Clear Air is king..

In a slower boat with no boards...aka a Dart 18... you need to set up your start so that you can tack onto port ASAP. Even if you nail the start... you know you won't be able to hold your lane and will be over run to weather and you also have to keep clear of leeward boats. Tack for clear air so that you can sail to your rating number!

If it's a short start line... plan to start in the second row at the boat end... you can tack for clear air almost immediately and have only lost a boat length or two to get to clean air. It is also much much less frustrating then a futile battle with an A cat or Tornado