In the place standings, yes, but not nearly as costly as tearing up all those cool graphics on the side of your boat!

But you're right: the solid start gets you out of all that crap air and gives you options for choosing good lanes to the top mark.

A second row start pretty much limits you to whatever you can get (hardly a winning strategy)

Perhaps the biggest reason for trouble in a big fleet start is you often don't know who your neighbors are (right up at the line) so it's a bit harder to play any sort of tactic to advantage.

Sure, if they're all top players, everyone is pretty certain how others will respond. But toss in a bunch of mid-fleeters and (my personal favorite) marshmallows who parked on the line 30 seconds early and it's anyone's guess...

I can't remember what regatta it was but (as the perennial marshmallow that I am) it was almost a joy to watch Robbie and JC chase each other "full-tilt" in and around our glob of slow/stalled boats about 4 seconds before the gun.