decide, not whether, but which side is = advantaged=20 and then develop a plan to get to that side first.

Essentially, = this=20 means that you must start at one of the extremities of the line=97to = leeward of=20 all other boats heading left when the left side is advantaged, or to = windward of=20 all other boats with the ability to be the first to tack to port when = the right=20 side is advantaged. However, such perfect starts require precise timing = and=20 positioning and all too often a small mistake results in being driven = through or=20 over. Alternatives are available.

What matters most is getting = to the=20 advantaged side of the course before your opponents, not necessarily = getting off=20 the line first. The first step at about one to one and a half = minutes before=20 the gun is to sail into a position, either beyond the advantaged end or = to the=20 advantaged side of the fleet, from which it can be observed as it = organizes for=20 its final approach. From such a position, it will quickly become evident = to=20 which end of the line most boats are headed and whether most of them = will be=20 early or late. Perhaps everyone will act in accordance with Yogi = Berra=92s=20 presumption that "the place has become so crowded that no one goes there = any=20 more" or in light air will be unable to reach the desired end in time.=20 Opportunities to make the perfect end start may then become evident and = should=20 be utilized.

There are two special circumstances in which this = perusal=20 will reveal such an opportunity: when the opposite end of the line is = more=20 upwind and will attract most of the fleet, and in strong current. A tack = below=20 the most leeward boat on the line when the right end of the line is more = upwind,=20 but the left side is advantaged or a position above the most windward = boat on=20 the line when the left end is more upwind, but the right side is = advantaged is=20 usually possible. In favorable current, seek the pin end from a position = below=20 the layline. In unfavorable current, approach the weather end from a = barging=20 position.

If the pin end is upwind and the left side of the = course is=20 advantaged, you should arrive at a location a few boat lengths beyond = the pin=20 and just below the extension of the line with about one minute to go. = Try to=20 be the last boat to come back on port, because if you=92re not, you=92ll = be=20 controlled by the one that is. From here, if the air is light and the = fleet=20 late, one may bear away on port, cross ahead, and tack in clear air to = windward.=20 If the fleet is on time or slightly late, you can cross below the pin = with about=20 20 to 30 seconds remaining, tack under the leading starboard tacker, = luff them=20 if necessary (after completing your tack), and bear away to arrive at = the pin=20 with the gun. Vary the radius of your circular approach to the first = starboard=20 tacker so that at the tack=92s completion you are bow to bow with them. = If the=20 fleet is early, you should bear away at high speed below the first few = boats,=20 find a hole, tack into it, and come up tight under the boat to=20 windward.

Sometimes, if the pin end is heavily favored, boats = will be=20 tacking to port as soon as the gun fires. Your speed will permit you to = slide=20 through the hole that one of them creates and to emerge and tack in = clear air to=20 windward of boats hung up at the pin.

If the weather end is = upwind and=20 the right side of the course is advantaged, two alternatives to = approaching on=20 starboard and arriving at the committee boat on time are available. One = is to=20 approach from the port end (just as you would have done if the pin end = were=20 favored) but timed so that you arrive close to the weather end 20 to 30 = seconds=20 before the gun. From here, you should tack under the most leeward of = the=20 starboard tackers that is luffing up to the line. Come in late with = speed;=20 arriving early will permit some of the boats to windward to escape and = go around=20 you to leeward. After completing your tack, you should luff the most = leeward=20 boat, initiating a chain reaction that will affect most of the boats = near the=20 layline, and cause them to slow for fear of being shut out at the = committee=20 boat. You should then be the only boat in the vicinity that can bear = away, get=20 up to speed as the gun fires, and tack across the bows of those boats = jammed=20 astern and to windward.

The other, safer alternative is to = make a late=20 start, but do so right at the committee boat. At about one minute = before the=20 gun, take a position from which the fleet can be observed four to six=20 boatlengths beyond the weather end and just below an extension of the = line. If=20 the fleet is late or excessively slowed by a lull or adverse current, = you may be=20 able to slide around the committee boat ahead of them. If they=92re = early, but=20 moving quickly, the=92ll have to bear away down the line, leaving you a = hole at=20 the gun. If they=92re on time, you should delay and bear away so that = you come in=20 with speed right on the transom of the most windward boat. From this = position,=20 you should be able to prevent that leeward boat from tacking and be the = first to=20 tack yourself.

There are two caveats to remember, however: 1. If = you come=20 into your final approach late with speed, arrive early, and are forced = to slow=20 down, someone with speed will surely drive through, above, or below, and = you=92ll=20 be in their dirty air all the way to the advantage and beyond. 2. Do not = persist=20 in your starting plan when another boat=97beyond the port end or ready = to barge=97is=20 attempting the same start. Keep to leeward and in control of them and be = willing=20 to go farther down the line or farther astern, if necessary, to avoid a=20 catastrophe.