Pursuit Racing - all you need to know
How does a Pursuit Race work?
In a Wednesday pursuit race, boats of different speeds start at different times based on their RYA Portsmouth Number (PN).
From June 2025 onwards, there are two parallel fleet races. The MAIN fleet is finished at 2000, 67 minutes after the base time/ COUNTER start 00 . There is a parallel race for the SLOW fleet which ends at 1938, 45 minutes after the counter time of 00. The boat(s) in front of their respective fleet at that time win.
The COUNTER timer is set to 00 at 1853.
Entry
The MAIN fleet is open to all boats. The SLOW fleet is open to any boat with a PN up to that of an RS FEVA (1244 in 2025). With agreement of the Race Officer or Robert M less experienced juniors sailing a boat with a PY less than 1244 may enter the 45 minute / SLOW race with a start time appropriate to their boat PN.
Prizes
Series prizes will be awarded to main fleet entrants in line with their series results. Junior prizes will be awarded to slow / 45 minute fleet entrants who qualify as juniors in line with their results in the slow fleet. If 3 or more juniors qualify in the main fleet the lead junior will be rewarded with a prize.
Personal handicaps/ helm adjustments
At Spinnaker, our pursuit races have an special element where each helm starts according to their own personal adjustment within their class. In the faster fleet, a top sailor will add +7 minutes to the Class start time. Helms with progressively less experience/ success will have earlier start times ranging from no (0) adjust through to +6 minutes. There is a one minute difference for each grade. For the slower fleet we have 4 personal adjusts also separated by one minute. Please speak with James.
You need to watch the big COUNTER board at the Race Hut, or the Committee Boat which displays the start time counter in whole minutes.
Refer to the Pursuit Start Time PDF below for your base boat numbers. Your counter start is simply based on boat type/ class and your individual Adjust and is a number of minutes after the base (COUNTER = 00) time. These adjusts are published in the race hut, from your class captain or Robert M.
Notice that Toppers may start in either the faster (earlier) section, or the later race section. You choose!
This is also explained in the YouTube video referenced below. Help is available - It is best to speak to your class captain who will help assign your adjustment. From the sailing committee Robert M is the overall coordinator too.
The race
To make clear the start is due to happen a 3,2,1,Go sequence with flags and hoots will run before the counter base time/ start.
With all boats sailing the course right up to the finish gun, it is a tough task for the Race Officers to log every position - even aided by a photo. For this reason it is important for each helm to note the sail number of the boat in front and the boat behind and to sign off with this information in the Club House at the end.
For Youtube summary of Pursuit Racing, click Pursuit Racing Intro.
Start times
In the PDF you will find your boat base start times. Your adjusted start time is available in the Race hut, your class captain or Robert M.
Downloads
Last updated 08:55 on 16 June 2025
