Following the story, Earning a start the old fashioned way, we got the idea to ask for ‘Nice Start’ stories. Much like the fish we catch, these get better with age… here’s a sampling:
During one America’s Cup 12-meter summer in San Diego, Dennis Conner’s wife made a starting audio tape that was used during practice. The crew punched it in at the ten minute gun and listened to Judy dutifully calling off the time right down to 30 seconds, 20 seconds, 10, and start. After a brief pause, Judy said in a voice full of admiration, “Nice start, Dennis.”
– Roger Vaughan
Craig, you are fully aware of the admiration I have for your dad, and I was so proud when he asked me to be tactician on Party Girl one weekend for the Malibu and Return Race. I got the “song sheet” as he called it and my first job was to say, “Nice start Tom.”
Well, the start did not go well as were fouled and pushed down the line. The gun went off and I did my job. “Nice start Tom?” He responded with “Thanks smart ass, now get us out of here.” Your Mom smiled and shook her head. We all went to work… we won.
– Glen Uslan
Having been a race committee member of the well-run Cortez Racing Association Beer Can Series, with an average Wednesday evening attendance of 90 boats, “Nice Start” means the committee boat hasn’t been hit.
– Christy Schisler
Growing up racing in our home fleet against two Star Class World Champions, Don Edler and Bill Ficker, provided a steep learning curve for the then 14 year old. One afternoon I’d timed our start nicely at the weather end committee boat, and on our final approach, Ficker came barging down on our weather beam.
“No room, Mr. Ficker,” I hailed. In a confident and quiet voice, Bill Ficker replied, “Sorry Skip, I have an ‘absolute’ and will need room.” Huh? My inexperience showed as I dipped just enough to allow Ficker’s NHYCUSA to gain the perfect start in the space we’d created.
Later after the race I mustered courage, walked down the dock and asked Bill Ficker “What’s an ‘absolute’?” Said Bill with a pleasant smile, “Oh, that means I have absolutely no rights.”
– Skip Allan; Capitola, CA
In the 2016 Pacific Cup, aboard my new-to-me Santa Cruz 50 as navigator was Liz Baylis, former Women’s Match Racing World Champion.
Now, at the start of a 2000 mile race, most folks are pretty cautious, and that is my general approach, but as we lined up nicely for an on-time start at the pin, Liz spotted two or three boats trying to barge in above us.
“LEEWARD!” she hollered to them as she instructed me to head up, which we did, thus boxing them out and watching with satisfaction as they spun around for a second approach to the line.
Who closes someone out at the start of the Pac Cup, you may ask… well who barges? We went on to take second in the race!
– Michael Moradzadeh
Tom & Barbara Leweck were always top competitors in my class 40 years ago and they were generous bringing new sailors out to crew. The newest crew member on board was given the responsibility to say in a loud clear voice after they cleared the start line, “Nice start, Tom,” which it usually was. One rare time the Leweck Merit 25 got badly tangled in traffic (and the R.C. boat ground tackle) I heard a young woman on the boat hail joyfully as instructed, “Nice start Tom” to the general amusement of the entire fleet sailing off toward the weather mark. I was so impressed that I chatted her up at the yacht club after, and then we dated for a very pleasant year.
– Tom Tunks
In 1983 I was a trimmer aboard Brooke Ann, Larry Harvey’s Nelson-Marek 41, at Antigua Race Week. Lowell North, the Pope himself, was our skipper. Although it was clearly a vacation for Lowell, his starts were always perfect, clear air, full-speed, right on the line every race. “Nice start, Lowell!” At the end of the series I asked him, “How are you able to get such consistently great starts?” He chuckled and said, “When you’ve made as many terrible starts as I have, you begin to figure out what NOT to do.”
