Two key variables for a good start

There are two key variables for a good start: acceleration on the line and location on the line. In this report by Billy Merrington, he reviews the 76-boat Etchells World Championship 2026 and the approach that contributed to the Magpie (AUS) team winning the title:

Perhaps one of the biggest changes in the fleet is the standard of starting. The widespread adoption of the Vakaros RaceSense system has made a significant difference. The reality now is that the best boats are consistently arriving at the line one to two meters below the line at full boat speed.

That is an extraordinary level of precision. And it doesn’t happen by accident. The only way to consistently achieve that standard is through a well-drilled and repeatable pre-start program. More time needs to be allocated to preparation before the start.

Teams need to understand:
• The length of the starting line.
• The time required to sail the line.
• Layline positions.
• Burn times to the line.
• Boat speed at different angles.
• The effect of changes in wind strength and direction.
• The effect of chop and sea state.

Most importantly, teams need to complete at least three timed runs along the line in the period immediately before the start. These runs provide the data required to establish the burn time. And burn time cannot simply be treated as a number that was worked out ten minutes ago. It needs to be constantly discussed and reassessed.

A small change in wind angle, wind strength or boat speed can make a significant difference to the time required to reach the line. The best teams have turned this into a repeatable process rather than relying on feel alone.

Another interesting lesson came from talking to Magpie’s Ben Lamb about starting strategy. His approach is surprisingly conservative. He doesn’t particularly want to “win the end” of the line, especially in a fleet of this size. His view is that starting at the extreme end of the line carries additional risk.

Instead, the objective is to start somewhere around the middle of the line, generally biased towards whichever end has the geometric advantage. The priority is low fleet density. This is particularly important in a big fleet.

A heavily favored end might look attractive from a distance, but if twenty boats are trying to occupy the same piece of real estate, the theoretical advantage can quickly disappear. The goal is to have clear air, full speed, and options.

There is also an important distinction between the geometrically favored end and the end that appears favored from the committee boat. In San Diego, there were situations where the pin end looked attractive, but the course geometry meant that the real objective was to be positioned correctly by the top of the first beat.

The best starting strategy therefore wasn’t necessarily about winning the first 50 meters. It was about putting the boat in a position where it could sail its own race.