To paraphrase Mark, I think everyone involved focused on the start and ingored the race.
Tactically and strategically, in any race, and especially in a long-distance race; there's no good reason to ever be at either extreme end of the line (especially the favored end), unless no one else is there. Only one boat ever "wins" the favored end. You're far better off being in the favored third, with clear air, boatspeed and room to maneuver if necessary.
Mike
Not if it's set on a reach...you start low, you potentially get washed out to the back of the train further up the leg. It's like when we used to race with B-marks. The fleet typically rounds A setting a high course to try and keep anyone from getting over top of them. Rarely does anyone point right for B unless they're free and clear or B is set on the perfect angle for a downwind sail.
The fleet was small...so it turned out to not be much of an issue - but I've started in a big steeplechase fleet where I started low on the line square to the bridge with a reaching breeze angle thinking I would stay free from the mayhem and I got killed with dirty air. Mix in boats that are faster and slower than and it gets ugly for the guy starting low that isn't the fastest in the fleet.
