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Blokart Racing Course Analysis

Posted on March 19, 2018 by gekkosteve

As a follow up to the racing that 16(?) blokarters enjoyed last Saturday here are a few thoughts on the most efficient way to have got around this course quickly.

Please feel free to give feedback in the comments section below.

Below is an overall view of the challenging course that we sailed. I’ve numbered the course markers to help clarify the following analysis.

blokart racing


Start Line to Markers 1 and 2

  • The black line is what I’m calling the “Straight Line” course.
  • The red line indicates a faster alternative. IMHO!

  • I made the dip just before mark 1. (Not halfway down from the start line as indicated in the diagram above.)
  • If you can pass mark 1 higher to the wind than the karts in front you’ll get cleaner air on the first leg up to mark 2.
  • If the karts in front of you, but below your sailing line, tack, you’ll be on port and they’ll be on starboard so will have right of way. If you’re not sure of the right of way rules you can find them here. (Part E–Section 1-Basic right of way rules)
  • I thought the extra distance traveled past the lay line before tacking halfway to mark 2 was worth it for the extra speed you had at the start of the next leg to mark 3.

Mark 2 to 3 and on to 4

  • A direct line from 2 to 3 was more or less straight downwind. Slow.
  • Pass mark 2 and keep on a reach to gain speed.
  • Turn downwind and you’ll maintain this extra speed.
  • Dip before mark 3 so you can pass close to the mark and stay high to the wind.
  • I was able to point low approaching mark 4 which gave me extra speed to start the next leg.

Mark 4 to 5

  • Avoid turning sharply downwind after rounding mark 4.
  • Stay on a broad reach and gybe gently at speed.
  • Pull on out of the gybe into a reach to pass mark 5 at speed.

All the above would be easy if you were racing around the course by yourself but in reality all those other pesky blokarters are forever in the way!

Hope this helps. Look forward to your feedback in the comments below.

Posted in Blokart Racing | Tags: blokart mark rounding, blokart racing | 8 Comments
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8 thoughts on “Blokart Racing Course Analysis”

  1. Junkey says:
    March 21, 2018 at 10:37 am

    Thank you Steve for sharing your technique with us beginners.I find the diagrams and explanations very imformative.I always have trouble with the broad reach 4 to 5 marks,and becoming exasperated,almost to the extent of blaming my equipment.I will try the IMHO course in future(with many others I suppose).As they say”when you stop learning,you stop living”
    An explanation of the rules of passing when approaching/rounding “marks”would be helpful.
    Junkey

    Reply
    • gekkosteve says:
      March 21, 2018 at 9:32 pm

      My equipment keeps letting me down too. But back to blokarting; I hope some of the better sailors at the club will jump on board and contribute their thoughts about getting these karts moving.
      Steve

      Reply
  2. Chris Strahm says:
    March 21, 2018 at 11:21 am

    This is great stuff and very helpful. Thanks Steve.
    We seem to have a few issues of right of way when rounding marks. Many club members don’t seem to fully understand the “Overlap Rules”. Perhaps you could do a simple lesson with sketches like you did above, showing the definition of “overlap” and the zone (20 m before the mark) and who has the right of way at the mark depending on whether you have established an overlap before of after the 20 m zone.
    Thanks Steve.

    Reply
    • gekkosteve says:
      March 21, 2018 at 9:29 pm

      I hadn’t caught up with the 20m zone. I was still under the impression it was 4 or 5 kart lengths before the mark. Thanks for the clarification.
      Steve

      Reply
  3. Kem Everett says:
    March 21, 2018 at 11:23 am

    Hi Steve,
    Wish I could have been there, but had to go to Fraser Island for a few days ( poor me). You make it look simple , but i’m Hoping it will come with experience. Looking forward to the titles and maybe just following the more experienced guys and girls around . Thanks Kem.
    Ps . How did that “Burglar” Neville go?

    Reply
    • gekkosteve says:
      March 21, 2018 at 9:35 pm

      You missed an excellent afternoons sailing even though it was 4m and 5.5m weather rather than the 3m winds we were promised.
      Burglar Nev was stealing my wind but not all the time.
      Steve

      Reply
  4. JUSTIN CLARE says:
    March 21, 2018 at 11:57 am

    Hi Steve
    Many thanks for your reflections on last Saturday’s racing. We both are grateful for your sharing your tactics. As you mentioned, no momentum…no go.
    After Jenny’s encounter with Chris, we also think some clarification of the rules would not go astray. From the conflicting remarks on Saturday, it seems that all are not on the “same page”.
    Big day on the lake yesterday. 46 clients
    Many thanks for your email and encouragement to us all.
    Justin

    Reply
    • gekkosteve says:
      March 21, 2018 at 2:12 pm

      Hi Justin,
      A few people have asked for clarification on right of way at a mark. I’ll try to put something together soon.
      In the meantime you can find the latest racing rules, edition 6, here.
      https://blokartworlds.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IBRA-Rules-Edition-6-FINAL.pdf
      These came into force in January this year.
      Steve

      Reply

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