ISAF OFFSHORE SPECIAL REGULATIONS, arrrrgggg

[Javelin]

The simple fact is there are less people racing yachts today.
The IRC are worried as are a number of Clubs up and down the country.
So they introduce some incentives like cheap one off IRC ratings and the new RYA cruiser handicaps.

The issue is that due to the poor Club turnouts these days the only real option is the larger events organised by RORC and associated groups like eaora, scra etc.

In terms of gear there's a hell of a step up from local Club racing to offshore racing.
For those wanting to dip their toe in to see if its something that they want to do on a regular basis, the financial commitment is somewhat onerous.
This is exacerbated by the fact that, as has been said earlier, much of the gear needed is already on board but does not quite meet the defined standards laid out by the Rorc rules.

The average yachtee who to starts off with no intention of racing offshore buys life jackets, safety lines, life raft, Radar reflector and the rest but at the time had either no knowledge of or deemed the ISAF racing Special Regs as an unnecessary extra expense.

We had a sunfast 36 in recently which amongst other things needed a new pulpit and safety wires as his did not meet the right spec and his hatches needed to be turned round and re sealed.
Not a cheap exersize.

I bet 90% of people wondering if they might like to have a go are put off before they even start.

 

[onesea]

I bet 90% of people wondering if they might like to have a go are put off before they even start.

That's just the point for a simple passage race from the Solent to Weymouth, IMHO not really offshore these "small" things become expensive.

I am not arguing with the requirement for the gear and if the boat was offshore in serious weather it is gear that I would want to have. Yet to be honest racing or not I have no intention of being out there in the weather that requires that gear.

The boat I have is an X race boat and only 4-5 years ago was competing in races across the North Sea. So she is not that far from the mark, yet it will still be 1-2k to get her to the standard to race to Weymouth.

It makes offshore/ passage racing an unjustifiable expense to many.

Yet if we could start with a lesser requirements and a forecast weather limit, even if annoyingly low F6 or F7?
A maximum race length of say 70Nm (Includes N France Just)
With 2 years the boat would be up to spec for class 2 or 3 or we would of lost interest.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

I was looking through this list earlier, it does make of putting reading. I have a strong racing background and would like to interest SWMBO in it to... Also my daughter and SWMBO Nephew, the problem is cost and commitment.

Last year we entered a local series (local handicap system but means a very small fleet (3 of us) spread over the year we managed one race! She enjoyed her race but after one race (understandably) was not addicted enough to start arranging shifts family friends etc and suchlike around a race calendar. Particularly when we never know when I will be able to race..

This year I managed to get insurance extended for club & Single Handed racing,and SWMBO is game.

Yet to enter the other races we need to get the boat rated for IRC $130. The first race that comes up is $130 for entrance fee, then there is the additional cost of equipment.

L/Jackets, tethers, tweaking the hatch boards, First Aid Manual and First Aid Kit, Safety Equipment Location Chart (little cost just agro), flares, storm sails other odds and sods... Probably approaching 2k.

We have most of the gear of various ages, just not quite right...

Its very hard to justify trying to get the family racing having fun, when the costs are such. Its frustrating when you know you will be a fair weather racer, if you have a crew age range starting at 6 you know your never going to win. I grew up taking part as we got older the family started working are way up the fleet, it was allot of fun.

Sadly I think it will be a little whilst, before we can take part

($= Pound dam keyboard)

Bit puzzled by your comments. I race my boat through the winter using PY in a fleet of maybe 20 boats - far more popular than IRC because of the £130. None of the above safety kit is needed. But the 10 or so IRC boats we have racing dont have to comply with those regs either. Maybe you are thinking of longer open races when the best place to start would be local closed club racing, races of 2 to 5 hours duration.

It all changes with the new handicap system anyway, and I suspect that apart from a small number of real hard core racers, even more will switch from IRC to the new system

 

[michael_w]

his hatches needed to be turned round and re sealed.

That's to do with the MCA coding not Special Regs. Along with the numpty labels "do not open at sea"

 

[onesea]

Maybe you are thinking of longer open races when the best place to start would be local closed club racing, races of 2 to 5 hours duration.

