You're not alone. Just about everyone else faces this problem at some time or other. Yet it shouldn't be so difficult. All we have to do is tackle the problems logically.

Even though you may not have heard it because there was so much other noise, the starting gun has gone (at last), and you have a reason for being. You have to get to that first mark and need to shift into 'race mode' quickly. Decisions made or not made in the next few moments are critical, often deciding your finishing position. If you choose carefully, you can lead the pack, whilst if you take the wrong option, you'll be catapulted backwards through the fleet.

So what are these choices? They are in fact pretty simple and revolve around:

1. The need for clear air
2. Making sure that the boat is up to speed
3. Getting into 'sync' with the windshifts
4. Going the right way up the beat

1. Clear Air

The lighter the wind, the more important the need for clear air. Those who made good starts, perhaps because they started just away from the main concentration of boats, will make massive gains as they easily come up to speed. If they have space to leeward, they can sail marginally freer to ease out in front. They are the lucky ones.

So, what about those boats who didn't get a good start? How do they get clear air? Well, the answer is that they must start hunting  - and hunting straight away. They will be in less wind, so should ease kickers, sheet loads, etc. They should not try to point. Foils do not start working until water flows over their surfaces. So a boat going slowly, is a boat going sideways, falling into the dirty water and dirty air of the boats to leeward. Go for the best speed you can.

Just after the start, the majority of boats are on starboard. It will be impossible to break through to leeward of them. So, as soon as you can, tack. Tack sensibly and keep the boat moving. Panicky and awkward tacks only make things worse. Then take transom after transom, if necessary. You can easily break through the dirty wind zone, but don't forget to ease the sails if you have to bear away.

Once an area of clear wind is found, begin thinking about the wind. Try to stay in touch with the shifts, deciding whether you have to go one way or the other up the beat. But keep looking to windward. If there is a flag (masthead fly) pointing at you, and you're within five to six mast lengths, then you are being covered. So, start hunting again.

Word of warning: Do not tack so often that you lose speed. Better to be in dirty air for a moment while you get the boat moving. Then, when at a reasonable speed for the conditions, tack. Don't forget to look over your aft shoulder (especially when on starboard) just before you tack. There's nothing worse in this situation, than having to tack twice in succession. If there's a boat there, and he's too close, just bear away to create a gap (and speed) and then, after tacking, duck his stern.

2. Boat Speed

As you all know, boat speed is always important, but perhaps not as essential in shifty conditions. It's only in steady winds that it really comes into its own.

Remember that there is going to be much less wind and more of a confused sea in the congested start area. So, as you approach the line, you have to ease off from your pre-start settings - settings made in a smoother sea and stronger winds. 
This rule applies even to the front markers, because the wind lifts away from the surface as it approaches the massed fleet. Then, as the fleet spreads out, start to increase the loadings again. Take extra special care to keep the boat level, as heeling forces your sails into the backwind of the leeward boats. Watch out for fore and aft trim - perhaps sitting slightly forward in the lighter airs and moving aft as the fleet spreads out.

Remember to constantly monitor speed by comparing yourself with other boats. The golden rules are: 

• Make leeches tighter (without flattening sails) to improve pointing. 
• Open out leeches and flatten sails to get more speed.

3. Getting Into 'Sync' With Windshifts

Most of the sailing you do is in shifty conditions where the wind oscillates about the mean. So, as you clear the line, begin using the information learnt in pre-race practices. What is the wind doing compared with the mean? Is the wind heading or lifting?

If you are on a significant header, tack if you can - even if it means ducking a few stems and losing some ground in the short term. You'll be ahead of the boats you had to duck, when the wind heads back and you tack again onto the new lift. If you can't tack, don't worry too much. Just sail through the header, take the next lift and then wait for the next header before going. 

Easy to say, but much harder to do. What usually happens is that you spot the header but can't tack because of boats on your windward quarter. You start to fret, and as your sailing goes down the tubes, the situation is made much worse than it really needs to be. A much better solution would be to shrug your shoulders (leave the fretting to others) and cope with what you've got.

4. Going The Right Way

Perhaps more accurately, this should be entitled "Getting Ready to Go the Right Way". In fact, this is often overlooked in the urgency of a short term gain. For example, in a gently bending breeze, many sailors hang on and hang on to the outside of the bend rather than tack and duck transoms. However, as it will pay to get on the inside of this windbend, it is vital to tack onto the header, again ducking sterns if necessary. Remember that because you are sailing into the bend, you'll soon be ahead of everyone you duck.

The same tactics, interestingly enough, should be adopted in tidal situations where the need to get out of (or into) the current overcomes virtually everything else.

If you are going the right way, insisting on your starboard rights and forcing port tack boats to tack onto your leebow is absolutely ridiculous. Just think how you will feel as you tack away. By the same token, always duck the starboard boat if you are on port and going the right way.

If you are on the wrong tack however, try your hardest to force the other one onto the wrong tack. The port tacker will have to be made to leebow you so that you can tack off. The starboard tacker will have to be leebowed vigorously to force him to tack onto the wrong tack.

So, it's a pretty demanding time for you. But if you get it right, the rewards are enormous. You'll be ahead of the pack and able to move without pressure on to the next stage - the rest of the first beat including that oh so important final approach to the windward mark.

Auntie Alb