Due to another Appeals Committee meeting yesterday, which started at seven so I had to leave straight after work, I wasn't able to post. Therefore today the Q&A which was suppose to go on-line yesterday. This one is from Sen from Japan, who has a question about race management and what to write in the SI: Oct 28th, 2008 My sister yacht club is planning to conduct a big boat regatta. The regatta consists of three inshore races and one offshore race during three days. There is a problem about the offshore race. The estimated course of the offshore race is as follows; Race area ----- Pacific Ocean, the Kii Channel to the bay of Osak; Course configuration ----- Start - Turning point mark Finish Starting area ----- Place: near the shore, Starting line: between RC boat and a buoy Turning point ----- Place: at the middle of the Kii Channel, Mark: RC boat is set up Finishing area ----- as same as the Start area Sailing Instructions about the Turning point as follows; The round mark at the middle of the Kii Channel will be a RC boat displaying flag M and shall be left to port. Boats shall leave the round mark within 500 meters distance from the mark. When course is shortened at the mark, the RC boat will display flag S. Boats shall finish the imaginary line which is drawn in zero (0) degrees direction indicated by magnetic compass from the staff displaying flag S on the race committee boat. Background; At the point of round mark, the depth is very deep and also the tide is strong. It is all the RC boat can anchor at the point and the RC wants to evade to set up the other mark as possible as it can. Case 45 Question; will such SIs follow the RRS? Sen, I don't think there's anything in the rules which states there must be a 'pin-end' finishing mark. But theoretical it would then be an unending line and - as one of the International Judges I talked to about this, suggested - it could go round the globe and not end until it comes back to the RC boat. Which would make finishing on the other side also correct according to the rules.... Well, that is not something we would want. I suggest the following amendment to the text in the SI: When course is shortened at the mark, the RC boat will display flag S. The finish line will be a line in zero (0) degrees direction indicated by magnetic compass from the staff displaying flag S on the race committee boat. Boats shall cross this line within a distance of 500 meters from the RC boat, leaving the RC boat to port. This changes RRS 32.2 I've added the last short sentence because of RRS 86.1(b) which prescribes that you may change a racing rule in the SI, but only by referring specifically to it, as well as stating the change. Any other opinions?  read more »

The J/22, Scirocco's Song, in a nice breeze at the start of Sunday's second race, Race 3 for the Bristol Cup 2008. Winds ranged from 6 to 10 mph, typically around 8 mph or 6 to 7 knots in mild Force 3 conditions.  read more »

One couldn't have asked for better conditions on the opening day of the Trophe Clairefontaine Valencia. The Rhodia warm up races got underway at 3pm right inside Port America's Cup with a very nice breeze that reached 10 knots and gave the dozens of spectators the opportunity to watch 8 very close races. There is no doubt, wind allowing of course, that this race format can be very spectacular, especially considering the peculiar race course that includes a stretch and a buoy inside the canal, causing pileups and quite often a few penalties. Add the fact spectators can sit anywhere they like and be a mere 10 meters from the action and you surely have an attractive show. Organizers have made sure even absolute beginners can understand what's going on with live commentary Being warm up races that don't count towards the trophy, today's results should be taken with a pinch of salt. Nevertheless, it appears it is going to be a battle between Lock Peyron and the two Alinghi teams, Red and Black. The French sailor, 7-time winner of the Trophe Clairefontaine, ended the day at the top of the leaderboard with 64 points, with Alinghi Red and Black tied at 50 points. It's interesting to notice that all three team had two victories throughout the day but Peyron's consistency put him ahead of the America's Cup Defender crews. Both Ed Baird, helming the Black, and Luc Dubois, helming the Red, had finished last in one of the 8 races. Frenchman Nicolas Charbonnier and Spaniard Fernando Len won one race each. Racing at earnest begins on Saturday with a 30-minute race in front of the Malvarosa beach. After a paella lunch (well, this is Valencia after all) in Valencia's yacht club the 8 teams will return to Port America's Cup in order to compete in 5 races.  read more »

On Saturday I went off to Lake Whippersnapper for the informal Laser practice racing that I also wrote about in Just Six Laser Dudes Racing Round a Sausage.

This week there were actually seven Laser dudes.

And new technology.

First couple of times I did this, one of the racers took it upon himself to blow whistles for the three-minute starting sequence. This was also the method used for starts at the world famous Goose Poop Beach Sailing Club when I sailed there. How anyone can do this and still get a decent start himself is beyond me.  read more »

New Mexico Sailing Club Heron Lake, New Mexico Summer Breeze Race Series, June August, 2008 NOTICE OF RACE 1 RULES 1.1 The Summer Breeze Race series, and each regatta, will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing, 20052008 (RRS). 1.2 Handicaps will be Portsmouth Handicap, with wind range modifiers. The race committee may alter handicap numbers if it believes a boat or equipment have been altered or do not meet class requirements. 1.3 Class and handicap rules apply except where modified by this Notice of Race or by the Sailing Instructions. Class rules requiring class membership do not apply. The race committee may grant a waiver, at its discretion, to any class rules that in its judgement do not affect the safety or fairness of competition.  read more »