Racing - Start boat Flag sequences

[fireball]

Do you know them?

It's been suggested that quite a few non-race skippers who routinely navigate in areas frequented by racing fleets are not aware of race start sequence signals.

I would suggest that it's an advantage to know of them as it will enable you to make a more informed decision when it comes to avoiding the racing boats.
By that I don't mean racing boats have right of way - they should abide by the colregs as well - but if you have an idea of where they are likely to be then you can try not to be there at the same time ...

There are a few variances to the sequence - but this is a link to what seems to be the most common:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racing_Rules_of_Sailing#Start_signal

 

[colingr]

Well I for one know nothing at all about racing yachts, their foibles and flags so that is very interesting to me. I didn't know, until very recently, that racing yachts do not wear an ensign, mind you as not all yachts do anyway that's little help.

All I know is that yachts charge about in seemingly random directions whilst pretending to go somewhere, but goodness knows where that is


I'll await the comments about ignorant mobo owners now

 

[ricky_s]

I don't know them and probably don't need to. Col regs still apply even if going round in circles waiting to have a race!

 

[DanTribe]

I think I understand starting sequences but still get it wrong sometimes.
Last weekend we were stooging around the Burnham Week start line enjoying the atmosphere.
Usually all classes start by heading downriver, so I stayed well behind the line at the start, like a good boy.
When the gun went I realised that this particular class was going UPriver, and we were smack in the middle of the course!

 

[boaterbaz]

I know the starting sequences and I am a keen racer. With reference to recent posts we all have a right to go where we want. The cruisers amongst us have as much right as the gung ho racers.

 

[fireball]

I don't know them and probably don't need to. Col regs still apply even if going round in circles waiting to have a race!

No. You don't need to know them - any more than I need to know that mobos are often more wind ridden than sailboats - but I find it helps to be able to recognise characteristics of different types of users and make plans accordingly.
It's not rocket science - and I wouldve thought it more relaxing than unwittingly getting into close quarters with the often frantic racers.

Can't always avoid them though.

 

[fireball]

I know the starting sequences and I am a keen racer. With reference to recent posts we all have a right to go where we want. The cruisers amongst us have as much right as the gung ho racers.

It's not about rights - you're entitled to stand on to a tanker in certain circumstances - but a lot of us will do an early course change to avoid that if possible - what's the difference here? Is it because the racers are gung ho? How do you know? Are they all like that?
If its the difference between passing down one side of the channel or the other isn't it worth a consideration?

 

[mcframe]

My recent be-nice-to-a-race boat favour was:

Port tack, hard on the wind towards Yarmouth; Cowes week fleet (err, some of them were Sigma 38s,so IRC 3 I think) - head of the fleet easily passed downwind of me, but a slight shift meant that a couple of mid-fleet boats started approaching my starboard quarter.

Knowing that I made far more leeway than they did, I bore away by 45deg, and err, cut across their bows at a safe distance and left 'em to their fight.

I could have thought "Stuff it, they're overtaking†", but would rather avoid close quarters if possible - I'm /sure/ they would not have been able to overtake to windward if I'd held my course.

Next day, we were overtaken by some A-sail'd keelboats downwind - again no hassle, but oooh, they were fast - I saluted them with my hot pasty and mug of coffee and encouraged the kids to wave ;-)

†and I've got an ensign up and a towing a dinghy astern!

 

[Ex Libris]

The start sequence, sounds and flags are described in the Racing Rules of Sailing, easy to find anywhere on the Internet if you want to know what they are and what they mean.
Beside the rules of conduct at sea and the matter of good seamanship, I believe it is just a matter of courtesy to stay away from the start line, marks and finish line, and stay out of the way of boats racing. If it's a matter of "taking it personal", they are no better than you cruising from the home mooring to the home mooring for no obvious reason, nor you are better than them turning around like excited flies for no obvious reason...

 

[Easticks28]

When acting as race officer, I am regularly asked bycompetitors
" was that our 10 minute/ 5 minute?"
I point to the flags and receive the retort
" well was it or wasn't it !?"

 

[Sans Bateau]

Perhaps we should ditch the IRPCS in favour of racing rules. Then when someone calls "I'm racing", one would be obliged to treat them as the stand on vessel.

 

[DanTribe]

When acting as race officer, I am regularly asked bycompetitors
" was that our 10 minute/ 5 minute?"
I point to the flags and receive the retort
" well was it or wasn't it !?"

On committee boats at big fleet dinghy meetings I've sometimes heard "have we started yet?"
Not everyone is a fully committed racer, knowing everything. Some people race occasionally or just for fun and long may it be so.
I still think the old 10 -5- go system was nice and simple and the 5- 4- 1- go system an unnecessary complication, especially for multi fleet regattas such as Burnham Week when guns and hooters seem to be going off continually.
The race officer has taken to announcing over the radio when the blue peter is removed " the next signal is P removed"
The response from our boat "your taking the Pee"

 

[DanBurrill]

When acting as race officer, I am regularly asked bycompetitors
" was that our 10 minute/ 5 minute?"
I point to the flags and receive the retort
" well was it or wasn't it !?"

Just out of interest, since an Easticks 28 is almost certain to be based not far from me, which club are you acting as race officer for?

Personally, I mostly cruise, but last weekend took up an offer to spend three days racing on Barton Broad. Had a great time, but if I'm honest while I was racing my world consisted of two winches and a lot of green water going by very fast. I know Barton Broad fairly well, but within a minute of the first start I couldn't tell where about we were - it was just a blur of posts, boats, and green stuff in the background.

 

[Easticks28]

Just out of interest, since an Easticks 28 is almost certain to be based not far from me, which club are you acting as race officer for?

Not the one on Barton......
We are river based.

 

[DanBurrill]

Not the one on Barton......
We are river based.

EACC, Horning, or one down south then?

 

[fireball]

Perhaps we should ditch the IRPCS in favour of racing rules. Then when someone calls "I'm racing", one would be obliged to treat them as the stand on vessel.

When two boats are heading in the same direction ......

 

[Easticks28]

EACC, Horning, or one down south then?

EACC

 

[maxi77]

When acting as race officer, I am regularly asked bycompetitors
" was that our 10 minute/ 5 minute?"
I point to the flags and receive the retort
" well was it or wasn't it !?"

At that point I simply tell them to read the SIs, even in a laser I had a copy with me, at least till the first capsize

 

[DJE]

At that point I simply tell them to read the SIs, even in a laser I had a copy with me, at least till the first capsize

Explain it all to them carefully then disqualify them for outside assistance!


If I'm not racing and I'm close enough to read the flags there must be something wrong.

 

[DanBurrill]

EACC

It was a group from EACC that I was with for the weekend on Barton, I was crewing on Sabrina 2.