Pursuit (PR)
Will be run as per SI 8.7
Dinghy Pursuit Race – Beginner’s Guide
A dinghy pursuit race is a fun and exciting type of sailing race where boats start at different times, depending on how fast they are. It’s a great way to race when different types of dinghies are all competing together.
Here’s how it works:
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Every boat has a handicap number based on how fast it usually sails.
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Slower boats start first, and faster boats start later. The time between each start is carefully worked out using the handicap system.
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The race lasts for a fixed amount of time 140 minutes.
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When the time is up, a signal is given (like a horn or flag), and wherever the boats are on the course at that moment, their positions are recorded.
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The boat that is in the lead when the time runs out is the winner — there’s no need to sail to a finish line!
It’s called a “pursuit” race because the faster boats are chasing the slower ones, trying to catch them before time runs out. It’s simple to understand and fun to watch, especially in the final few minutes when the boats are often close together.