Racing in the channel (again)

[wingdiver]

Last year I posted this - http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=282633
about dinghy racing across the channel when there was plenty of 'free' water at high tide.
Well, yesterday, we decided to try and beat the rain by heading off from Foxs down the Orwell for a nice sail with friends.
We left around an hour after high water.
As we headed Woolverstone Marina under sail, we saw several dinghys turning round the red can just upriver of the marina and then apparently using the green opposite as another mark. I saw the RHYC safety boat nearby so assume it was their event. Not too many problems but yet again why use the deep water channel when there is so much water the other side of the moorings plenty deep enough for dinghys?!
Worse than this though was when we returned upriver a couple of hours later. We were now under engine and were amongst quite a number of other yachts some sailing, some motorsailing some motoring. At the marina two yachts tacked around 50 yards ahead and moved from our port side towards our stbd side. I slowed and made a definite move to head past the stern of the left hand yacht (as the right hand one would be past our stbd side). All of a sudden, the crew shouted as the left hand yacht tacked back again totally unexpectedly on our bows!! Immediately had to swerve hard to stbd to avoid running him down!!! Much swearing from crew and myself to each other about what a complete idiot the skipper was, why didn't he keep a look out for us (and the other vessels around) etc. It wasn't until we were just passed this yacht when we heard a gun go off. It turns out he was tacking on a start line in an area no more than 150 metres wide amongst loads of other boats going up and down river and the exit/entrance to a marina.
It could have been pretty nasty (for him as we weigh nearly 30 tons!) but the points here are:

Why there - when there is so much traffic in so many directions in a narrow strip between the marina and moorings.
What do sunday afternoon race organisers feel they have that makes them better than the rest of the river users.

One of my crew suggested a formal complaint. I just worry what would have happened if we (or another vessel) had hit one of those boats or, by taking avoiding action, hit someone else.
The organisers need to look seriously at themselves. This is everyone's river not just theirs and they put their yachts and others in a difficult position.
Pretty shook up by what could have happened and left a sour taste after a cracking sail downriver and part way back.....

 

[Cobra]

What do sunday afternoon race organisers feel they have that makes them better than the rest of the river users. The organisers need to look seriously at themselves.

This is everyone's river not just theirs and they put their yachts and others in a difficult position.

I think that you have managed to sum the situation up perfectly! You are right it IS everyones river! If you are having problems handling your vessel in tight situations, maybe it is time to consider something smaller or alternatively avoiding more confined areas! All because you are having problems manouvreing doesn't mean that everyone encounters the same problems!

I am based on the Colne, but regularly sail up the Orwell and can hand on heart say I have NEVER had issues as you have described!

Try to anticipate what the racing boys are up to if you feel it imperative to plough through their fleet, alternatively do the seamanlike thing and give them space to play or time to clear...they will soon be away from where you want to go!

There is a lot of water out there and we all play in very small boats by comparison!

 

[Malish]

smidge of give and take needed here

Start lines are often a pain, especially in a narrow river, the racing skipper (and his crew) should have looked around more but might have been too focused on the start (or novices). Round here there are usually a few guns to count down the start of a race and, if I can, I'll slow my progress until they are actually racing so I can see what they are up to.

 

[nortada]

I think that you have managed to sum the situation up perfectly! You are right it IS everyones river! If you are having problems handling your vessel in tight situations, maybe it is time to consider something smaller or alternatively avoiding more confined areas! All because you are having problems manouvreing doesn't mean that everyone encounters the same problems!

I am based on the Colne, but regularly sail up the Orwell and can hand on heart say I have NEVER had issues as you have described!

Try to anticipate what the racing boys are up to if you feel it imperative to plough through their fleet, alternatively do the seamanlike thing and give them space to play or time to clear...they will soon be away from where you want to go!

There is a lot of water out there and we all play in very small boats by comparison!

An interesting response Cobra!

Rather thought the collision regs cover this rather well & for any boat to tack into the path of another because HE IS ON THE START LINE IS BOTH CRASS & DANGEROUS. If boats start giving way when they should stand on the col regs would collapse.

Heaven forbid - but in the event of a serious accident I believe the shipper of the racing vessel could be held criminally negligent & charged with endangering life.

I belong to both persuasions & as a racing shipper, I would never impede the passage of a non-racing vessel. Life is more important than racing round-the-cans.

Rant over!

ps What do others, racers & none racers think?

