Racing Rules of Sailing

[[70521]]

It rather looks to me as though the clot wasn't the cream, and he got in a jam

I've been down breaking things on the boat again, my ancient windlass battery needs to be replaced, and looking at the angles from the Cornish side of the river I'd say they are about mid Tamar hence in a very dangerous position regarding cream and jam.

 

[Stemar]

That's because no one has tried sailing them hard and fast.

Hard and fast gets you wet. Just ask Coco de Mer and a good many other expensive cats.

 

[zoidberg]

I've been down breaking things on the boat again, my ancient windlass battery needs to be replaced, and looking at the angles from the Cornish side of the river I'd say they are about mid Tamar hence in a very dangerous position regarding cream and jam.

Dunno about the dangerous position, but they certainly 'got egg on faces'....

 

[benjenbav]

Normally that sort of thing is the result of failing to drop it properly on the run before turning upwind.

If it’s spinnaker-confession time…

I was dragged into a corporate racing thing administered by the RYS in Cowes some years ago.

Trying to deny all knowledge of ever having sailed I was spotted lurking around and asked if I’d ‘just take the wheel for a moment’.

No-one would take it back and, as we were shortly to start a race, there was nothing for it.

So, with a cold fury in my heart and the knowledge that I wasn’t going to be paying for the repairs I crossed the fleet on starboard, beat up the Gurnard shore so close in that three of the crew bought ice creams from a van and rounded the upwind mark comfortably in the lead. (It was, as I say, a corporate thing and the standards were not high.)

Then, beginning to enjoy myself, I called for the spinnaker to be hoisted.

Remember that I had not been involved with checking lines or any aspect of preparation before I was tricked into taking the wheel?

Well, I didn’t.

The thing rose up about half way, snagged and went over the bow in a heap.

Now it acted as the world’s best brake and, after a bout of quite spirited swearing, we set about recovering it as the fleet streamed past and we drifted slowly downtide towards the Castle.

From which a laconic voice came over the VHF:

“Number -, are you actually racing?”

 

[flaming]

If it’s spinnaker-confession time…

I was dragged into a corporate racing thing administered by the RYS in Cowes some years ago.

Trying to deny all knowledge of ever having sailed I was spotted lurking around and asked if I’d ‘just take the wheel for a moment’.

No-one would take it back and, as we were shortly to start a race, there was nothing for it.

So, with a cold fury in my heart and the knowledge that I wasn’t going to be paying for the repairs I crossed the fleet on starboard, beat up the Gurnard shore so close in that three of the crew bought ice creams from a van and rounded the upwind mark comfortably in the lead. (It was, as I say, a corporate thing and the standards were not high.)

Then, beginning to enjoy myself, I called for the spinnaker to be hoisted.

Remember that I had not been involved with checking lines or any aspect of preparation before I was tricked into taking the wheel?

Well, I didn’t.

The thing rose up about half way, snagged and went over the bow in a heap.

Now it acted as the world’s best brake and, after a bout of quite spirited swearing, we set about recovering it as the fleet streamed past and we drifted slowly downtide towards the Castle.

From which a laconic voice came over the VHF:

“Number -, are you actually racing?”

That wasn't the food industry regatta in about 2007/8 was it?

 

[benjenbav]

That wasn't the food industry regatta in about 2007/8 was it?

I think it might have been - perhaps 2008.

I was a guest of a client in that industry. Specifically, one of my then business partners did a lot of work for various food producers and I remember that he had twisted my arm to go along to the event, perhaps to add wit and wisdom.

And I know that I had gone over to Cowes in a boat of my own that I remember having bought in October 2007. That was safely tied up at the time, of course!

 

[flaming]

I think it might have been - perhaps 2008.

I was a guest of a client in that industry. Specifically, one of my then business partners did a lot of work for various food producers and I remember that he had twisted my arm to go along to the event, perhaps to add wit and wisdom.

And I know that I had gone over to Cowes in a boat of my own that I remember having bought in October 2007. That was safely tied up at the time, of course!

Ah, I was a skipper on that event, I remember that radio call! One of the best corporate regattas I ever did, one of the few that I really remember fondly. Live commentary of the starts by the squadron, comedy genius. Still a claim to fame that Castle One was heard to exclaim "oh I say, that is clever!" at one of my starts.

There was dinner and a charity casino in the squadron (well, pavilion) that night. They gave the skippers the same "money", and towards the end of the night one of my guests noticed I hadn't spent any, so he dragged me to the blackjack table. We sat down just as they said "closing in 10 minutes" and the guest said "all in til it's gone". 10 minutes later with some frankly outrageous luck I'd turned that fictional £1k into well over £50k as they shut the casino and won the massive bottle of champagne by an enormous margin from the next most profitable gambler. I tried to give it back as the skippers shouldn't win, but the organiser who'd been watching refused to let me. Good times!

 

[benjenbav]

Ah, I was a skipper on that event, I remember that radio call! One of the best corporate regattas I ever did, one of the few that I really remember fondly. Live commentary of the starts by the squadron, comedy genius. Still a claim to fame that Castle One was heard to exclaim "oh I say, that is clever!" at one of my starts.

There was dinner and a charity casino in the squadron (well, pavilion) that night. They gave the skippers the same "money", and towards the end of the night one of my guests noticed I hadn't spent any, so he dragged me to the blackjack table. We sat down just as they said "closing in 10 minutes" and the guest said "all in til it's gone". 10 minutes later with some frankly outrageous luck I'd turned that fictional £1k into well over £50k as they shut the casino and won the massive bottle of champagne by an enormous margin from the next most profitable gambler. I tried to give it back as the skippers shouldn't win, but the organiser who'd been watching refused to let me. Good times!

