Did anyone witness the dinghy racing incident through Easthead

[DAKA]

Did anyone witness the dinghies racing through Easthead on Sunday ?

I thought they were not supposed to anymore however several did and this is a perfect example of why they shouldnt.

One of the faster RS sailing dinghies came hurtling into the anchorage on Sunday .
His view ahead was obscured by anchored boats.

His plan was to hurtle in close to the beach and then tack out again.
What he couldnt see was 4 children swimming .

He either hit them or missed them by inches .

One of the kids leaped out the water like a salmon jumping, I have no idea how they managed this.

The boat carried on, I didnt get his sail number.

Did anyone manage to get his sail number ?

 

[gjgm]

Didnt see the instance, but was up that way for a change over w/end.
What is it with most of the dinghy sailors? While sailing boat skippers give a nod,a wave a thank you, most of the dinghies seem to behave as the whole place is their God given right.
At least I didnt get hit - while stationary-this time, so perhaps things are improving

 

[Pinnacle]

What time was this? We were there from about 13:00 until 15:30ish.

 

[fireball]

Going East to West they are supposed to pass NORTH of a new racing mark called John Davis which is to the north of the channel - due north of East Head spit.

All our courses now have this mark in - so we can't make use of any eddy within the EH anchorage.

Looking at your file name - I take it this was taken around 11:25 - fits with the cloud and wind state (it picked up during the afternoon - so would've seen white horses)

The boat looks like it has the new RS400 mainsail - with the clear window in the foot of the main and a low in the jib too ...

HISC club racing starts at 11:00 on a Sunday ....

 

[DAKA]

What time was this? We were there from about 13:00 until 15:30ish.

Well done Fireball, 1125 spot on !

Blow up here to show just how close he was.

 

[fireball]

No excuse - but it is unusual to find swimmers that far out - usually because the current is too strong for that to be safe ... a few do go off the back of anchored boats - but don't normally stray that far away ...

Anyway - read the Fed Code of Conduct point 7c ... I would judge that this RS400 is south of the line - although you can't prove from the photo that he is racing - you could send the photo to the Fed sailing secretary - sailingsecretary@chifed.org - to follow up - although it would be more helpful if you had a sail number to identify which club he came from.

 

[DAKA]

I know it looks a long way from the beach but it didnt feel like it at the time.
As I am sure you are aware it does shelve steeply there but it would take a very brave skipper to anchor any closer, the kids were 10-13, it was a very short swim (neaps) and close to low tide, there wasnt much current.

I didnt get the sail number as I thought my camera would show it which I regret but it wasnt an isolated incident, there were at least 10 boats in the racing fleet that cut through .
X141 was most likely the most reckless I witnessed as part of the same race fleet.

 

[lovezoo]

What is it with most of the dinghy sailors? While sailing boat skippers give a nod,a wave a thank you, most of the dinghies seem to behave as the whole place is their God given right.

In a sailing dinghy (especially one designed for speed) their hands are so full of ropes, tillers, daggerboards and that kind of thing, that if they were to let go of something to wave, they would instantly capsize. Similarly in something horribly tippy, just nodding the head could be enough to capsize it.

 

[fireball]

by X141 do you mean one of the XOD's - they're a fleet by themselves - or sometimes with the other keelboats out of Itchenor - they were racing on Sunday morning according to their timetable - but the only RS's from Itchenor should've been RS800's and RS200's - I know your photo isn't of RS800's ... but it could be RS200's ...

Get a better %*&$ camera!!

 

[fireball]

In a sailing dinghy (especially one designed for speed) their hands are so full of ropes, tillers, daggerboards and that kind of thing, that if they were to let go of something to wave, they would instantly capsize. Similarly in something horribly tippy, just nodding the head could be enough to capsize it.

Sorry - if you're being serious - that's bollox! I know - cos I race them - and wave or nod thanks to boats that keep clear even if they're not obliged to do so. However, sometimes I do delegate that task to the crew.

 

[DAKA]

I forgot my camera, it was taken on my blackberry.
There was an S boat too if that helps ?

I think they heading from Inland at 1125 if that helps.
another number that sort of rings a bell 1140

The RS boat must have been a long number or I would have remembered it too.

 

[fireball]

The RS boat must have been a long number or I would have remembered it too.

They're only up into the low thousands - it's only 4 digits!!

 

[DAKA]

They're only up into the low thousands - it's only 4 digits!!

When I could read his sail number he was just entering the anchorage and was only doing the same as the rest.

By the time I saw him close to the beach on collision course with the children the sail number wasnt really readable.