– Ned Johnston, Bar Harbor, Maine
It’s 12:30 pm on June 30, off of Point Fermin, California for the start of the division 3 (50 foot boats) and 4 (35-40 footers) in the 2001 Transpacific. I’m aboard Seth Radow’s brand new Sydney 40 BULL, about to start its first race. There’s just a breath of air so we’re doing our best to stay away from other boats and simply keep moving. In the pit, I didn’t have anything to do during prestart other than call out the time to the gun. At less than a minute, we’re in clear air below and outside the pin. Seth and navigator Steve Steiner decide we’re starting on port. We hit the line just inside the pin with speed.
There were a few close crosses but we cleared plus we are heading far closer to Catalina’s West End, where the starboard starters are aimed more toward Avalon. I can’t tell you how that start contributed to our finish almost 11 days later, but it sure fired up seven guys who were already pretty stoked. We finished first in class and corrected over Pegasus by 1 1/2 hours to take the overall. I’ll never forget that start!
– Joe Dervin
In 1998, my new to me C&C 32 was entered in cruising class in Eastern Yacht Club’s Annual Regatta. One of my other competitors in my class that year was Shamrock V, the 120’ J boat. As we were maneuvering for the start my good friend Craig Smith (who had America’s Cup experience) had me tack out from the line with just a minute or two to go to the start. I immediately saw Shamrock V coming in on starboard doing a Vanderbilt start.
Craig must have seen the wild look on my face for he laughed and said no worries! He had us tack back for the line at the exact right time, and kept us close to the committee boat. We hit the line right at the gun With Shamrock V of course RIGHT behind. Craig said “Nice Start, now pinch like mad to force them to go below us”, which Shamrock did and as they went by the crew yelled to us how lucky we were to have them duck us, we owe them beers afterwards etc., etc. BTW, we missed correcting over them in the race by less than 15 seconds after the wind lightened.
– Tom Anderson, Marblehead, MA
Ages ago (40, 50 years?), Boston Bay yacht clubs had well attended Sunday interclub races for various classes. Back then, the race committee boat used a small cannon situated on the stern transom to signal starts. I still recall a port track start my 210 in which was so perfectly timed that the cannoneer was unable to fire the cannon for fear of damaging my mainsail yet the race proceeded. Sadly, great start, poor finish in what in those days were great sized 210 fleets.
– Quentin Walsh
Sometimes it is best to not have the best start. In the early 1960s, I would sometimes crew for Roger Miessinger on his 8-Meter Yucca. At the start of a Huntington Tidelands Race with moderate Newport winds, Roger had Yucca well positioned at the leeward end of a large fleet, driving hard on starboard. Yucca could really point and at the line Roger decided to take the whole fleet up, I guess because he could. Ticonderoga (Big Ti) was in mid fleet above us, but couldn’t point with an 8-Meter. Big Ti had to luff and in so doing hit the backstay of an L-36 and spun the smaller yacht totally around 180 degrees. The L-36 ended up clattering off the hulls of a few other starters heading back toward the beach. Oh, the yelling was marvelous. Does anyone else remember that day?
– Dan Feltham; Fallbrook, CA
Port tack starts at the pin are so much fun, even if you need to need to leebow a starboard tacker at some point. It is all about clear air and focusing on the breeze and not other boats. Only one boat wins at the committee boat, presuming no dramatic wind shift. Good luck presuming that. But if you have kids who are focused on starboard starts they are likely at the boat in a crowd or in the middle of a serious line sag three boat lengths back. At least at the pin they can judge the line better and not get caught in the giant line “sag”. They have no bow person. So for young sailors, be at the pin to avoid the conservative crowd and find clear air ASAP so you can focus on the goal of getting to the mark first and not worrying about boats near you. Easy to say. Hard to do.
– Paul Fleming
I realized that my large size start watch on the Laser mast has failed just in time to borrow a wristwatch from another sailor. In the last minute to the start, boats to windward and leeward were covering me from the “eyes” of the committee boats. All of a sudden an alarm went off on the watch. At once I switched to ‘sprint mode’, blew by the boats to leeward with total clear air from the windward side.
