Mowed down by a racing fleet

Dan,

As I understand the OP, it was in jest (but I don't think I've seen the thread the prompted his post).

I think everyone who does a lot of racing and who posts on this board (flaming being one of the most prolific, but I think he is off on a months-long jolly at the moment) agree: as between boats sailing and those not sailing, the IRPCS apply. It is part of the Racing Rules of Sailing. The preamble to Rule 2 couldn't be more clear:

When a boat sailing under these rules meets a vessel that is not, she
shall comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions
at Sea (IRPCAS) or government right-of-way rules. If the sailing
instructions so state, the rules of Part 2 are replaced by the rightof-
way rules of the IRPCAS or by government right-of-way rules.

However, there is another issue and that is courtesy.

When racing I will not yell at those who are not racing. I can't even remember the last time I asked a non-racing boat if they would mind altering course. I just treat them - as you say - like obstacles.

But that doesn't mean that I don't appreciate it if someone DOES alter course (early enough to make it clear that I won't have to do so) as matter of courtesy. If they do so I will wave and smile to thank them. And I will also silently think "jerk" if anyone does intentionally obstinately stand on with a "damn them" attitude (your words) when they could have, easily and with very little (if any) incovenience to themselves altered course so I didn't have to. Note "silently".
 
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Sounds to me like the race boats avoided FP but he was a bit surprised by how close everyone was. When racing I would have no hesitation in ducking a cruising boat by a meter in the right conditions, which would be 100% fine for me but the cruiser might or might not be so happy.

As I may have a novice on the helm, your right conditions may not be mine.

If you were to cut me up in this fashion, you may rest assured I would get back on the helm & ruin your day.

Steel on plastic - no competition.:D
 
...they could have, easily and with very little (if any) incovenience to themselves altered course so I didn't have to.

When that's the case, with plenty of space, that's fine of course.

The trouble seems to be clusters of racing boats, each exclusively bent on profiting, relative to the others out there. Suddenly a yacht passing (however rightfully & predictably) cannot behave in a manner that will suit everyone...so, best by far to stick rigidly to IRPCS.
 
As I may have a novice on the helm, your right conditions may not be mine.

If you were to cut me up in this fashion, you may rest assured I would get back on the helm & ruin your day.

Steel on plastic - no competition.:D

Out of curiosity, how can I "cut someone up" by DUCKING (going behind) them?

Edit - and if I were complying with IRPCS by avoiding you (by ducking you), how would you getting on the helm and making your steel meet my plastic be in any way consistent with IRPCS? What would you do, prevent me from avoiding you?
 
People here are getting hot and bothered about a thread originally made in jest as an answer to another...

The answer if seeing the dreaded SS approaching is to go like hell for the next racing mark, they'll never find you there ! :)
 
Bbg
Tried the link to you tube on my Ipad & got the message
Not available in your country
But I am in the UK
Any other ways of viewing or is it a french only video
Must be the dancing girls!!!!!!!

No idea why it won't work for you. I've had people comment from the UK, so that's not an issue. Are you travelling now? Maybe all the full-frontal nudity while I shower in the cockpit has finally got it banned.
 
Dan,

As I understand the OP, it was in jest (but I don't think I've seen the thread the prompted his post).

I think everyone who does a lot of racing and who posts on this board (flaming being one of the most prolific, but I think he is off on a months-long jolly at the moment) agree: as between boats sailing and those not sailing, the IRPCS apply. It is part of the Racing Rules of Sailing. The preamble to Rule 2 couldn't be more clear:



However, there is another issue and that is courtesy.

When racing I will not yell at those who are not racing. I can't even remember the last time I asked a non-racing boat if they would mind altering course. I just treat them - as you say - like obstacles.

But that doesn't mean that I don't appreciate it if someone DOES alter course (early enough to make it clear that I won't have to do so) as matter of courtesy. If they do so I will wave and smile to thank them. And I will also silently think "jerk" if anyone does intentionally obstinately stand on with a "damn them" attitude (your words) when they could have, easily and with very little (if any) incovenience to themselves altered course so I didn't have to. Note "silently".

It was me who made the original post which was, in itself, intended to be lighthearted.

There was an interesting reversal of stereotypes at the end of the same race. Everyone was bimbling around not going anywhere when an AWB of some sort came across just in front of us, and pretty much straight at the boat next to us. The cruising fella yelled "Starboard!". To which the reply from the Sunsail bloke was "Not Moving!", which seemed reasonable, because he wasn't. He was just drifting along with just a flapping mainsail up, waiting for the kettle to boil or whatever. Should there be a signal for "brewing up" so that other boats know to keep clear?
 
No idea why it won't work for you. I've had people comment from the UK, so that's not an issue. Are you travelling now? Maybe all the full-frontal nudity while I shower in the cockpit has finally got it banned.
From the message given it would seem it has a soundtrack that infringes copyright. :(
 
Because 99% of the time there are long established rules which let everyone have their fun.
...

