MATTEO IACHINO
At the beginning you just need a watch and a mark in the sea to practice with. Any mark in the sea will do like a fisherman’s buoy or a boat that is anchored. Then you just need to pass at zero at that point. It’s just a matter of getting used to the timing. To accelerate on the land in a car is one thing but to get it right on your windsurf rig takes a whole lot of practice. When you do it with three or four guys you will soon find out it is a lot harder. You will find out quickly who is the best starter! I am normally a pin guy but it all depends on the conditions and the lay of the start line. The wind can shift a lot and it can be risky to start at the pin because it can be tough to make the first mark. It depends on your style of sailing, your speed and how the course is set! Many times the first mark is a bit upwind from the pin and it is tough to make it. Ideally you need to be sheeted in full power for the final five seconds before you hit the line. If it’s gusty it is a lot more difficult to time the start. If you get a hole it is hard to sheet in and that creates a lot of mistakes.
“ It’s just a matter of getting used to the timing.”