I was “flying” all alone when all of a sudden I heard the committee boat gun go off. Wow, this watch had an alarm set prior to the start. I was unable to see the flag post for an individual recall flag, and just kept on sailing. I finished top three, and back at the boat yard after racing received many compliments from the best of sailors for my great start and ability to judge my position on the start line with so many boats around and no shore reference. If they only knew…
– Ari Barshi, DOM 187794
First Big Boat on “It’s Ok” with one of the all time great owners, Lew Beery. It’s early nineties and IMS is just getting going. We are tied for 1st going into the last race of Big Boat with an all-pro team from Texas on a Tripp 40. We are all amateurs and it’s winner take all. The line is a clubhouse start in max ebb. On the first start we are well down the line and it was a general recall, thank god! Andy Rose is calling tactics and I am steering. After the recall he asks what do you think and I reply, “I have got this”!
We started at the boat on a close reach in max ebb, basically the race was over at the start. Oops! The top mark was Blackaller, it’s blowing 20+ and we set the 3/4. It blows in half. The boys call for the 1.5, which Lew and I decided to leave on the dock. Up goes the .5. Never broke in the three runs in 25+. Our first Big Boat win. Thanks Lew for all the fun.
– Craig Fletcher
Many years ago I was crewing for Bruce Kirby at the CDA championships in International 14’s held at Kingston during CORK. I was wearing a shorty wetsuit, which becomes important later. We had a not serious deal that we would cease yachting if my cigarettes got wet or Bruce’s chocolate bar got wet. So we were making a perfect mid line start and the second the gun went so did my trapeze wire and in I went. Boom Boom. General recall, but none of this worried Bruce, the first words out of his mouth were “your cigs wet?”
Upon inspection my wetsuit had kept them dry, the relief on his face was palpable. It was after this relief period we set about tying a knot in the trap wire for the next start. As we cruised about one of our fiercest competitors lumbered by and I said, “this is what happens when your father is the RC chairman and you break something at the start, general recall”. Talk about going over like a lead balloon. For the record, my dad had no idea anything had happened to us. Good times.
– Alex Watters
One of the most memorable, and interesting, starts I can recall was that of the Eggemoggin Reach Regatta. RC members, stationed on the signal boathouse top, provided starting signals wearing more-or-less flag color & class appropriate t-shirts. At roughly the appropriate time, the duly cladded member would rise from her seat and jump up & down for as long a period as she cared. Did it work flawlessly? Not even close, as most members weren’t fully appraised of the start sequence. Did we get a technically good start? Other than choosing to be at the boat end of the line, I can’t recall. But it certainly was fun.
– John N. Sweeney
My story is back in the mid-1970s when the 470 became an Olympic class, everyone who was anyone in the British dinghy sailing scene wanted to have a go. Even in those days there were dedicated Olympic crews and several joined the fun of the new class.
The first major outing was Weymouth Olympic Week (in those days this was the annual British regatta for Olympic classes) and a friend and I decided to enter. There were over 70 entries – a real Who’s Who of sailing talent! There was even a radio reporter to keep those onshore informed of the progress of the race.
In the first race we achieved THE start at the pin end – probably because all the experts wanted to go right on the first beat. Although we made the best start we were held on and on by someone behind and to windward, with me cursing him all the while as I wanted to tack too.
Eventually he tacked and we carried on another 50 yards to clear our wind and as we were about to tack we got a 10-15 degree header. We tacked and led by 100 yards round the windward mark. Apparently the radio reporter had to do a long search through the entry list to find out who we were. We finished the race 3rd and the experts came to inspect our very amateur set-up for tips on how to set the rig up, etc.
Sometimes being forced to do something against one’s will turns out for the best.
– Jeremy Rook
I recall a start to a squadron run (race) during a very traditional and Corinthian yacht club’s annual cruise. We were probably the eighth class to start, and the wind had clocked ever so slowly during the sequence from a beat, to a close reach, to eventually… a slight beam reach.
As we approached the start line, on starboard, running the line with a minute to go, we had competitors getting closer screaming about barging and proper course and keeping clear but when the gun fired, and we EASED to cross the line— with all of the screamers TO WINDWARD of us, it was an AH HA moment for many. Oops!