I don’t think I stayed after the racing. I probably slipped off home in my own boat.

Just shows that it’s always a good plan to have an exit strategy.

But, I enjoyed it really.

 

[johnalison]

Ah, I was a skipper on that event, I remember that radio call! One of the best corporate regattas I ever did, one of the few that I really remember fondly. Live commentary of the starts by the squadron, comedy genius. Still a claim to fame that Castle One was heard to exclaim "oh I say, that is clever!" at one of my starts.

There was dinner and a charity casino in the squadron (well, pavilion) that night. They gave the skippers the same "money", and towards the end of the night one of my guests noticed I hadn't spent any, so he dragged me to the blackjack table. We sat down just as they said "closing in 10 minutes" and the guest said "all in til it's gone". 10 minutes later with some frankly outrageous luck I'd turned that fictional £1k into well over £50k as they shut the casino and won the massive bottle of champagne by an enormous margin from the next most profitable gambler. I tried to give it back as the skippers shouldn't win, but the organiser who'd been watching refused to let me. Good times!

The only casino I ever did was set up by a drug company after a 10-minute presentation. The casino, for tax and other purposes was recorded as “display of equipment”. I stuck to blackjack because it had the best-looking dealer. I’m not sure what this has to do with spinnakers though.

 

[Stemar]

I’m not sure what this has to do with spinnakers though

Like blackjack, using a spinnaker is a gamble unless you're really skilled, and even then, things can end in tears and serious damage to your wallet

 

[Daydream believer]

Like blackjack, using a spinnaker is a gamble unless you're really skilled, and even then, things can end in tears and serious damage to your wallet

If you really want to gamble with a spinnaker, then try flying a blooper under it. Then the fun begins.
I do not know what is best. Watching & trimming the kites, the boat going into a roll, or the owner's face when a gust comes.

 

[johnalison]

Like blackjack, using a spinnaker is a gamble unless you're really skilled, and even then, things can end in tears and serious damage to your wallet

When we bought our Sadler 29 in '87 I went to the Boat Show on my own with the intent to buy a spinnaker. My wife made the mistake of failing to address the matter of what colour/s to choose and left it to me. I decided that it would be a good idea to have colours that stood out, in contrast to our previous boat and first spinnaker when we had been hoping to escape attention. This is what I came up with, taken by a friend from the shore at Osea in '88.

 

[benjenbav]

When we bought our Sadler 29 in '87 I went to the Boat Show on my own with the intent to buy a spinnaker. My wife made the mistake of failing to address the matter of what colour/s to choose and left it to me. I decided that it would be a good idea to have colours that stood out, in contrast to our previous boat and first spinnaker when we had been hoping to escape attention. This is what I came up with, taken by a friend from the shore at Osea in '88.
View attachment 195296

Looks very good.

 

[Stemar]

I've no objection to anyone flying a spinnaker, unless of course it causes them to ram me, but this is what I think of when I think of spinnakers

And I'm not sure how I'd cope with that when it's just Madame and me

 

[Chiara’s slave]

We rarely get ours out unless we have 3 people on the boat.

 

[Daydream believer]

We rarely get ours out unless we have 3 people on the boat.

Often have threesomes do you?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Often have threesomes do you?

Not often on Chiara, but frequently on the XOD

 

[johnalison]

I've no objection to anyone flying a spinnaker, unless of course it causes them to ram me, but this is what I think of when I think of spinnakers

And I'm not sure how I'd cope with that when it's just Madame and me

Basically, you don’t let such a thing happen. I don’t claim to be anything of an expert at it but we flew a spinnaker regularly on our Mystere and Sadler 29 and never once had a wrap or worse, in about 25 years of cruising and racing PH. Most of the time I hoisted it from a turtle and dropped it under the boom into the companionway. At one time I got a snuffer, something of a novelty at the time. Although it could be handy when dowsing the sail, it was an awful faff to set up, with several lines that had to be kept clear of each other and kept the right way round, which was hopeless when racing and had no real advantages, at least for me.

Spinnakers are like deck chairs; you need to let them know that you are in charge.

I think my greatest achievement was when making a link call to my family while under spinnaker in the Dover straits with just my wife and me on board.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Basically, you don’t let such a thing happen. I don’t claim to be anything of an expert at it but we flew a spinnaker regularly on our Mystere and Sadler 29 and never once had a wrap or worse, in about 25 years of cruising and racing PH. Most of the time I hoisted it from a turtle and dropped it under the boom into the companionway. At one time I got a snuffer, something of a novelty at the time. Although it could be handy when dowsing the sail, it was an awful faff to set up, with several lines that had to be kept clear of each other and kept the right way round, which was hopeless when racing and had no real advantages, at least for me.

Spinnakers are like deck chairs; you need to let them know that you are in charge.

I think my greatest achievement was when making a link call to my family while under spinnaker in the Dover straits with just my wife and me on board.

We use a snuffer. It’s easier 2 up, and we sail in crowded water. Thats really why we don’t use it often, there just isn’t the space for a 18kn 26ft wide sailboat under spinnaker unless you’re ready to dowse it in an instant.

 

[johnalison]

We use a snuffer. It’s easier 2 up, and we sail in crowded water. Thats really why we don’t use it often, there just isn’t the space for a 18kn 26ft wide sailboat under spinnaker unless you’re ready to dowse it in an instant.

It’s a long time since I used mine but I have a memory of trying to sort out the sail’s sheet and guy at the same time as a continuous line on the snuffer that always seemed to get in the way and had to be made fast somewhere. It may be that newer designs are better, but in any case, that bundle of stuff at the top of the sail just looks silly. I have an idea that snuffers may be more useful to cruisers with poleless sails though I have no experience of them.