Round the cans racing I would do on someone else's boat as IMHO its very hard on gear and much more likely to break stuff.

I have a racing background, I know they type of racing I am interested in and enjoy.

 

[Athene V30]

6 x Lifejackets - 150n, with integral harness, not cheap though I think I can get some for around £80 ea

150n isn't a lot for a big bloke in full gear / foulies etc

May cost more but was suggested to me to get 290n life jacket

 

[Javelin]

150n isn't a lot for a big bloke in full gear / foulies etc

This sentence was taken from the Special Regs,

Persons of larger than average build are generally more buoyant than those of average build and so do not require a lifejacket with greater levels of flotation. Wearing a Level 275 lifejacket may hamper entry into liferafts.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Round the cans racing I would do on someone else's boat as IMHO its very hard on gear and much more likely to break stuff.

I have a racing background, I know they type of racing I am interested in and enjoy.

Fine. But you are trying to sell it to SWMBO, daughter and nephew if memory serves. So maybe you have to think about a gradual intro via local racing rather than RORC, Incidentally, in numerous seasons of local club racing the only damage I have done was to shred a sprayhood window with a thrashing sheet one particularly nasty winters day. And a couple or worn out sails, but then they dont cost much

 

[Athene V30]

This sentence was taken from the Special Regs,

Persons of larger than average build are generally more buoyant than those of average build and so do not require a lifejacket with greater levels of flotation. Wearing a Level 275 lifejacket may hamper entry into liferafts.

Thanks for that - different advice to that I recall on the sea survival course.

 

[onesea]

Fine. But you are trying to sell it to SWMBO, daughter and nephew if memory serves. So maybe you have to think about a gradual intro via local racing rather than RORC, Incidentally, in numerous seasons of local club racing the only damage I have done was to shred a sprayhood window with a thrashing sheet one particularly nasty winters day. And a couple or worn out sails, but then they dont cost much

Daughter is 6 and likes sailing as long as we go some where. Preferably with an Ice Cream or the Cinema or the beach at the end of it (the next day will do). I have done one over ambitious sails where we failed to get to any of the above and returned home she was not happy.

SWMBO and I work shifts, so the idea of the occasional race in an evening/ weekend series does not appeal she is either two tired or its her days off and she would rather be sailing for the whole day not just a few hours. We would also have a nightmare getting together a regular crew to match our irregular hours. Its a none starter..

Nephew would probably be interested but we cannot give him the regular commitment he would need to keep up the interest.

On the other hand being able to "compete" or have ago at some passage races, even if are never in the top few or retire easily would be quite fun...

I am sure I am not the only one here with similar views, the idea of racing to some where is much more attractive than round something...

 

[temptress]

Daughter is 6 and likes sailing as long as we go some where. Preferably with an Ice Cream or the Cinema or the beach at the end of it (the next day will do). I have done one over ambitious sails where we failed to get to any of the above and returned home she was not happy.

SWMBO and I work shifts, so the idea of the occasional race in an evening/ weekend series does not appeal she is either two tired or its her days off and she would rather be sailing for the whole day not just a few hours. We would also have a nightmare getting together a regular crew to match our irregular hours. Its a none starter..

Nephew would probably be interested but we cannot give him the regular commitment he would need to keep up the interest.

On the other hand being able to "compete" or have ago at some passage races, even if are never in the top few or retire easily would be quite fun...

I am sure I am not the only one here with similar views, the idea of racing to some where is much more attractive than round something...

Passage racing maybe but RORC racing is probably not for you. The RORC is about as competitive as you can get in UK waters and generally not easy passages. There are other alternatives - take a look at the Royal escape race (google it) and other similar events....

 

[Daydream believer]

How on earth can they justify lifelines 1 M long
I had a crew come on hols with me once with a short lifeline
He was useless in rough weather because he could not move when he stood up whilst anchored in the cockpit.
He was 6 ft tall & was even restrained from standing up properly because the eyebolts are near the floor
At least a 2 m line allows one to move about a little without worrying about transferring the hooking point
Am i in the minority?