Windward boats keep clear, even if the windward side is behind the starting line. The best part was that the loudest protestor, who eventually figured it out and dropped his protest, was a very experienced America’s Cup veteran. Sometimes situational awareness in quickly changing conditions makes all the difference.
– Bill Doyle
A bunch of amateur but enthusiastic sailors from Ireland descended on Malta in October 2013 to tick a box – the Rolex Middle Sea Race. We saw some fantastic sights, got great suntans, had a marvelous time but ultimately didn’t trouble the scorers, as we say over here. But we hatched a plan to come back, and we did in 2015 on a chartered French J/122 called Noisy Oyster.
Anyone who has done the race knows the start – in a walled harbour, surrounded by ramparts, cannons booming, no wind in the harbour and the VIP’s on the ramparts looking down on the boats. The race start morning was sunny, with about 8-10 knots of breeze, and we had our eye on the pre-race favourite – Artie, a local J/122.
I’m on main trim, and our helmsman, a former All-Ireland dinghy champion, tells me, “I fancy a port starter here.” I’m thinking, “We’ll be right under the harbour walls, where there’s no wind.” But we go for it – starting on starboard right under the cannons and almost immediately flicking over onto port and clearing the fleet. I swear the locals on Artie said, “Woah, who are these guys?”
We led the fleet to the harbour mouth, grinning like cats. No need to talk about the rest of the race. Best bit ever? It was captured on video, and you can hear everyone going, “Wow, who are those guys?”
– David Greene
Each and every time there is a general recall, I instantly think back and say to myself, “That sucks, that was the best start I ever had.”
– Tucker Strasser
My best start memory was during the 1990 50-foot Class Worlds regatta in Tortola, BVI. I was on Abracadabra with a great team, competing against 16 or so boats, and at the start the race committee called over radio, “All boats over early except two, called numbers of boats starting properly.”
We were one of the two that started okay, Tom Whidden’s boat was the other, but they only heard their number called so they went back to restart. We had about a two minute lead at the start because all the others were restarting. And yes, we did win the world championship that year.
– By Baldridge
It was the 1997 Round the Island Race (UK), and the Solent was heaving with well over 1500 boats of every shape and size. The start line was over a mile long to accommodate so many starters in each class, and we were plotting our approach.
The wind was NNW 15 – 18 kts so we decided a middle of the line start on starboard would be good so as to catch the best of the ebb in the deep water and also not get pinned over on the Island side with the hundreds of starboard tackers.
With six minutes to go, we were the closest yacht to the Island in our start when I spotted a shift in the breeze on the Island side. It was tracking left inshore of us so we reach at full speed towards the Island. This reach steadily becomes close hauled and still we press on until our start gun.
As the gun fired, we tack onto port, cross the start line and our entire class (of some 130+ boats) as we are all but fetching Hurst Narrows.
It was a nice start especially as we went on to win our class by 18 minutes on the water and 15 minutes on handicap.
– Paul Newell, Chartreuse III – GBR 5630
At the 2000 Key West Race Week, I was racing on the Mumm 30 Twisted Lizard as a tactician, main sail trimmer, back stay, and traveler. There were so many Farr 40s and Mumm 30s that we were given our own circle west of the other three.
While watching the Farr 40s starting, I noticed a big header on the circle next to us. I told Mike Lathrope, the owner/skipper, to go for a committee end start, second row. Stick the bow in there and don’t let the leeward boat tack. As soon as we cleared the anchor chain we tack and the big, big header arrived.
Went back to starboard and eased sails to the weather mark, passing Farr 40s. It would have been an easy win but the Race Committee abandoned the race. We were the only boat in over 30 Mumms to get the boat in the right place and take advantage of the header.
– Tony Sanpere
The Royal Swedish Yacht Club runs a multi-race spring and fall regatta on what seems like a large lake near Saltsjöbaden. At 15 and 16, my sister and I were racing the then very popular Snipe against senior sailors and were competitive in the light air we had one day.
