Where to Cross the Start Line
It is easiest to think about starting on the upwind side of the line or cylinder. But unless it is really windy my biggest concern is getting the best energy line or strongest thermal. If you are starting a race and your first climb is good you are better off mentally. Even if someone took a slightly better start upwind, you mentally are better off with a strong climb. Imagine the pilot just upwind looking over their shoulder at you rocketing up...
It is even better if you can align yourself with a good energy line. You are going to be running that street for some distance so make it count. It doesn't help when you start upwind then have to drift downwind to get on the street. It would have been faster just to be on that street quickly.
Sometimes there is a street upwind and you want to leave from the corner and race upwind to get to it. Another consideration might be to wait 10 min and let it align with your start-line. Head upwind and drift with it back towards the startline. If I have no better ideas I do try and head upwind of the start and allow my thermal climb to take me back to the start.
US pilots there was a change to the start cylinder. You now get distance credit if you start out of the back of the cylinder. Sean and I went to Perry SC to practicing team flying, we flew an LS1f and Cirrus in the 15m class. We had a 1st leg into the wind, a beautiful street started near the center of the cylinder, good climb then ran under the clouds, then WinScore took our start out the side. I thought this was in error because we had a good climb (but not as good as we found on course) and nice cloudstreet. I re-scored the flight with the earlier start I wanted and it was almost 1 mph slower.
What leg do you want to be long? The downwind leg. So now you can lengthen the first leg if it is downwind by a good distance (depending on the cylinder diameter). If the first leg is into the wind you might want it as short as possible. Of course, wind strength and thermal strength will determine what is most beneficial.
I always like starting high, so now you can get a good climb out the top of the cylinder that is best aligned with a lift line headed to the first turn, hopefully on the upwind side of the leg. When you roll-out on course and you are high you are in a good mental state of mind and ready to race.
I have won days starting out the downwind side because it was better air, 4 knt thermals vs 2 knt thermals are going to be a huge advantage. I have also had it where it connects me sooner to a cloudstreet running me back into the wind across the course line. Others that started farther upwind were lower when they got to the cloudstreet as they spent more time in the blue, the wind was helping them, but I was in the lift quicker and higher eliminating a need to thermal.
Banner Photo: Roberto Ruiz
Garret Willat holds a flight instructor rating with over 8000 hours in sailplanes. His parents have owned Sky Sailing Inc. since 1979. He started instructing the day after his 18th birthday. Since then, Garret has represented the US Junior team in 2003 and 2005. He graduated from Embry-Riddle with a bachelor's degree in Professional Aeronautics. Garret represented the US Open Class team in 2008 and 2010 and the Club Class team in 2014. Garret has won 3 US National Championships.
