Fastnet Race 2015
- Thread starter Halcyon Yachts
- Start date
Halcyon Yachts
Well-Known Member
Thanks for your comments.
What exactly is involved in the qualifying races? Is it simply that you have to attend with the nominated crew as a form of training/commitment, or are there requirements to achieve specific results?
Pete
temptress
Well-Known Member
Pete,
I do not know you but IMO if you need to ask this you are may not ready to skipper a competitive offshore racing crew go along on a race boat on a serious offshore and see how it's done. Look here for requirements http://fastnet.rorc.org
I do not know you but IMO if you need to ask this you are may not ready to skipper a competitive offshore racing crew go along on a race boat on a serious offshore and see how it's done. Look here for requirements http://fastnet.rorc.org
savageseadog
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't worry. Lots of reasonably competent but necessarily competitive people do it. The qualifying races just show RORC you and your crew can handle going offshore for longer periods, the result is irrelevant.
Halcyon Yachts
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the vote of confidence!
It wasn't obvious to me from the main website exactly what would be involved with the qualifiers. I eventually found this which is quite useful:
http://fastnet.rorc.org/race-information/guide/a-guide-for-entrants-complete-version.html
I do not agree with the idea that an experienced skipper cannot skipper a yacht in Fastnet without first going along as crew. I appreciate that racing is very different to deliveries, and I wouldn't necessarily expect to finish particularly highly in the results in my first year. That said though, as a delivery skipper and yacht master instructor, I have extensive experience on board a wide variety of yachts and have competed in various positions including skipper in numerous regattas around the world.
The RORC website states: "The Rolex Fastnet Race is not a race for novices. You, your crew, and your boat must be prepared for severe weather, large and confused seas, and strong winds. Whilst the RORC welcomes first time competitors to this race, we emphasise that proper preparation, planning and training is essential."
As a professional sailor with well over 100k miles I would surely not be considered a novice? Preparation is essential for all offshore sailing and few sailors will have experienced the conditions regularly faced by offshore delivery skippers.
The conditions, the navigation, the importance of safety and maintaining crew morale, the boat handling and getting best performance from the vessel are all things that do not phase me at all.
The thing that is most daunting about the whole task are the formalities and protocols; an area that veterans to the race can surely help make easier for first timers like me!
Pete
Halcyon Yachts
Well-Known Member
PhillM
Well-Known Member
Dont know about the fastnet but this is expected as part of the safety kit to enter Solent classic based racing. Not exactly hard or expensive. About £90 for the latch and £1.50 for lacing eyes and 6mm string.
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
Hear hear! It's a long way and interest definitely drops once you've turned the corner and started sailing back through your own wake - you can hear the Murphy's calling to you from over your shoulder.
Martin_J
Well-Known Member
Phill M... I wasn't suggesting that that task was either difficult or expensive.. I for one spent a lot less than £90 on a double sided stainless hatch latch.. but also had to build some slots to allow for storage nearby whilst still attached to the boat (because they have to be attached at all times!)...
Latch
http://1drv.ms/1qOZOBv
Stowage
http://1drv.ms/1sE2gtV
but - If for example the Op had chartered a boat, hoping to then make it compliant...it would not have been an easy thing to do on something you have chartered. Imagine also trying to arrange a second manual bilge pump on a charter boat (that has to be operatable with all hatches closed)...
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Martin_J
Well-Known Member
halcyon..
As to all the arrangements for qualyfying miles, first aid course and sea survival course recognition, confirmation of liferaft and epirb registration etc... that part was easy!
I'm not the best at planning ahead...it's hard enough planning next weekend.... but rorc have their crew management system that shows who you have registered as crew for each of your races..
Each crew member is responsible for registering on that system and updating it when they get their sea survival certificates..
As each race is finished, the system automatically knows which crew were on board and therefore who has done each race.
As to the race worries, you as PIC register the boat. you then apply for each race entry.. payments are taken as deposit and then final fee when needed automatically. When you invite Crew, they receive emails saying they're invited..
The best part is the list of requirements that you initially see as all red... they turn green as each item is achieved..so when all green you know you're ready, compliant and all miles etc achieved. the system worked!
as to qualifying miles you'll see by now it's 300 miles..so either three 100 mile races, or if you can manage the Eddystone race then that's 200 achieved..
hope it's becoming clearer.. I was so glad of all the rorc online systems..ie
As to all the arrangements for qualyfying miles, first aid course and sea survival course recognition, confirmation of liferaft and epirb registration etc... that part was easy!
I'm not the best at planning ahead...it's hard enough planning next weekend.... but rorc have their crew management system that shows who you have registered as crew for each of your races..
Each crew member is responsible for registering on that system and updating it when they get their sea survival certificates..
As each race is finished, the system automatically knows which crew were on board and therefore who has done each race.
As to the race worries, you as PIC register the boat. you then apply for each race entry.. payments are taken as deposit and then final fee when needed automatically. When you invite Crew, they receive emails saying they're invited..
The best part is the list of requirements that you initially see as all red... they turn green as each item is achieved..so when all green you know you're ready, compliant and all miles etc achieved. the system worked!
as to qualifying miles you'll see by now it's 300 miles..so either three 100 mile races, or if you can manage the Eddystone race then that's 200 achieved..
hope it's becoming clearer.. I was so glad of all the rorc online systems..ie
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temptress
Well-Known Member
Pete
Sorry perhaps I misunderstood you original post. I thought you wanted to act as a professional skipper on a race boat? Putting together your own campaign to race is very doable and I'm sue you will enjoy it.