RTIR _ Run by Idiots?

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rhinorhino

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After last year's total b***s *p, over the race the organisers put out a press release. What do they finish with? How they are going to restrict numbers if over 2000 enter! After the contempt with which they treated the race last year, they will be lucky if there is not a significant decrese in the numbers this year.
Bunch of p**ts.
Again it is massage the egos of the corporate sponsors.
 
Yeah, I thought they sounded a bit optimistic! I also noted the "unwelcome publicity" comment. I suppose that's one way of putting it. Sounded a bit like they didn't think it was warranted, just unwelcome from their perspective. I notice that Leigh Bennett doesn't seem to be mentioned and wonder if she was a sacrificial lamb?

I am entering (again) this year in the hope that 3rd time lucky. I have fond childhood memories of doing the race and now want to repeat it in my own boat. I think with the earlier start I should stand a chance this year unlike the two previous light wind events......knowing my luck it will be blowing old boots on the 23rd!!
 
Didn't do the race last year so I don't fully understand the problems you refer to - yes it was very light winds but that is not really the organisers fault.

I'm not sure what I think of the earlier start - on the whole it's a good thing for those of us who start in the last fleet
 
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Didn't do the race last year so I don't fully understand the problems you refer to - yes it was very light winds but that is not really the organisers fault.

I'm not sure what I think of the earlier start - on the whole it's a good thing for those of us who start in the last fleet

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I think this little video illustrates many peoples gripes, light winds and a tidal gate at the Needles not allowing the slow boats through! http://www.yachtinguniverse.com/CPG/displayimage.php?album=1&pos=14
 
Entered last year, finished 209th.

In 'D' class.

A real mis mash of a finish.

I thought this race was really for 'Joe Public and his Family' to have a fun race around the Island?

Anyway, If Pirates of the Solent continues to grow as it has been, we could always turn it into a fun charity race around the island for all to join in on!!!

Sailing should be fun, I feel the corporate thing is killing this race, To many people trying to make a buck out of a fun family race!

Come and race on the Pirates day if you want fun and do it for the Cardiomyopathy Association!!!

Al
 
But that has usually been the case - as someone who usually starts in the last fleet on each occasion I've participated I've always been aware that if the winds are contrary in the western solent then there is a risk of missing the tidal gate. That said it usually works in favour of the small boats in that if the tide turns as you pass the needles you then get a favourable tide all the way round the back of Wight, and then again if you're having a slow race you get favourable tide in the eastern solent for the last leg.

You can't really blame the organisers if the winds are light
 
I remember starting in the early 80's at 05:30 ish to make sure we all had the tide wiht us then pilling up into eachother round the back of the Needles - I even recall some one occasion where we all needed fenders to keep the boats apart!

Seems they just forgot and ar enot reverting back to what they used to do.............


The race is run by the Island sailing Club and it amazing how organised it actually is given the number of entries. That they have no control on the weather is not an excuse for not considering th tides!
 
I've raced every year since 1999 but don't intend to race this year. The miscalculation over the tides was a complete mess. It looked odd to me but I thought they must know their local area. The 2006 race organiser should resign.
 
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You can't really blame the organisers if the winds are light

[/ QUOTE ]True, but you can blame the organisers if the start times are too late with relation to the tide, such that if there are light winds over half the fleet has to retire - including 100% of the group you would normally be in. Not to mention they held the last start back for a ship, having previously agreed they wouldnt do so.
 
The last start - the slowest boats in the ISC fleet - were left with about 45mins of tide to get to Hurst Narrows. In anything but absolutely ideal conditions, that was NEVER going to happen for the majority of that fleet. Money down the drain apart from having a quick chat with ShyTalk as we drifted back the way we'd just come!
 
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You can't really blame the organisers if the winds are light

[/ QUOTE ]True, but you can blame the organisers if the start times are too late with relation to the tide, such that if there are light winds over half the fleet has to retire - including 100% of the group you would normally be in. Not to mention they held the last start back for a ship, having previously agreed they wouldnt do so.

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Was it later than it usually has been? Last year was certainly exceptional in having very light winds.

The organisers are somewhat hampered in that there are only a couple of possible dates for the race so they have to make the best of it. I wasn't aware that they had held the last start back - but again that can't really be blamed on the organisers.
 
The issue was that they stuck to the same timetable even though they knew the tide would turn earlier.

Also the confusion to do with the ship was acknowledged by ISC and ABP as a drop off - there was much dialogue on the forum at the time.

Basically the organisers acknowledged issues with the timing at the time, and agreed to do better next time.
 
Clearly a good year for me to miss then!

I'm not sure whether I like the earlier start though - it may well discourage some entrants
 
Lea Bennett is still the secretary and Peter Dickson (ISC Commodore) writes in the lastest magazine: "....This is the first year that we had a competitors' forum on the website and a small number of competitors took the opportunity of expressing their feelings about the race in a rather unpleasant way, which was subsequently echoed in the yachting press. Though the ISC can raise it's hand with respect to the tidal situation, as the first start could have been before 0600hrs, the lack of wind and the postponment were totally outside our control. In reality the majority of the competitors who did not get round took a more sporting attitude and enjoyed the festival atmosphere and a lovely day on the water...."
 
Unpleasant way? Have thay got thier heads up thier A***S?
The real issue last year was the slow rate of starts in the early classes. I don't recall the exact figures but very few boats started in the first few classes, but each class took up a slot. The reason for not starting earlier was given as that "corporate guests don't want to get out of bed at 4 am!
One feels that the organisers have lost touch with this event as a family race and are overawed by the big names. Personnally, I don't give a toss what EMcC and the rest are doing and I don't suppose most of the fleet do either.
 
Hi Ian

Amazingly, one boat from your fleet did get round before the end of the race. I was second to last start (8am) and made it past Hurst. I was doing one knot over the ground, four miles to the Needles and four hours to the tide changing. I would have made it round the Needles just in time for the foul tide to start on the south of IoW! So we anchored up inside Keyhaven and had lunch instead. Like you say, a waste of money.
 
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....RTIR _ Run by Idiots?....
....Bunch of p**ts....
....Have thay got thier heads up thier A***S?....
....Personnally, I don't give a toss....

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Those are probably examples of unpleasant - do you think that perhaps you are the one taking it a bit seriously and forgetting that it is only "a family race".

Personally, I can't see the attraction of sailing round the IW on the same day as a couple of thousand other boats. I'll choose one of the other 364 dates available if I get a desire to do it.
 
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