Malcolm’s advice is sound and based upon years of research in looking at all of the other options!
However with 60 boats on the line, the game is all about clear air and rank at the start until the fleet has spread out.
On a South Westerly experience suggests that winning the beach side is essential whereas as long as there is centreboard depth on the Town side, a slightly less than perfect start can be got away with.
Malcolm doesn’t mention the need to be absolutely as close as you can to Woodcot Rocks before crossing to Biddle, but maybe he was keeping that to himself!
There is a really good case for doing a bit of a beat from both sides to the Blackstone mark before the start to get an idea of the true wind direction and which side is lifting.
We missed you all at the weekend.