 

[wingdiver]

I think Cobra needs to re-read my post before posting such obtuse and insulting remarks especially the fact that another persons idiocy reflects on my ability to handle my vessel!!!
You will then see that I realised there were boats tacking across the river and slowed my speed accordingly. There were actually several boats tacking throughout our trip both ways on the day and we took avoiding action by altering course when sailing as well as when motoring so as to avoid problems to either vessel/take someone else's wind etc.
In the incident I mentioned, I took action to avoid two boats that tacked across my path having already slowed so I was motoring slowly and it was one of these who caused the danger by ignorance or stupidity by tacking back again without any consideration for others. I did not 'plough through'. The area in which they were tacking was also not really sensible and added to the issues, which the race committee could have forseen.
It is their river to do things in - as well as everybody else's but I owuld suggest more courteously. I always do try to deal with others as I would like them to deal with me.
Perhaps Cobra could post courteously without such uninformed personal insults - as others seem able to do.

 

[Cobra]

Perhaps Cobra could post courteously without such uninformed personal insults - as others seem able to do.

Ouch! Sorry...I have had a lousy weekend and you are right I was a wee bit OTT in my original post!!

I stand by my original point that irrespective of whether they are racing or not I always try to give other boats water.

I agree that maybe some race committees do need to take a few minutes out to think about where they are placing their race fleets, BUT having said that many clubs are severely restricted as to where they can place their start lines, RHYC being one of those.

It is an irritation when you have a large number of dinghies/racing yachts stuck in your (maybe only) safe water passage...it is then that I take a step back and tend to hang about until they are out of the way!!

Once again...my apologies for any offence caused...I will now take myself outside and beat myself with a birch stick...

 

[ex-Gladys]

It's well worth remembering that the IRPCS take precedence over the Racing Rules, and that in iteslf is a Racing Rule... Also a sailing boat under power is a power vessel, and unless they're realy cheating a sailing boat racing is a sailing vessel...

 

[wingdiver]

I stand by my original point that irrespective of whether they are racing or not I always try to give other boats water.

I agree that maybe some race committees do need to take a few minutes out to think about where they are placing their race fleets

Me too hence my indignation....
BTW, which Hurley 22 version do you have?

 

[benw]

There are several regular posters who are members of the RHYC so I am sure this can be fed back. I will endeavour to point this out at the next committee meeting I can get to.
Relieved all was ok in the end despite the blood pressure rocketing!
Ben

 

[Athene V30]

, . At the marina two yachts tacked around 50 yards ahead and moved from our port side towards our stbd side. I slowed and made a definite move to head past the stern of the left hand yacht (as the right hand one would be past our stbd side). All of a sudden, the crew shouted as the left hand yacht tacked back again totally unexpectedly on our bows!! Immediately had to swerve hard to stbd to avoid running him down!!! Much swearing from crew and myself to each other about what a complete idiot the skipper was, why didn't he keep a look out for us (and the other vessels around) etc. :

I know how you feel. I was 'driving' HMS Puncher during the RTIR in 2010 - our role to 'look after' the rear half of the fleet (c1800 boats!). From off Yarmouth to the Needles was a beat - F5 and a bit - so we took the easy option and tacked up with them! At least I had a few more HP and a few extra look outs. At the end of it I was exhausted!

However back to your original sentiment I know as a singlehander I sometimes fail to maintain a proper lookout when I do mess up I would at least acknowledge the fact to the other party.

Having been a Race Officer in past (long ago) it is acceptable to set inner didtance marks to give passing traffic a route - perhaps worth consideration by Club?

 

[willpatten]

racing in the channel

Hi Wingdiver,

I am a member of the RHYC and will pass your comments & concerns back to the sailing committee.

Without getting into the detail of this incident, I know that most race officers will try and set a course outside of the channel where they can.

I also know that the racers do appreciate it when yachts take avoiding action to let the racers sail the course they wish - I suppose inevitably some racers get so engrossed in the race etc, that they not only forget where they are relative to other yachts but also their manners - and if offence is caused, it should be reported to the club - so they can take the appropriate action.

 

[Leighb]

I have advised the RHYC club officer who has responsibility for sailing, of the nature of the OP's complaint.

My personal view is that should anyone feel they had been seriously inconvenienced by any Club's activities they should contact the Club directly themselves, they would then hopefully have the benefit of a response and feel that their complaint had been properly considered.