Sternchases 

In contrast to the usual race, in which boats start together and finish at different times, in a sternchase (or pursuit race) boats start at different times but finish at the same time. This means the startline is uncrowded (less daunting for newcomers), but for the leaders the finish is boat-on-boat, adding to the excitement. To make for a fair race, slow handicap boats start before fast handicap boats, the exact start times being published in advance of the race.

Summary

  • Boats start at different times, depending on their handicap - slow boats start before fast boats.

  • Times for each boat are listed below for two lengths of race: (a) a race in which a boat with a handicap of 1200 races for 90 minutes and (b)a race in which a boat with a handicap of 1200 races for 60 minutes. 
  • The time is displayed from the safety boat on a flip board which counts down the minutes, e.g. 62 61 60 59 58 ...

  • A boat may start as soon as its start time appears on the flip board.

  • All boats finish racing at exactly the same time, when the counted down time (if it were displayed) reaches zero.

  • Finishing positions are exactly as the boats are on the water at the finish time.

  • Further details are available in Race Officer Guidance.

 

 Yacht Start Times (updated 2026)

Yacht Club handicap Start time for 90 minute race (-4%) (-2%) Start time for 60 minute race    
    white sail spinnaker cruising chute white sail spinnaker cruising chute
Abril 1404 105 101 103 70 67 69
Slainte 1275 96 92 94 64 61 62
Irene 1234 93 89 91 62 59 60
Piper 1212 91 87 89 61 58 59
Sea Horse 1213 91 87 89 61 58 59
Rebel Rebel 1213 91 87 89 61 58 59
Spero 1180 89 85 87 59 57 58
Sulumar 1152 86 83 85 58 55 56
Wee Mo / Joe 1138 85 82 84 57 55 56
Sea Badger 1130 85 81 83 57 54 55
Red Herring 1123 84 81 83 56 54 55
Tusk 1110 83 80 82 56 53 54
Firecracker 1104 83 79 81 55 53 54
Swirley 1084 81 78 80 54 52 53

 

 

 

 

 Dinghy Start Times (2026 handicaps applied)

  handicap Start time for 90 minute race Start time for 60 minute race
Pico 1330 100 67
RS Feva 1244 93 62
Laser 4.7 1218 91 61
Byte 1223 92 61
RS Feva (S/H) 1175 88 59
Solo 1139 85 57
Laser Radial 1156 87 58
RS Vision 1150 86 58
Laser 2000 1122 84 56
Laser stratos 1108 83 55
Laser 1103 83 55
Lark 1060 80 53
RS200 1053 79 53
Rooster 8.1 1016 76 51
Sprint 15 916 69 46
Laser Vortex 960 72 48