The lake had its prevailing winds, and the starboard pin end would generally be the best bet, but we sniffed a port start at the other end. The result was huge as we had no problem crossing the others, we got a nice lift almost heading straight for the first mark, and with the light air the new wind was very slow to reach that crowd at the other pin.
Back then, if one boat finished within the stipulated time, all others either had to sail on, even if the wind faded, or paddle home. When we finished just under maximum time, we couldn’t see the numbers on the nearest finishers. We’d put away the boat on the trailer, and waited to greet the rest of the fleet as they finished. Luck? Sure, winners have lots of “luck”.
– Olof Hult
When I lived in Falmouth, Cornwall the local gaff rigged oyster fleet would race twice a week on Tuesday and Friday starting in the centre of the town visible to all. Many of these boats are over a 100yrs old. There were many exciting starts weaving between moored boats and definitely no quarter given. A zealous harbour master at the time tried everything to stop this procedure even though it had been going on for more than 50 years. He finally got his way by booking the whole fleet for speeding in the inner harbour at more than four knots. The starts had to then be outside his jurisdiction with no pleasure to spectators from the shore.
– David Redfern
It was our first start at the Pitch Regatta in Bellingham, I think it was 1980. Me, the coach, calling tactics, and Bob Maclean, our sailmaker, were the only adults on the boat, a Two Tonner named Heather which had been donated to the Boy Scouts by John Buchan. The rest of crew were all teenage boys and girls from Explorer Post-950. I’m coaching and calling tactics and we have a 15 year old boy, full of confidence but short on experience (as was I) on the helm.
There were 16 two tonners in that regatta, boats from Seattle, Anacortes, Bellingham, and Vancouver, and Victoria, most with top sailors from their respective areas. The day was sunny and bright with a brisk wind blowing.
We held back a bit as the other boats approached the line early and were all luffing and fighting for position. There was a lot of noise, shouting, winches spinning, sails flapping, spray in the air glinting in the sunlight, and boats swerving radically. It was crazy. It was glorious. But by then we’d sheeted in and were making our run for the line near the boat end and had speed on.
But there was nowhere to go! The other boats were all chock a block on the line and down speed. Frankly I didn’t know what we were going to do.
Then, as a miracle, a hole opened up right in front of us and we blew through it and had a lane and a lead which we held for several legs.
“Nice Start, Matt” I said.
– Fred Roswold
During the 2018 William I. Koch International Sea Scout Regatta, a biennial event for Sea Scouts, I was the pin boat operator, along with Roger Gray from Canberra, Australia.
Thirty-two teams from nine countries sailed FJs at Sea Star Base Galveston. Roger’s son and daughter and two scouts from my unit located in Heath, TX were competing.
As we were hanging out by the pin between races, I noticed my scouts making several port tack approaches. I told Roger to pay close attention to the next start.
Sure enough the scouts from Texas came in from the left, went one boat length past the pin and tacked, winning the start against the rest of the fleet coming hard on starboard.
They saw an opportunity, practiced and timed it perfectly. It was beautiful to watch it happen.
– Robert Phillips; Heath, TX
I can’t say it was a great start but it’s one I’ll always remember. It was in the late 80s early 90s and I was crewing for my Uncle Woody ( J.W. Redmond) in his Dark Harbor 20 (S&S design) Kingfisher, and the race committee boat was Mrs. Becky Crane Tompkins’ beautiful wooden motor yacht Momo with a gorgeous wooden row boat hanging in davits off the stern.
It was the normal windward start for the one design class, and the committee boat end was favored. As we maneuvered to start at the committee boat end, there was a boat to windward of us to which uncle Woody yelled there was no room.
As the boat kept coming he yelled they were barging, and as we couldn’t fall off as there were boats below us, a few seconds later when the gun went off, the offending boat smashed into the committee boat & dinghy, crushing the dinghy.
I’ll always remember hearing Mrs. Tompkins yelling at the offending skipper, “You hit my Momo!”
We had a great start, and my uncle was a great guy and excellent sailor, always asking his crew what they thought in every situation.
– David Devens
Source: sailingscuttlebutt
