On encountering a racing fleet?

[Porthandbuoy]

What is the correct etiquette when crossing a fleet of racing yachts all on opposing courses?

Cut in front and force them to perhaps change course?
Go behind and spoil their wind?
Ignore them and cut across at right angles as if it were a TSZ?
Hoist a burgee and join in?

 

[dylanwinter]

tack away

but if escape is impossible

put yourself in irons

let all sails fly

then let them avoid you

 

[Houleaux]

I just adhere to
the col regs

 

[dylanwinter]

I just adhere to
the col regs

but will they?

 

[Porthandbuoy]

I just adhere to
the col regs

tack away

but if escape is impossible

put yourself in irons

let all sails fly

then let them avoid you

So, just heave to on the starboard tack and shake out a reef or two.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Set your course, put her on autohelm, and go below to make a cuppa, dont rush.

 

[PhillM]

but will they?

My experence in the Solent is yes, they will, to the letter and often to the inch!

Except sunsail races where some boats are great and some are arrogant. Nothing against sunsail but they do have some rather self centred clients.

 

[westhinder]

My experence in the Solent is yes, they will, to the letter and often to the inch!

Except sunsail races where some boats are great and some are arrogant. Nothing against sunsail but they do have some rather self centred clients.

Today in the Solent, the last boat in the Sunsail fleet only grudgingly bore away to give way to us and the shout came:we are racing. They were certainly not winning.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Legally: Colregs apply regardless of who is racing or cruising
Etiquette: It is reasonable for racers to prefer that you don't interfere in close quarters situations, ie near the start line or marks of the course.
Common Sense: Give them all a wide berth - less stress for all involved, including yourself.

 

[PhillM]

Legally: Colregs apply regardless of who is racing or cruising
Etiquette: It is reasonable for racers to prefer that you don't interfere in close quarters situations, ie near the start line or marks of the course.
Common Sense: Give them all a wide berth - less stress for all involved, including yourself.

Agreed, except some races take so much space there is no avoiding them. Last year there was some construction shin dig that started and ended across enterance to cowes and included usuing marks at Hamble and east bramble. No way to avoid as they were so strung out everyone on the water in mid solent was involved.

 

[flaming]

Legally: Colregs apply regardless of who is racing or cruising
Etiquette: It is reasonable for racers to prefer that you don't interfere in close quarters situations, ie near the start line or marks of the course.
Common Sense: Give them all a wide berth - less stress for all involved, including yourself.

Agree entirely, though just to clarify, Colregs apply between yachts who are racing and anything that isn't. RRS apply between yachts who are racing, even if they are not racing in the same race.

I think, to be honest, that it's often a politeness thing. You wouldn't obstuct runners in a local fun run in a park, so why some people seem to take a peverse delight in charging through start lines in open water just because they can simply baffles me.

 

[johnalison]

We motored through a dinghy racing fleet this morning. It was easy. We were bigger than them.

 

[PhillM]

Agree entirely, though just to clarify, Colregs apply between yachts who are racing and anything that isn't. RRS apply between yachts who are racing, even if they are not racing in the same race.

I think, to be honest, that it's often a politeness thing. You wouldn't obstuct runners in a local fun run in a park, so why some people seem to take a peverse delight in charging through start lines in open water just because they can simply baffles me.

Agreed but somtimes the race course setters forget there are others who want to be on the water but not be part of the race.

Takes cooperation from all parties.

 

[Houleaux]

Agree entirely, though just to clarify, Colregs apply between yachts who are racing and anything that isn't. RRS apply between yachts who are racing, even if they are not racing in the same race.

I think, to be honest, that it's often a politeness thing. You wouldn't obstuct runners in a local fun run in a park, so why some people seem to take a peverse delight in charging through start lines in open water just because they can simply baffles me.

I don't want to spoil anyone's day, but it's not easy to anticipate the route of a race if you're not involved. For that reason, I think it's fairest to all concerned if I just stick to the regs so that competitors can just factor me into their strategy. If I give way to one when not obliged to, I could really p off another (or that's what I assume). Similarly, if I go miles out of my way to avoid the start, I may well end up crossing the course later in any case.

 

[prv]

If its convenient to avoid them, then I will - makes life easier for everybody. If its not convenient, then I'm not shy about going through them - giving way or standing on as the rules dictate. Never had any trouble; often used to get smiles and waves from the ballast on the rail at the sight of a stubby little gaff yawl mixing it up with the 40-footers

Pete

 

[laika]

My experence in the Solent is yes, they will, to the letter and often to the inch!

In my experience no. Regardless of their obligations the majority seem to apply RRS to non-racing boats. Mainly this means completely disregarding most of rule 8. Veering away at the last moment to duck a metre under your stern is *not* obeying the colregs and relies on the non-racer not deciding it's time for 17a(ii) to apply and make their own (possibly incompatible) manoeuvre.

It's simple common sense to stay away from racers. In the solent this sometimes just isn't possible: it's just a case of trying to work out what marks each fleet is likely to be heading for and trying to pick a course to avoid the bulk of them. I think there's actually a lot to be said for staying on port: you know where you stand.

 

[OGITD]

Super Mario!

Was it some of these chaps?

(Link http://www.clydesailing.co.uk/)

 

[onesea]

Legally: Colregs apply regardless of who is racing or cruising
Etiquette: It is reasonable for racers to prefer that you don't interfere in close quarters situations, ie near the start line or marks of the course.
Common Sense: Give them all a wide berth - less stress for all involved, including yourself.

+1 but if its not possible.

Set your course, put her on autohelm, and go below to make a cuppa, dont rush.

Is probably not that bad an advise...

Well I would say keep a good look out maintain your course, if you are standon as per ColRegs. They will pass close...

If you are give way, do not think about sea room think safely past just if the fleet is racing close there will barely be enough room for the race boats never mind you...

Which is where moodynicks advise comes in...

 

[flaming]

I don't want to spoil anyone's day, but it's not easy to anticipate the route of a race if you're not involved. For that reason, I think it's fairest to all concerned if I just stick to the regs so that competitors can just factor me into their strategy. If I give way to one when not obliged to, I could really p off another (or that's what I assume). Similarly, if I go miles out of my way to avoid the start, I may well end up crossing the course later in any case.

I agree, it's not always obvious. However sometimes it is. I'm always amazed when I'm milling about in a prestart with 50+ boats involved and come across a non competitor. I hate being in a prestart situation at the best of times, there is no way on earth you'd catch me going through a concentrated group of 50+ boats when out for a cruise.

And please don't think the racers are alone in having a few bad apples that don't know/obey the rules. Last year we came across a very nice looking 40ish footer on port. As he didn't seem to be taking any type of avoiding action (we were on starboard) we called starboard to attract his attention. His reply was "what does that mean?"

 

[capnsensible]

To see a competitive racing fleet in action is fairly awesome. Why dick about....

Been on both sides of that, just have respect for all seems simple enough. Am I wrong??