Reminder: The Start

Having made a recent post about the finish, thought I’d do one about the start. There’s no new change, so this is a reminder.

The rules say:

The position of the centre of the start triangle shown on the map must be on a mapped feature and identified on the ground by a control flag. For TD1 and 2 courses this feature will need to be a path or similar feature.
This will apply to all our JOG and QOFL events.

If pre-marked maps are used, copies of the map showing no information other than any map corrections essential to the event should be displayed and available for study before the start line.
It is common to see blank maps in the start lines at larger events, but I’m not sure QO always does this at the moment. We should be doing this at QOFLs at least.

The non-compulsory advice that comes with the rules goes on to say:

The position of the start line should be such that competitors waiting to start cannot see any route choice options taken by competitors who have already started.

The map issue point should be such that all competitors will visit the start flag.

The courses should be designed so that competitors are unlikely to return through the pre-start area on their way to the first control site.

Richard

As Phil and I are at the start for the Compass Sport event it seemed sensible to check BOF 2025 rules. Sorry if this contradicts, but hope I’m correct in reading the general rules and a recent newsletter from BOF concerning Major events that it is blank maps only need to be provided if there are map changes? Will need now to double check this and of course eat humble pie if am wrong.

If the Start kite can been seen from the Start, then surely route choice from the Start kite will also be seen? Or are they saying that the Start kite should not be visible from the Start? If this is the case, where are course distances/climb calculated from, the Start line where you punch, or the location of the Start kite???

My only contribution is that when reading the BOF rules, careful reading is needed to recognise those that are mandatory and those that use the word ‘should’ and are guidelines for best practise.