I have heard that the number suggested is 7 boat lengths. I have rarely seen 7 boat lengths unless the marks floated away. I would say that most of the time they are 4 to 6 boat lengths. 4 has to be the minimum for each mark to be allowed their own circle of rights. 10 boat lenghs on a fomula 18 is 180 feet. That is almost 2/3 the length of a football field! How many people have ever seen a gate that wide? I have never seen one even close to that. I just hope to see more than 4 for a small fleet and closer to 7 with a large fleet.

Later,
Dan