Taking a Transit

 

This year I have really got into taking transits and have had a few cracking starts as a result of knowing where the line is. I have found that getting and using a good transit isn’t quite as straight forward as it is explained in some books, I have also come across a few tricks that have worked well for me.

Firstly what is a transit, why and how to take one.

A transit for starting

It is extending the start line to a third point so that when you are on the line it is easier to judge where it is by using two points that you can see. By using a transit you stand a better chance of being on the line especially if you are aiming to start towards the middle of the line.

 

 As in this diagram, the committee boats mast, the outer distance mark (ODM) and the tree are all in line as can be established by looking from behind the committee boat. When in the middle of the line, by lining up the ODM and tree you can be confident you are pretty close to the line.

First of all to establish a transit park your boat on the far side of the committee boat, line up the flag mast and ODM and see what can be viewed in a direct line. This is harder than it sounds as often committee boats are quite tall, and getting it in a direct line is tricky. Try doing this sailing slowly away and towards the committee boat to see which works best, I normally have to stand up to get a view. Spend some time practising this and trying different ways until you are sure you have a good transit. If you are sailing at your club and are on good terms with the race officer you may be able to ask them if the transit you have found is in fact a good one (after the race of course…).

 

Another method I have used to establish a transit is by using a technique outlined in Paul Goodison’s Laser book to tell if you are on the line. Basically you sit on the start line and point the bow of your boat at the ODM, you then centralise your tiller and look directly along it. If it points at the committee boat you are on the line, now look past the ODM to see what lines up for your transit. With this technique it needs to be repeated a few times to make sure you get the same result and a reliable transit.

 The next difficulty I have found is that there is rarely a good easily identifiable transit. Often it is just a line of trees, however with careful inspection there is normally a slight distinctive feature about the tree line such as a slight dip in the upper branches. Find anything you can. At my home club of Bough Beech SC there is rarely a good transit but by looking at the skyline of the tops of the trees I can usually find a small dip or a taller tree that I can use.  

Unless you have got lucky and found a church spire to act as your transit, just looking at it once then trying to find it again when you are about to start rarely works. I like to find a transit then get on the line and check it several/ many times to make sure I know what it looks like. Using the Paul Goodison method above works well to check a transit you have found from parking behind the committee boat. This also helps you to get super confident about where the start line is and how quickly the ODM and transit move together so you can plan your approach run.

A point to remember is that if your transit and ODM are perfectly aligned your head will be on the line, which may mean your bow is just over.  

At the recent Grafham Grand Prix I used a transit to great effect. I wanted to start around the middle of a long line with 52 other boats. In a handicap fleet I had to nail the start to get clear wind and any chance of doing well on handicap. I established the side of a shed was in line with the ODM from the far side of the committee boat. I then checked this along the line by pointing my boat at the ODM and looking down my tiller until I was confident I was on the line. It still looked good. Right up to about 1 minute 30 to go I kept checking so I was certain what my transit was (there were several buildings all partly obscured by trees). When the start gun went I was at least two complete boat lengths to windward of the melee. It was a clean start, I was free to tack at will, had a good lead on the boats around me and clear wind. At the end of the day I was awarded with a pair of thermal socks and box of chocolates for my efforts. I have no doubt that it was my starts that got me up in the prizes.  

Ultimately as with everything in starting preparation is extremely helpful to pulling of a good one. Find a transit, check it, check it again and again. Practise starting using it. Lastly if you have done the work have confidence that you are not over the line. This can be a bit nerve wracking when the black flag is flying and you are well clear of other boats around you.

When you get it right and start lengths ahead of boats around it is incredibly satisfying and makes the rest of the race so much easier. It also makes the start very simple as you are starting pretty much on your own.

 

See you on the water

 

Andy