Whilst standing behind two couples on the sea wall at the pier (St Pete) I heard two couples discussing what sounded like Rookie stripes starts ...

I have been to all classes of races and never even heard of the expression. I got to sit on the sea wall cause one of the couples got so pi$$ed the went to the bar...

I am aware that in the Ulimited Hydro world, new drivers/rookies even though qualified, are assigned to start as a trailer or on the extereme outside.

Is this the same?????

Thanks in advance...

ttt

Never heard of the term, but if you haven't "had your hands on the steering wheel" during an APBA Offshore event during the past 5 years, you have to start 100 yards behind the field.

I believe in the past....rookies had to wear a stripe on their helmets, that was visible to the other teams...to alert them a rookie was in front of them...and to pass accordingly....

Pretty sure it's still done with Skiffs on the Inboard Tour...

My first APBA, OPC race (1983) I had a huge white X on my helmet (no capsules then). I saw the same X on the back of a motor (with capsules you can't see the driver)at the St Louis race this year. OPC is Outboard Performance Craft which includes many tunnel and a couple V bottom classes. It's a very good rule. SQ

I wore a stripe in my first skiff race