Very true.
I race dinghies a lot, bigger boats now and then.
Problems with non-racing boats are really very rare.

I'm more likely to have an issue with another racer who doesn't know the rules, or some berk in an Audi on the way to the club.

I don't know why these threads keep coming up, the problem is more on here than in the Solent.

The issues that do happen with non-racing craft, it is usually irrelevant that we are racing, those non-racers don't obey colregs either. Particularly R13.
Actually, if you get in the middle of a racing fleet, a non-racing craft's obligations under colregs can be quite onerous, it's easy to consider one-on-one situations, less easy when there are 20 boats in a small space.

Anyway, I'd like to thank all the cruising sailors in the Solent and nearby harbours who have gone the extra 10 yards to give us racers a bit of space this year, we do appreciate it even if we are too busy to say so at the time. Cheers!
 
Isn't it time the RYA/MCA/whoever got involved in this I'm-racing-therefore-you-have-to-get-out-of-my-way lark? WTF do 'racers' they think they are playing at?

I only read about the Vendee ejits gallivanting through the Finisterre TSS a few minutes ago and now I'm reading about yet another example of idiots who think colregs don't apply if they're racing. Who the **** do these people think they are? :mad:

/rant

+1 !

We get more than our share of this arrogance on the Broads as well!:mad:
 
Out of curiosity, how can I "cut someone up" by DUCKING (going behind) them?

Edit - and if I were complying with IRPCS by avoiding you (by ducking you), how would you getting on the helm and making your steel meet my plastic be in any way consistent with IRPCS? What would you do, prevent me from avoiding you?

If you are going to duck behind me with only 1m clearance, 'til the very last moment you will appear to me & my inexperienced helm that you could/will T-Bone us or at least run into my stern.

Depending on the wind/situation we may luff up or bear away. Whatever, we will almost certainly lose way.

In the ensuing panic there is a every possibility you will hit us.

Then plastic v steel will come into play so once calm has been restored we will pick up survivors & claim salvage .:)
 
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I have a mooring in Chichester and I can't really see the problem. Yeah OK theres a lot of racing most weekends yet a little bit of planning will avoid the starts etc. In a year there I've only had one close call, and if I'm honest I was partly to blame. "Sorry" will normally be suffice.
Dinghies can turn a lot quicker and tighter than most cruising yachts, and anyway, putting the willies up the cruising skipper is a past time for a few dinghy sailors. I have no problem with it. Lets face it my 30 year old yacht is built like the perverbial brick outbuilding!
We're all on the water to enjoy ourselves at the end of the day.
The real gits to watch out for are the cruiser racers out in Bracklesham bay........
 
Forget the spinnaker, what side the boom is on will tell you if they are starboard or port.

+1

Are we talking about meeting racing dinghies - or racing yachts?
Among my dinghy racing friends, there is a vague understanding of racing rules. NOT COLREGS however.
Yacht racing - you might expect some of them to know about COLREGS.. but maybe not?
As part of a fleet of 22 (yachts) a couple of months ago we met 2 car ferries en route. We were all stand on WRT both ferries , who kept clear with apparent good grace. :) it takes all sorts...
 
If you are going to duck behind me with only 1m clearance, 'til the very last moment you will appear to me & my inexperienced helm that you could/will T-Bone us or at least run into my stern.

Depending on the wind/situation we may luff up or bear away. Whatever, we will almost certainly lose way.

In the ensuing panic there is a every possibility you will hit us.

Then plastic v steel will come into play so once calm has been restored we will pick up survivors & claim salvage .:)

No, if I were going to duck you it would look like I was going to pass behind you. I would keep aiming at your stern - bear way early then continually follow your stern so as I passed behind you I was back on a close-hauled course. And if you started shouting starboard at me I would calmly reply, "hold your course - I'll pass behind you.

And if conditions were gusty I'd give you more room. In mid-Atlantic, with the kite up in gusty conditions, I gave another boat more than a boat length. Maybe two!
 
I have sailed fast dinghies all over Chichester Harbour, either with racing fleets from CYC or Itchenor, Langstone etc, or just blatting along at high speed in my own boat with no dictated course, as is my wont.

I have never had any hassle with cruisers, even when crewing fast dinghies for other people who were a lot richer than me who were red hot on racing tactics but didn't know what a green conical buoy meant until I just had time to say " Err ! " before the crunch as we hit the granite-like winner shoal...

Some racing fleets - HISC and the keelboats at Itchenor spring to mind - can have the odd arrogant idiot, but usually a few choice words or putting any prat in one's wind shadow - if on starboard - is punishment enough for the few berks ( but don't try this on the keelboats ! ) , most of them are just trying to have fun on the water.

Andy,

now and always casual Osprey dinghy sailor and cruiser bod.
 
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