One-Design Class Racing 51 



RACING COURSE FOR ONE-DESIGN BOATS 



While a few sailboat races for one-designers are run from one geo- 

 graphic point to another, the majority of regattas are held around tri- 

 angular courses. Such a course is a good test of skill since it requires 

 sailing to the windward, reaching and sailing before the wind. Boats 

 start the race by crossing the starting line between a white flag on the com- 

 mittee boat or station and the starting mark, and they finish by crossing 

 a line formed by a white flag on the committee boat or station and the 

 starting mark. Generally the race course is so arranged that the first leg 

 requires a beat to windward. This spreads the boats out a little and 

 minimizes, to some degree, traffic jams at the first mark. Some courses 

 are twice around the triangle. 



One of the most popular courses, especially for class national cham- 

 pionship, is the "modified Gold Cup" course which consists of five legs, 

 with the starting and finishing at the same mark. The first three legs are 

 generally around a triangle, starting with a windward leg followed by two 

 reaching legs; the fourth leg is usually a repetition of the first leg to 

 windward; while the fifth leg is a return downwind to the finish line 

 at the starting mark. In the case of the Thistle Class National Cham- 

 pionship, their rules state that a modified Gold Cup course should be as 

 follows: The triangle laid out for this course should be an equilateral 

 one not less than 12 nautical miles on a side, making a total course length 

 of not less than 6, or more than 7i/^, nautical miles. This course cannot 

 be changed under any conditions, and cannot be shortened after the start 

 of a race. 



In the America's Cup Races, two courses are usually sailed: the wind- 

 ward-leeward and triangular, on alternate days. The windward-leeward 

 course is twice around two buoys placed 6 miles apart, for a total of 24 

 nautical miles. If wind conditions permit, the first leg of the course will 

 be to windward. A triangular course, which tests a boat on all points, 

 consists of a beat to windward, a reach with wind abeam and a run 

 before the wind. The legs in the America's Cup Races are 8 nautical 

 miles each for a total of 24. If the wind permits, the first will be to wind- 

 ward. 



In the 1960 Olympic Games, courses were employed with eight buoys 



