We induced spinal anaesthesia in 100 women presenting for elective Caesarean section with the mother in the right lateral position. Patients were allocated randomly to have the side eye of the 24-gauge Sprotte spinal needle pointing in one of four directions: group A, cephalad; group B, right lateral; group C, left lateral; group D, caudad. Isobaric bupivacaine 0.5% (2.5 ml) was injected over 30 s before the mother was placed supine with a 15 degree left lateral tilt. Onset time and height of the subsequent analgesic and anaesthetic blocks were assessed by a blinded observer. Onset of sensory block to T4 was significantly faster in group A (P = 0.001). There were no differences in final block height, incidence of hypotension, nausea and vomiting or ephedrine requirements.