Crossing a sailing race

jonnybuoy

jonnybuoy

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As a MOBO'er (but relatively new to it) and so at risk of being mauled by by you sailing types- but in a genuine interest to understand the rules of the road - what is the etiquette of passing through a sailing race? I have come across a number of races that seem to cross a fair part of Poole harbour. Going round the whole race seems unreasonable (and depending upon the tide not possible) and charging though a gap between boats leaves a big wash.

Grateful your advice.

Jon.
 
Follow the collision regs would be the official answer.

In terms of trying to be friendly, wake is more irritating to racers in some circumstances than others.

Light airs (F1-2) is the worst time. Racers are making use of gentle gusts (zephyrs) and it takes quite a lot of effort to get your boat moving faster than another, especially downwind. It is particularly galling to be stopped by wash just when you've got going and are gaining an advantage over the other competitors. A big wake from astern is far less unwelcome than one from ahead (sometimes it's even welcome by the boat that can take advantage of it).

You should also try to avoid marks where the boats approaching can lose a great deal in a race if they lose even half a boat length due to wash.

I guess other than that, go for the biggest gap you can if you can't go around the race and avoid passing too close ahead of any boat. Try not to make any racer feel that you've singled him out for special (disadvantageous) attention.
 
I used to race and cruise sailboats and my tuppence worth, in addition to what has been said above, is to try to get a picture in your head of where they are going and how they are going to get there.

Typically you will see a pack of them heading for their next course marker. If this is downwind or across the wind they will all be heading in more or less the same direction. If it is upwind they will be zigzagging towards it.

If you can get a clear idea of what they are likely to do then it's easier to shape your own course and speed to avoid close-quarters incidents.
 
As a sailing boater and sometime racer, I say good for you for giving it some thought. Try not to be discouraged if you cop a load of abuse even after trying your best. It might be understandable if you thought all "sailors" were prats judging by the antics of some racers; remember sailing boats are often at the receiving end as well!
 
If you have a problem with a boat racing not obeying the collision regs in regard to a boat not racing, make comprehensive notes of the incident and contact the organisers of the race. The Racing Rules of Sailing are quite explicit on the matter and I can't imagine a club ignoring a genuine complaint. If they do, go to the RYA.
 
I have raced in yachts on the Solent where I have felt like punching the damned skipper in the face they were so damned rude, ill mannered and arrogant and bullying towards their OWN crew, never mind some poor MOBO trying to get across the fleet. You can't win with that type.

Other skippers I get on with just fine by the way.

My advice is follow the col regs as far as you can, but just do your best when it comes to it, smile sweetly and say sorry if you inadvertently cut someone up. Anyone worth apologising to will accept your situation and make the best of it. Its not Olympic Team selection day usually, so they will get over it.

Tim
 
There are the IRPCS which you should read & understand. This is law a although you'll see loads of long threads here arguing the pros & cons of different situations, they almost always boil down to one rule.

Then there is etiquette. There are situations when a sailing boat should give way to you. i.e. if the sailing boat's overtaking you. That's perfectly possible if it's a foiling moth dinghy that can do 20knts+ or a big multi-hull that can do even more. But, if it's a "normal" yacht or dinghy race, I'd keep out of the way if I could whatever the situation. That's just good manners. One pointthough, just because they're racing meens that the do not have any other rights. All racing instructions will state that the IRPCS take priority.

The only thing to be really careful of in all situations is that if you are the stand on vessel and intend to keep clear, make your intentions known as early and as obviously as possible. Stand on vessels are expected to stand on.
 
You asked what the etiquette was - some answers have simply given you their view of the colregs.

The problem is that your wash may seriously disadvantage one of the competitors, maybe even lose him the race or series, because wash does mess up boat speed particularly in light winds.As a nice person, I'm sure you wouldnt want to foul up somebodies day of you could avoid it. At the same time, racers cant expect to occupy the whole of the bay and for everyone else to just go away. So its a compromise. But going through the middle at a lowish non wash speed will really help if you can do it.

Ignore the loud mouth yobs who shout out "we're racing" , They're most likely pi**ed off because they're losing. Blow them a kiss - it will make their day!
 
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I used to race and cruise sailboats and my tuppence worth, in addition to what has been said above, is to try to get a picture in your head of where they are going and how they are going to get there.

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OK, I know you go on to explain the basic principles very simply, but, to a non-racer (never mind a non-sailor) who does not know the set course (and there may be more than one course plus several classes at different stages of different races) it all just looks like complete chaos.

