This years round the island race, Who's doing it? & any special tips?

[flaming]

At the start I would also keep your engine running but not engaged just in case.

I've never liked that advice. It encourages the view that your boat is magically more manouverable with the engine on than without, which it isn't - not in the context of a start line anyway - and offers a false sense of security. It can also drown out the hails of other boats and possibly even your own crew.

If someone is about to hit me I'd far rather they used their wheel than their throttle...

 

[Resolution]

As ever, Flaming's advice is spot on.
We are entered again in Resolution (dark blue hull, 42 foot Sabre), all another year older but looking forward as much as ever.
A couple of suggestions:
It is a long race requiring concentration most of the time. Avoid getting too tired. We swop helm and trimming roles around every couple of hours. This keeps everyone's interest levels up.
Know your tides and where you should be.
Have some decent food to eat half way round (depending on where the kite is up and if any hands are free). The energy boost from Aunt Jemima's sticky fruit cake is great!!
Really work the last leg from Bembridge, usually a beat with lots of tacking. Think hard to work out your best tacking lines through the traffic.
We run a competition to see who can best guess our finishing time. Each person's bet is writtten down before we start, skipper making the first bet which has to be an optimistic one. Winner collects the ISC tankard (or whatever giveaway the ISC make), and it really helps to keep enthusiasm during the last leg.
Then pile into Cowes and have a celebratory beer!

 

[Juniperskip]

At the start I would also keep your engine running but not engaged just in case.

Think the rules specify engine off at the 5 min gun????

 

[flaming]

Think the rules specify engine off at the 5 min gun????

"out of gear" technically.

It is permissable to run the engine during racing to charge the batteries, but I don't advocate "having it ready" for collision avoidance. Mainly because I don't think it is especially useful for that.

 

[Pinnacle]

Think the rules specify engine off at the 5 min gun????

IIRC from your preparatory signal on you are racing. That means you cant use your engine for propulsion.

There is no reason why you cannot have your engine running at any time during the race ( in neutral, of course ).

Edit.....must type faster in future....

 

[Pinnacle]

We have entered - umpteenth time for me spanning over 30 yrs.

We don't take it too seriously, but we do strive to get as much clear air as possible ( not always possible, I appreciate! ). This year we will try not to pull the clew out of the genoa!!

 

[farmerdan79]

Thanks for all your advice! esp Flaming for the handheld GPS tip!

 

[st599]

IIRC from your preparatory signal on you are racing. That means you cant use your engine for propulsion.

No it doesn't. The RRS and the Sailing Instructions do allow engine use in specific circumstances.

I see his year that they are actually enforcing the exclusion zone and will have an ARO down there protesting transgressors.

 

[flaming]

No it doesn't. The RRS and the Sailing Instructions do allow engine use in specific circumstances.

Yes, but... Firstly the big distinction is between having the engine running (fine) and putting it in gear (not fine).
And as regards putting it in gear....

You're allowed to use an engine to get out of the way of commercial traffic in an exclusion zone / TSS / narrow channel / if it's not keeping clear of you / any other safety requirement... where you cannot do so under sail.

BUT... You have to report this use to the committee at the finish, and they may choose to apply a penalty.

So, if you were becalmed and not moving, and used the engine to get out of the way and moved no closer to the finish = no penalty.

If however you were not becalmed, just didn't really look around and need to react quicker than you can under sail = penalty and possible DSQ.

