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When is a race not a race??
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Jon711 View Drop Down
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Posts: 465 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Jon711 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jun 11 at 11:53pm
JohnW beat me to it, if the SI's do not specify the minimum amount of boats that constitute a race, then one boat, can be a race. If your SI's do not state this, then it is time for an urgent rewrite/review....

I must admit, I would not be happy sailing around the course by myself just to gain points in the series, but every club has pot hunters who will!!

Jon
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Posts: 409 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Ian29937 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jun 11 at 12:14am
Originally posted by Jon711

I must admit, I would not be happy sailing around the course by myself just to gain points in the series, but every club has pot hunters who will!!

Jon
True, but I once had someone not launch for the last race in a series, as if they lost to us we would win the series as another discard would come into play.  It can work both ways..
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blueboy View Drop Down
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Posts: 512 		Post Options Post Options   Quote blueboy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jun 11 at 7:25am
Originally posted by Contender443

Imagine the senario of 30 knot winds, class open meeting on the south coast of England, on the open sea

 
You said "open sea". Your problem is going to be anchoring a committee boat in those conditions. That's the main reason the major "yacht-sized" events like Hamble Winter Series generally don't run races in more than 25-30 knots.

What do other coastal clubs do?


Fairly certain we would not run it although ultimately it's a PRO decision and we don't have a fixed limit. In 25 knots, maybe we would. In 20 knots, we definitely would.


Edited by blueboy - 02 Jun 11 at 7:30am
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blueboy View Drop Down
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Posts: 512 		Post Options Post Options   Quote blueboy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jun 11 at 7:27am
Originally posted by Jon711


I must admit, I would not be happy sailing around the course by myself just to gain points in the series, but every club has pot hunters who will!!


Why assume it's "pot hunting"? I've sailed around a course by myself when "wiser heads" all decided not to. Some swimming was involved but it was fun and I finished.
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Contender 541 View Drop Down
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Posts: 1402 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Contender 541 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jun 11 at 7:53am
http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=157453
 
I think we have an answer - on the front page no less
When you find a big kettle of crazy it's probably best not to stir it - Pointy Haired Boss

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Contender443 View Drop Down
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Posts: 1211 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Contender443 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jun 11 at 12:55pm
Originally posted by Contender 541

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=157453
 
I think we have an answer - on the front page no less
 
Yes that was the race that prompted this thread. I was surprised to see the club running a race in those conditions and for only one person. Seems like it did not warrant all the effort.
 
I think there were other classes sailing the same course but it was still only 5 boats.
 
For me if a large proportion of the fleet donot want to race then they probably have good reason so I would not run the race. Safety always comes first and the local knowledge helps in the judgement of the conditions.
 
 
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RS400atC View Drop Down
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Posts: 3011 		Post Options Post Options   Quote RS400atC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jun 11 at 1:25pm
If people opt not to sail, that does not mean it is too windy to sail safely, just that those particular competitors have made their own decision.
If race committees cancel races just because it's over 20kts? 25kts? whatever, we soon breed boats and sailors that cannot cope in strong winds.
Likewise we seem to have some sailors who lose interest very quickly in very light conditions.
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Contender443 View Drop Down
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Posts: 1211 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Contender443 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jun 11 at 2:56pm
At the 505 Worlds this year they did not run several races because it was too windy / rough / safe to race. Still one or two boats still went out for a sail. I think they did say it was not safe to race though due to visibility issues.
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Posts: 818 		Post Options Post Options   Quote PeterG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jun 11 at 2:57pm
For me if a large proportion of the fleet donot want to race then they probably have good reason so I would not run the race. Safety always comes first and the local knowledge helps in the judgement of the conditions.

In this case of course it was the race team who had local knowledge and decided it was safe to run a race. Beyond that racing or not must be an individual decision, which may take into account several factors, not restricted to an individual's abilities -  the proximity of the Worlds and concerns of the consequences of gear failure was one that came up in this case.

I can't see a good reason for denying someone who has travelled some distance to sail the chance to do so unless there are judged to be safety issues involved. Remember, at no point was there only a single boat racing, there were in fact 5 starters on both days, and the motor boats were already on the water and not having any problems anchoring or keeping station. The decision might have been different had any of those not been the case.
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Contender 541 View Drop Down
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Posts: 1402 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Contender 541 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jun 11 at 3:34pm
Originally posted by Contender443

At the 505 Worlds this year they did not run several races because it was too windy / rough / safe to race. Still one or two boats still went out for a sail. I think they did say it was not safe to race though due to visibility issues.
 
 
 
There were a number of issues that prevented sailing
You are correct about the visibility - rain so heavy that it looked like fog
Very confused sea state
Very steep chop
Number of safety boats to dinghy's
The wind was an issue - although nothing we cannot cope with (upper 20's)
 
The Race Officer - Kevin Wilson - is very experienced (from what I recall he pretty much does this for a living), and his call was not to race.  Yes one or two went out and had a blast, but pretty much agreed with Kevin that while it was do-able it was not sensible
When you find a big kettle of crazy it's probably best not to stir it - Pointy Haired Boss

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