 

[temptress]

How on earth can they justify lifelines 1 M long
I had a crew come on hols with me once with a short lifeline
He was useless in rough weather because he could not move when he stood up whilst anchored in the cockpit.
He was 6 ft tall & was even restrained from standing up properly because the eyebolts are near the floor
At least a 2 m line allows one to move about a little without worrying about transferring the hooking point
Am i in the minority?

These are supposed to be lines with 3 hooks. The first Hook not more than 1m long the other I believe as long as you like. I HATE these 3 hook lines and when I raced RORC I had them aboard but chose not to use them. I found the 1m part too short and kept banging everything with the 3rd hook or it was too bulky all clipped up......Still most of the regs make sense and as I said before are IMO a good starting point for safety gear for offshore sailing.

 

[onesea]

Passage racing maybe but RORC racing is probably not for you. The RORC is about as competitive as you can get in UK waters and generally not easy passages. There are other alternatives - take a look at the Royal escape race (google it) and other similar events....

I know RORC is kind of competitive, I have done a few race in the past. Although I would love to get to that level we probably will never get that far...

The problem is all the races I look at similar require similar levels of equipment, from the royal escape race website:
"Scrutineering
Get a copy of the RORC check list and read it as early as you can (visit www.rorc.org and look for Special Regulations Monohull Category 3 with Liferaft)."

They might not quite police it as hard but its still there...

 

[michael_w]

SWMBO and usually sail double handed. We use 7 harness leashes. Three hook ones on the jackstays. A pair at the forward end of the cockpit, another pair at the aft end, finally one on the stern so you can reach the vane gear safely.

Just move from leash to leash and never unclipped.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

We were out racing yesterday 2C 24-35kn over the deck and rough ( stoicism, masochism or plain stupidity?) but at least we won.

Anyway, no sooner got in than the OOD told us about his new "risk assessment regime". Hitherto as I said earlier our rules were no more than skipper decides to go , so no races ever cancelled except for complete flat calm, and no anchor in the bow roller because some races are close proximity on a laid course though most are round the channel marks. Quite what this new regime amounts to we dont yet know since this was the last race of the series, and more to the point we dont know whether its based on RYA legal advice or a committee member who thinks they know but doesnt really.

Whats the situation at other clubs? Do you have the OOD for cruiser races making decisions about whether the weather is too bad etc? Do you have loads of rules about such things as lifelines? Apparently RORC cancel races at 35 knots constant.

 

[michael_w]

RORC don't cancel races. They may delay the start.

1.4.3 Starting and Continuing to Race

The Race Committee will make starting signals unless in their opinion it is manifestly unsafe for any of the boats entered to remain in the vicinity of the starting line. Each boat shall exercise her responsibility under RRS Fundamental Rule 4 and decide whether or not to start or to continue to race.

ISAF Fundamental Rule 4 DECISION TO RACE
The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.

 

[Tranona]

Thanks for that - different advice to that I recall on the sea survival course.

In practice most LJs are around 175. The 150 bit is the category which indicates the minimum. 275 are specifically for industrial use such as oil rig workers where the extra weight of tools and protective clothing are more common.

 

[prv]

How on earth can they justify lifelines 1 M long
[...]
At least a 2 m line allows one to move about a little without worrying about transferring the hooking point
Am i in the minority?

I'd expect to use a 1 metre tether to stay in place, not to move around. For example, I've seen pictures of helmsmen lashed down with two short tethers, one to each side. Of course you need the anchor points to be within a metre of each workstation, which might not be very convenient on a boat not originally designed for serious racing. I've attached myself to the mast before with a short tether around it, letting me lean back in the harness and work with both hands. To move around, you swap to a longer tether.

For what it's worth, the long tethers on Stavros are about 1m - the short ones are a webbing link about 4" long, so most of the length is the carabiners at each end! But that's a slightly different situation, to prevent you falling rather than being washed away. At the wheel in rough weather we still lash the helmsman in place, using a short length of line from a metal frame just aft to a D-ring between the shoulderblades. You can lean into the harness for support, and brace yourself against it.

Pete

 

[Martin_J]

Bosun Higgs - You mention 'no anchor in the bow roller'... I seem to remember removing the anchor from the roller for Round the Island races but cannot now see any reference to having to do that for ISAF requirements nor in the 2013 RORC Notices of Race.. Am I missing something?