Start system (water sports)
A starting system is a device for sporting competitions in which an exact alignment and the simultaneous start of the competitors are important.
For this purpose, the competitors are held back by a barrier until a starter gives the start signal.
In canoeing and rowing, an automatic launch system serves as the starting device for the boats. The aim is that all boats can start at exactly the same time and that false starts can be prevented. For this purpose, the boats drive into a so-called starter shoe before take-off, which, when the start signal is given, descends about one meter into the water through a mechanical-pneumatic system so that all boats can move freely. The starting shoe is made of a soft plastic and causes the boat to be held back if it starts before the start signal.
In a regatta in canoe racing , nine modules of this system are placed side by side on the nine lanes. These can be controlled from the starting tower, which is in line with the modules. When rowing only six modules are used, but which are slightly wider.
There are three manufacturers of such systems worldwide. Before the introduction of automatic launch systems, it was common for launch assistants to hold the boats on pontoons and align them in a line, which was imprecise and time-consuming.
