Nigel wrote:
[Armond ventured] ...

Can you give an instance when this is _not_ the case? Every time
I've started a trip I've experienced a starting speed of roughly
zero knots. give
or take.

most races start when you cross the start line, most crews like to be
underway as they cross it

Interesting, but we're not discussing races. However since you brought it
up, we _could_ consider the very popular races in the Family Islands of the
Bahamas. These start from anchor.

Speaking of other races that start from zero velocity, I like to think back
to my youth as a fairly successful participant in the Le Mans Formula Car
races (falls asleep in a pleasant fantasy)..

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://home.comcast.net/~kerrydeare