Introduction to Pursuit Racing
hamFor those folks who are new to Pursuit Racing here are the basics.
(1) Each boat is assigned a PHRF handicap. This determines your start time. Boats with high handicaps will start the race before boats with low handicaps.
(2) Each boat must not cross the Starting Line until after their start time. The first boat will start at exactly 7:00 PM and every other boat will follow according to their assigned time.
(3) The course is laid out as per this chart:
(1) Each boat is assigned a PHRF handicap. This determines your start time. Boats with high handicaps will start the race before boats with low handicaps.
(2) Each boat must not cross the Starting Line until after their start time. The first boat will start at exactly 7:00 PM and every other boat will follow according to their assigned time.
(3) The course is laid out as per this chart:
This is how the race proceeds:
To start the race, you come from below the Starting Line and cross between the Starting Mark and Committee Boat and head toward the top mark (the Windward Mark, #1 on the chart).
All marks must be rounded on your port side. In other words, the course runs in a counterclockwise direction.
After passing over the Starting Line you tack up to the Windward Mark and round it with the mark to port, head towards the Mid Mark (#2 on the chart), pass that mark (mark always on your port side) and head toward the Downwind Mark (#3). You come around the Bottom Mark and head back upwind toward the Windward Mark for the second time. Then you round the Windward Mark and run to the Downwind Mark, round that mark and make your way back towards the Upwind Mark.
If there is enough wind & time to go through the course a second time then repeat the course. The Committee Boat will signal if the race is to continue.
Note: Once you have started the race, there is no requirement to pass between the Starting Mark and Committee Boat when crossing the Starting Line (while coming from the Downwind or Windward Marks).
In pursuit racing, we run the course for one hour and whoever is in front at the 8:00 PM whistle WINS!
To start the race, you come from below the Starting Line and cross between the Starting Mark and Committee Boat and head toward the top mark (the Windward Mark, #1 on the chart).
All marks must be rounded on your port side. In other words, the course runs in a counterclockwise direction.
After passing over the Starting Line you tack up to the Windward Mark and round it with the mark to port, head towards the Mid Mark (#2 on the chart), pass that mark (mark always on your port side) and head toward the Downwind Mark (#3). You come around the Bottom Mark and head back upwind toward the Windward Mark for the second time. Then you round the Windward Mark and run to the Downwind Mark, round that mark and make your way back towards the Upwind Mark.
If there is enough wind & time to go through the course a second time then repeat the course. The Committee Boat will signal if the race is to continue.
Note: Once you have started the race, there is no requirement to pass between the Starting Mark and Committee Boat when crossing the Starting Line (while coming from the Downwind or Windward Marks).
In pursuit racing, we run the course for one hour and whoever is in front at the 8:00 PM whistle WINS!