Perhaps one answer would be to impose a speed limit of 3 knots in a buoyed anchorage area and impose the harbour speed limits on all craft while in buoyed areas and buoyed channels, that way the racing boats would keep out the channels and anchorages unless very light winds.
In the mean time if the HM just stops them mid race and has a safety chat with them it should soon stop the idiots.

 

[fireball]

When I could read his sail number he was just entering the anchorage and was only doing the same as the rest.

By the time I saw him close to the beach on collision course with the children the sail number wasnt really readable.

And you didn't chase after him in your tender?!

Perhaps one answer would be to impose a speed limit of 3 knots in a buoyed anchorage area and impose the harbour speed limits on all craft while in buoyed areas and buoyed channels, that way the racing boats would keep out the channels and anchorages unless very light winds.

Oi - you started off so well ... if we weren't allowed in Buoyed areas/channels we'd never get anywhere ... especially at low water!

In the mean time if the HM just stops them mid race and has a safety chat with them it should soon stop the idiots.

You can protest any race boat that is infringing the rules ... I would take that to include the Code of Conduct - which includes a section to keep race boats out of the EH anchorage. ....

 

[DAKA]

Oi - you started off so well ... if we weren't allowed in Buoyed areas/channels we'd never get anywhere ... especially at low water!

Just a speed limit in the buoyed channel /area , most races are held close to HW ( I Think) anyway.

Bit like F1 when the safety car comes out, it only takes the heat out of the situation for a short while before full speed resumes .


re chasing RS ole

When at anchor in EH we deflate the tender and stow it away so we can pretend to be on the beach when the HM comes for his £2

 

[lovezoo]

Sorry - if you're being serious - that's bollox! I know - cos I race them - and wave or nod thanks to boats that keep clear even if they're not obliged to do so. However, sometimes I do delegate that task to the crew.

They are horribly tippy things. But if you say they can take the time to wave, there must be another reason they don't....

 

[fireball]

Just a speed limit in the buoyed channel /area , most races are held close to HW ( I Think) anyway.

Ah - well you think wrong ... we (and a few other clubs) can launch at any state of tide ... although spring lows at the equinox can be interesting - not to be tried with a strong onshore wind ... so our racing is at the same time each week.

Ignoring your ignorance on race times () it would be impracticable to enforce a speed limit "in the buoyed areas" - not withstanding the fact that we are not allowed speed displays onboard when racing - it isn't easy to identify a clear line of "in the channel" - and anyway - EH anchorage is OUTSIDE the buoyed area ..

 

[DAKA]

it would be impracticable to enforce a speed limit "in the buoyed areas" - not withstanding the fact that we are not allowed speed displays onboard when racing - it isn't easy to identify a clear line of "in the channel" - and anyway - EH anchorage is OUTSIDE the buoyed area ..

I havent got a speedo on my tender but I know a safe speed to navigate an anchorage at.

my point being east head could be buoyed as an anchorage, 3knot limit
a) stop it being used as a short cut on race days
b) help keep anchored boats outside the channel

No need to worry, its only my ramblings, I dont have any influence over the HM (I cant even remember the last time I was in HISC bar).

 

[fireball]

I havent got a speedo on my tender but I know a safe speed to navigate an anchorage at.

my point being east head could be buoyed as an anchorage, 3knot limit
a) stop it being used as a short cut on race days
b) help keep anchored boats outside the channel

No need to worry, its only my ramblings, I dont have any influence over the HM (I cant even remember the last time I was in HISC bar).

You miss the point (deliberately again?) The Chichester Federation Code of Conduct (linked earlier in this thread) specifically state that RO's should avoid setting courses where competitors will pass through the EH anchorage.
In our case it means we pass John Davis race mark to port on the way out. We don't have any restrictions on the way back - but we mainly avoid the anchorage on return because the wind shifts and shadows aren't helpful.
So - the boats racing through the anchorage on Sunday were violating the code of conduct.

The EH anchorage has been limited to south of a line between Snowhill and EH spit - north of that you are in the channel and the HM patrol may well ask you to move on.

You're asking for measures to be put in place that aren't needed as there are already alternative measures in place. Akin to putting traffic lights on the roundabout at the top of Hayling at the junction of the A27.

 

[DAKA]

I dont usually deliberately misunderstand unless someone starts a trolling thread

Thanks for reiterating, I hadnt realized The Chichester Federation Code of Conduct were higher in authority/more appropriate than the HM, I will look them up and send them an account.

I posted here first in the hope someone else would have seen it and managed to get a sail number in which case the HM or now I know The Chichester Federation Code of Conduct could have directed a rolocking in the right direction.

I'll let you know by pm if I get a response .

my little crusades sometimes get results