Sternchases 

In contrast to the usual race, in which boats start together and finish at different times, in a sternchase (or pursuit race) boats start at different times but finish at the same time. This means the startline is uncrowded (less daunting for newcomers), but for the leaders the finish is boat-on-boat, adding to the excitement. To make for a fair race, slow handicap boats start before fast handicap boats, the exact start times being published in advance of the race.

Summary

  • Boats start at different times, depending on their handicap - slow boats start before fast boats.

  • Times for each boat are listed below for two lengths of race: (a) a race in which a boat with a handicap of 1200 races for 90 minutes and (b)a race in which a boat with a handicap of 1200 races for 60 minutes. 
  • The time is displayed from the safety boat on a flip board which counts down the minutes, e.g. 62 61 60 59 58 ...

  • A boat may start as soon as its start time appears on the flip board.

  • All boats finish racing at exactly the same time, when the counted down time (if it were displayed) reaches zero.

  • Finishing positions are exactly as the boats are on the water at the finish time.

  • Further details are available in Race Officer Guidance.

 

 Yacht Start Times (updated 2025)

Yacht Club handicap Start time 90 min race (-4%) (-2%) Start time 60 min race    
    white sail spinnaker cruising chute white sail spinnaker cruising chute
Abril 1376 103 99 101 69 66 67
Slainte 1260 95 91 93 63 60 62
Piper 1212 91 87 89 61 58 59
Countess Linda 1208 91 87 89 60 58 59
Sea Horse 1189 89 86 87 59 57 58
Rebel Rebel 1189 89 86 87 59 57 58
Sulumar 1147 86 83 84 57 55 56
Wee Mo / Joe 1116 84 80 82 56 54 55
Tusk 1110 83 80 82 56 53 54
Firecracker 1083 81 78 80 54 52 53
Swirley 1079 81 78 79 54 52 53
Tillidh 1016 76 73 75 51 49 50

 

 

 Dinghy Start Times (2025 handicaps applied)

  handicap Start time for 90 minute race Start time for 60 minute race
Pico 1330 100 67
RS Feva 1244 93 62
Laser 4.7 1216 91 61
Byte 1205 90 60
RS Feva (S/H) 1150 86 58
Solo 1139 85 57
Laser Radial 1154 87 58
RS Vision 1145 86 57
Laser 2000 1121 84 56
Laser stratos 1103 83 55
Laser 1104 83 55
Lark 1060 80 53
RS200 1050 79 53
Rooster 8.1 1021 77 51
Sprint 15 924 69 46
Laser Vortex

960

 72 48