Starting: time-on-distance and hitting the line at speed
How to judge your distance to the start line, time your final approach and cross at full speed when the gun goes.
A good start comes down to two numbers: how far you are from the line when the signal goes, and how fast you are going. Most sailors misjudge the first and neglect the second.
Time-on-distance
Time-on-distance means knowing how many seconds your boat needs to reach the line from where it is now, including acceleration. That depends on:
- the distance itself,
- your current speed,
- how quickly your boat accelerates in the conditions.
The only reliable way to learn it is repetition: estimate, sail, check. Over a season, sailors who train this deliberately get much more consistent.
The final approach
In the last 30 seconds, aim to be in a position where you can build to full speed exactly as the signal goes. Arriving early and slowing down costs speed; arriving late at full speed costs distance. With practice, you can pull the trigger at the right moment rather than guessing.
Line bias
Before the start, sail the line or go head to wind in the middle of it to check which end is favoured. Even a few degrees of bias is worth several boat lengths on a long line.
Drill: time-on-distance runs
- Set a short line between two marks or a coach boat and a mark.
- From a stationary position below the line, call your time to the line out loud.
- Accelerate and cross; the coach notes the actual time.
- Repeat from different distances until your estimate is within two seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What matters more at the start: position on the line or speed?
Both, but speed is often underrated. A boat that crosses two lengths late at full speed is frequently ahead a minute later of a boat that was on the line but stationary.