Try to pass astern where possible & be ready for sudden changes of direction. Good luck, thank you for thinking of us & may you not need a thick skin!
 
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The normal etiquette is to stop, put on the kettle, have a cup of tea and watch the race

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nice if you have the time, but that scenario can mess up the passage plan to france... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
As they are racing they will probably only have one mast each so they don't count. Open the throtle and get where you are going fast.

If however if you spot one with two masts, treat them with the respect they deserve and slow down and go astern of them.

Dashing to the pub as you read !
 
I used to (and still do when possible) race dinghies. When doing a big event on the sea it is extremely frustrating when Mobo's and yachts come for 'a look' and end up getting in the way. When racing any slight change in wind direction will mean you want to tack etc to take maximum advantage - if spectators aren't very careful they end up in the way very easily. I can never recall racing in a channel or near a habour entrance - normally a few miles off. Also the race course is normally only 2 - 3 miles maximum. At 20 knots in a Mobo 2 miles is 6 minutes - surely easy to go round therefore? (If passage timing is that tight then I hate to think what would happen if you ran into a sea which caused you to slow down a knot or two?)
In light winds the boat is very easily stopped - any sort of wake will shake the wind from the sails and stop you dead. Also, with topsides of say 12 inches, even a small wave can put water in the boat (and at 1kg per litre this needs removing asap - the boats are built to be the absolute minimum weight - to within 100 grams for the top boats of the class rules).
All that said, I now do a lot of cruising and see both sides of the coin. "I'm racing" isn't a rule - but I understand that having taken a week off work, spent £1.5k on a new suit of sails and £500 on fuel and accomodation for a weeks championships, to have raced 6 hours a day all week and then have the last race and potentially your overall position compramised by someone who doesn't want to sail around you is VERY annoying.
Going behind a fleet will only mean a small detour - why not do it - especially if you see them from a few miles off and it only needs a 5 degree detour?
If they are racing in a channel, or close to a habour entrance, then etiquette would be to slow down and reduce wake as much as possible, and try to keep as clear as possible from them.

I am talking dinghy racing here (not yachts - they obviously have much larger courses, but can cope with waves with less effect than a dinghy etc) - I know these aren't "rules", but general respect for each other. In the same way a dinghy sailor is careful when coming into a busy beach of swimmers (even if in no swimming zones), so bigger boats should be a bit more careful of dinghies.

Don't want to start a war here - just thought I would share my point of view.
 
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it all just looks like complete chaos.



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I agree with that.

In the Solent there can be so many races going on, and if half of the yachts have rounded their mark then you can be attacked from both sides.

Sometimes they seem to race from the shallows on the IOW to the shallows on the mainland, its hard not to go through the middle.

I try for the biggest gap, I try to be somewhere where they dont have to make any changs to their course because of me.

I pass astern if possible. In close quarters I guess I would follow the colregs, but given enough space I dont mind diverting, I've got power so its no big deal for me to make a bit of effort. That's the way I see it.
 
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...it all just looks like complete chaos.


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Well I've been pottering in and out of Chichester Harbour for a while and, whilst the picture sometimes looks confused with different races going on at the same time, I do think it's usually possible to get an idea of where the racers are aiming for. I was even saluted (and not with a shaken fist) by one of the XOD's for standing off to leeward of a bunch of them not so long ago. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
If they are racing at sea, the course will usually be either a triangle shape or a sausage shape, with marks left to port. In both cases the committee boat (usually a yacht for ease of sight at sea) will be near the bottom of the beat (not always right at the bottom though). Marks are typically inflatable affairs and may be loose line under them (so don't go too close with props etc).

If a sausage - its simple - up the beat, top mark to port, down the run, bottom mark to port and through the line. If symmetrical spinnakers they generally run straight down, if asymmetric they will gybe down so expect big angles akin to on the beat.

If a triangle - beat upto the top mark, to port, reach off to the wing mark, gybe and reach to the bottom mark, then beat up through the line. The second lap is typically a sausage (so miss out the 'wing' mark) to provide a run in addition to the reaches (which are less tactical than the run in most classes).

Jonny
 
Presumably, because you are talking about races in Poole harbour you are referring to dinghies rather than big yachts.

Although I don't do any pure motor boating I have frequently taken a sailing yacht through dinghy racing areas under power (Chichester harbour and a 31 foot yacht) Maybe others will disagree but I always slow to the slowest possible speed whist still maintaining steerage way and even be prepared to take off all power briefly should it be necessary. It depends on the wind and the width/depths of the channels etc. I seldom try to steer out of anyone's way as it usually seems to put me in someone else's.
 
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