Thanks for coming to my defense, Jake.

Just some food for thought: The reason for the Course 4 is to get the early starting boats (usually faster) off to the side of the course the first time around while all the other classes are starting. We try to keep the reaching legs deep enough so the brave can still carry their spinnakers.
Hobie really ought to start using Course 4 again.

On the 3-minute start sequence, we were able to get off 6 classes in 18 minutes, instead of 30 minutes with the 5-minute sequence.., and still allow each class clean air for their starts.
When the 5-minute, class flag start came into being the theory was that when one class finished and were hanging around, you could go ahead and start them while others were still sailing.
Sounds great! But, rarely works. I have been to many, many regattas since the onset of the new start sequence and have only seen it work successfully once.
You can't start a class that has finished if the course is not square. Any windshift and you must await all the classes to finish anyway.

Just a bit on my exprerience:
*I was on the Olympic RC for Savannah
*I am a US Sailing Senior RC
*I was PRO for the MOR (Olympics) for 9 years in Miami and ran the Tornado and 49er course.

But, I guess I really didn't have to tell you all that! Must be my vanity! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

We hope to get some pretty good advertising money for next year's event and either have a better venue or improve on what we have. So, we hope to have a great race next year.
Hope we can see ya'll there.
Thanks
Rick