This is the standard technique used across the country, in tidal and non-tidal water. It is easy to do, and offers a high level of accuracy. You are unlikely to be far off a decent square start line [assuming that the wind direction has been assessed correctly] if you use this method. Our support teams can be taught how to do it in minutes.

The pin is stored in the garage nearest the lake as before. Please replace it there, properly at the end of each racing day.

The ground tackle is kept in a black bucket, and disconnected from the pin itself. This makes carrying it much easier; neither pin nor bucket is heavy. The chain on the pin is neatly drooped over the top of the buoy.

Carry pin and ground tackle to the boat as separate items. Once under way, the ground tackle can be connected to the end of the chain using the carabiner. [Don’t be confused here by the change of bucket colour, I found the superior black one later]

Position the boat 50 metres or so downwind of where the race officer wishes the pin to be; he will advise using the radio. You can go further, it will give more time to sort things out, it just means a longer tow. Once ready to stream, pop the pin in the water with the boat moving gently forwards, directly upwind. Make sure that you do not get the line round the prop! As the boat moves upwind, pay out the line directly from the bucket.

Eventually you will each the end of the line, with the chain and anchor. Hold these and tow the pin upwind listening to the race officer on the radio. He will advise on distance to go, and also may ask for the boat to angle to port or starboard if the start line length itself needs altering. One advantage of a longer tow distance is that it gives more time to determine the length of the start line. When the boat itself is at the position the pin is desired to be, the race officer advises “Length of tow to go”

When the pin itself is a couple of metres short of its desired position The race officer calls “Drop, drop, drop”. Let go the anchor. Once the anchor hits the bottom, the pin will move forwards, and hopefully stop in the correct position.

Once the pin is laid, drive back to it and check its position with the race officer, and that it is holding position.

It is better to call the drop too late rather than too early. If too late it will be too far forward, giving a port biased line. This can be adjusted by dragging it back a little. If too early, the line will be starboard biased, and the whole thing needs picking up and laying again.

However, don’t forget that if you have anchored the committee boat correctly, it should also be possible to adjust the line by easing or heaving in the anchor line.

When picking the pin up, don’t bother trying to land the line into the bucket, just get it on board and sort it alter. Put the anchor in the bucket first, then the chain, and then just neatly feed the rope back in so that it will feed out with no tangles the next time it is used. Clip the carabiner to the handle of the bucket. Place back in the garage ready for next time.

If a 2 day event, please do not leave it out on the water overnight.