Most of our race courses are around fixed marks or buoys: Buoys start at the southern end near the dam, and are numbered from 1 to 11 in a clockwise direction around the edge of the reservoir (not all of them are present and in regular use). A line of lettered buoys goes roughly along the centre line of the reservoir, starting near the Race Control Hut with A and going to F at the far north end. A and B are typically used as start line inner and outer marks for OD Hut controlled races. Each mark included in the course will have a flag attached to make it easily visible from a distance.
The Committee Boat, Penelope, will usually be moored towards the northern end of the lake, with a movable start line from the committee boat mast to a “Pin” buoy. This allows the race team to create an unbiased start line, regardless of changeable wind directions.
Photo: Courses 2
Photo: Courses 3
A temporary buoy, labelled X or Y, may be dropped to provide an accurate upwind mark, or as the gybe mark for shorter race courses.
The start line when controlled by the OD Hut is a transit along the two masts in front of the Race Control Hut. This start line may either be from the hut to a mark, for example B, or it may be the entire width of the lake if no start mark is specified in the course. Note that the two masts in front of the hut can be swung round, and have been known to be pointed at buoys 10 or 11 during Westerly winds.