 

[ianat182]

If you are less experienced in the close racing tactics you'll have to be alert both at the start and from the Bembridge Ledge buoy inshore across the Ryde Sands where these are the turning point,and is often the beginning of the flood tide through the Solent; so many of the participants stay in very close to the Island shore after No Mans Land Fort, consequently there is a great deal of tacking with 100-200 yachts there and in the wind shadow of the Island further along, toward Wootton and Osborne Bay.
In past years we have done better to leave the Fort to port, or very close to, and aim for the Stokes Bay mainland shore which saves time and distance, we think, with usually no more than 3 -4 long tacks until approaching the finish line for your class;( Merchant traffic and ferries permitting of course),then heading for the Island and finish line
For us this has been the hardest part of the whole race taking 20 minutes for a distance inshore here of about 400yards close to the Shrape mud flats inner finish line-and those minutes/seconds can cost you a few places in the results for your Class or Division.
Do make a note of your finish times to the second and I believe this can be texted to the committee boat shortly after finishing. Make a note of the boats' name and Sail No. that finishes in front of you and the next one behind of any class flag. This information will be required to confirm placing, but is also an indicator as to your /their performance, later when perusing results.
Enjoy the day!

ianat182

 

[st599]

Yes, but... Firstly the big distinction is between having the engine running (fine) and putting it in gear (not fine).
And as regards putting it in gear....

You're allowed to use an engine to get out of the way of commercial traffic in an exclusion zone / TSS / narrow channel / if it's not keeping clear of you / any other safety requirement... where you cannot do so under sail.

BUT... You have to report this use to the committee at the finish, and they may choose to apply a penalty.

So, if you were becalmed and not moving, and used the engine to get out of the way and moved no closer to the finish = no penalty.

If however you were not becalmed, just didn't really look around and need to react quicker than you can under sail = penalty and possible DSQ.

Not sure about your last point, it would be a ballsy RO who DSQ'd someone for staying safe

Especially with the new RYA prescriptions and their advice to clubs to change fundamental rule 4 (as it would be problematic in court).

 

[flaming]

Not sure about your last point, it would be a ballsy RO who DSQ'd someone for staying safe

Especially with the new RYA prescriptions and their advice to clubs to change fundamental rule 4 (as it would be problematic in court).

4 DECISION TO RACE
The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to
continue racing is hers alone.

What has that to do with using the engine, the point is that the ability to use the engine to get out of the way is only supposed to apply when you're not moving!

Although I didn't know the RYA considered that problematic in court, that's very dissapointing in my view. We already have a situation where boats that are not setup to race in 25kts + are putting pressure on race committees to cancel racing in strong winds - to the dissapointment of those who are, resulting in the general errosion of high wind skill levels.

 

[Juniperskip]

"out of gear" technically.

It is permissable to run the engine during racing to charge the batteries, but I don't advocate "having it ready" for collision avoidance. Mainly because I don't think it is especially useful for that.

I don't disagree with the "not for collision avoidance" view but was amused to read our SI's for saturday;

"1.5 With the exception of 1.3 above the running of engines for any purpose including battery charging
is prohibited after the preparatory signal."

Guess that why it's always hard to provide hard and fast "guidance" to newcomers!!!!

 

[Topcat47]

Cowes Week and the RTI are times when I reckon staying out of the Solent is the cleaver move.

 

[st599]

4 DECISION TO RACE
The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to
continue racing is hers alone.

What has that to do with using the engine, the point is that the ability to use the engine to get out of the way is only supposed to apply when you're not moving!

Although I didn't know the RYA considered that problematic in court, that's very dissapointing in my view. We already have a situation where boats that are not setup to race in 25kts + are putting pressure on race committees to cancel racing in strong winds - to the dissapointment of those who are, resulting in the general errosion of high wind skill levels.

They now allow that to be changed so the RO can throw you off the water.

The new prescriptions state that MOB rescue doesn't need to be undertaken by the yacht off which he fell and is not a reason to stop racing. But they're very hot on not penalising something for doing something, like using an engine, to ensure safety.

 

[Cutter]

Close tacking or crossing to mainland?

Have always thought the close tacking from No Mans Fort to finish with loads of boats round you can be counterproductive. Last year crossed swords several times with a fellow J-109 and so stayed out and concentrated on sailing well. Was ahead of the tacker at finish and still feel if tide not too strong sailing well will compensate poor tacks or getting stuffed by a port/starboard.