Pin-End Start
Win the leeward (pin) end when it's favoured — you're instantly ahead of everyone to windward — but know it can pin you on starboard.
The pin end is 'favoured' when it sits furthest upwind, so a boat starting there is ahead of the whole windward row before the race even moves. The catch is that the pin is crowded and unforgiving: once boats stack up on your windward hip you're pinned on starboard and can't tack onto port. Only commit to the pin if the left side is genuinely where you want to go. Approach on port, tack into your gap so your bow is just ahead of the boat to windward, and leave a small hole to leeward so you can bear away and hit the line at full speed.
Opens the animation on the boat-length grid — run it well, then brief it from the same picture. Free, no account needed.
What to call out
- Only fight for the pin if you want to go left, because once you're there you may not be able to tack out.
- Approach on port and tack into your gap, because that puts your bow ahead of the windward boat so it can't roll you.
- Leave a small hole to leeward, because you need room to bear away and accelerate — a slow pin start gets eaten.
- Hit the line at full speed on the gun, because the pack to windward will roll a slow boat instantly.