Random leg course
A random leg course race, also known as a 'fixed course race' or a 'point-to-point race' is a type of sailing race where the race course may require beating, reaching, and running, and where the rounding marks may be chosen by the race committee without considering the actual wind direction or weather conditions.[1] This contrasts with the more common windward-leeward courses, also known as 'buoy races' or, more colloquially, 'sausage races' that are set dead upwind or dead downwind with no reaching legs.[1]
Compared to the windward-leeward courses, random leg courses tend to be over longer distances,[2] involve a larger number of factors that need to be considered, and require the use of more sailing manoeuvres and a greater variety of skills—fetching and reaching, in addition to beating and running, calculating the true wind angle for each leg, the best sail combination for each point of sail, the fastest route to the next mark, whether the boat will be slower or faster than the main competition on a particular leg, how to take advantage of that differential, etc.,[3][4] making random leg races more versatile than windward-leeward races.[5]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b PHRF ratings and race courses Archived 2012-11-12 at the Wayback Machine Class rules and bylaws, Performance handicap racing fleet of Southern California , November 2009
- ^ John Alonso Sailboat Racing -- Just the basics Slideshare, p. 22, Accessed Aug 9, 2013
- ^ RG MEXORC -- All out, all week Latitude 38, Vol 394, April 2010, p. 121
- ^ Stuart Streuli Bring Back the Random Leg! Sailingworld, March 31, 2011, Accessed Aug 9, 2013
- ^ Random leg vs cruisers Yacht Racer's Resource Center, November 2011, Accessed Aug 9, 2013
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