Why is racing cancelled at Cowes?

[Ohlin Karcher]

Unless I have misunderstood, the scheduled yacht races at Cowes today have been cancelled.

Why is that, surely the conditions would be the same for all competitors, and individual boats would be free to decline racing?
Is the decision taken by some large organisation, which is desperate to avoid bad publicity or even being sued?
Has health and safety come to dominate what I thought was an exciting, adventurous sport, with potential dangers?
To an outsider from the racing scene it seems rather odd and a big let-down.

(I know what happened in 1979 ( my present yacht was out that night) but it's the Solent not the Atlantic.)

Do the experienced racers on here think that a sensible decision, by wiser heads than mine obviously, has avoided mass carnage?
Or is it another example of the pathologically risk-averse, lawsuit-driven nanny state spoiling everyone's fun?

 

[awol]

Wimps!

Racing cancelled at Cowes in what seems to be perfect CO32 weather. An opportunity to give sail and spar makers an economic boost gone begging!

And on another topic, imagine my horror when pictures of the future queen of Brexitland appeared in the Metro with a lifejacket on but the crotch (if it is not treasonable to refer to her lady parts as such) straps hanging loose. I suppose she's done her job with an heir and a spare so is dispensable.

 

[flaming]

It’s the only sensible decision. We’re now just coming up to start time and Bramblemet is showing 35 gusting 40.

Anyone who is genuinely claiming that racing big fleets in that much breeze should go ahead is completely crackers. You can talk about offshore in that much breeze, but being in close quarters with other boats...

And we probably shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that they did race in 35+ last year. And somebody died.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Hmmm... let’s have a think.

Multiple classes needing different courses set. It’s currently gusting 40 knots at Bramble so that’s more or less survival conditions for the smaller classes.

Are you still asking?

 

[flaming]

Just to add...

The red jet has been stopped. And you’re suggesting we should go racing...?

Bonkers.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

40 knots in a relatively confined space and shallow waters can be very interesting and very dodgy.

 

[Bobc]

I suspect the OP has never raced in The Solent and has no idea how dangerous it would be.

I can see the BBC headlines if it were to go ahead:-

" People dead, yachts sunk, and millions of pounds worth of damage at Cowes week". What a great advert for the event.

 

[dunedin]

Re: Wimps!

HE

Racing cancelled at Cowes in what seems to be perfect CO32 weather. An opportunity to give sail and spar makers an economic boost gone begging!

And on another topic, imagine my horror when pictures of the future queen of Brexitland appeared in the Metro with a lifejacket on but the crotch (if it is not treasonable to refer to her lady parts as such) straps hanging loose. I suppose she's done her job with an heir and a spare so is dispensable.

Your rooms are being prepared at the Tower for your next visit to London

 

[dunedin]

It’s the only sensible decision. We’re now just coming up to start time and Bramblemet is showing 35 gusting 40.

Anyone who is genuinely claiming that racing big fleets in that much breeze should go ahead is completely crackers. You can talk about offshore in that much breeze, but being in close quarters with other boats...

And we probably shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that they did race in 35+ last year. And somebody died.

Absolutely. And the degree of training, preparation and range of crew experience very different for Cowes regatta week compared to the likes of a Fastnet Race fleet.
The Race committee pretty experienced and on the ground, so suspect know better than others at home elsewhere.

 

[TSB240]

Racing In the Menai Regattas was cancelled yesterday and today. We decided to relocate from Caernarfon to our home marina a few miles down wind yesterday afternoon just as the winds started to build. We were going one way with the tide in perfect flat water. Never saw less than 9 knots SOG with a deep reefed jib only. The gusts were rig killers. We recorded a couple @ 40 knots. Two hours later the Strait was horrible with big standing waves after the tide turned. Racing in those conditions is only going to result in damage or injury and has no part in a family orientated event with many small elderly classic yachts and owners taking part.
In contrast Thursday was a great blue sky event with a 20 knot steady breeze. This was followed by a great evening helping at the local club to sample their range of local real ales. I believe a new club record was set of 72 pints being pulled in just two hours. I have never seen our steward sweat before!

 

[Daedelus]

I believe a new club record was set of 72 pints being pulled in just two hours.

I'm sorry. I'm not impressed. My local wine appreciation group at it's annual lunch knocked off 26 bottles (of wine) with only 26 in attendance - and some of those had only come to drive people home and so weren't drinking.

 

[ShinyShoe]

Not to mention it needs to be safe for the race committee, any mark laying boats, safety boats, jury boats etc.

I completely understand the "it's the competitors decision to race arguement" but that's for when it's 20kts etc. Once it becomes a competition of who's mast will stay up the longest it's not really a race.

As a race officer you have a responsibility to your fleet(s) and committee etc. If you say "I'm going to put the race on, you decide if you are man enough to take part" you are saying "I believe this is raceable". Raceable does not mean one boat wins because it's the only one brave / daft enough to have limped round on a handkerchief without loosing a mast.

It's also likely that if the race ended in carnage the PRO will have to abandon the race to allow the carnage to be dealt with. (Just like a Formula 1 race being red flagged). But the risks don't stop the second he flies the N over H flag. Those boats still need to get ashore, including the race committee. No formula 1 race director would start a race expecting to red flag it, not should a PRO be expecting to N flag a race.

Far better to be ashore wishing to be out on the sea than the reverse.

 

[oldharry]

Why has it been cancelled?



They reckon a crewman in the bows was 6 m below water when the pic was taken.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

I suspect the OP was just a troll ... nobody could be that ignorant or pompous! Hahaha! Good one mate ... very amusing! And yes, I spent many seasons racing in the Solent, mostly one tonners. I notice he hasn't commented since!

 

[awol]

Why has it been cancelled?

View attachment 79597

They reckon a crewman in the bows was 6 m below water when the pic was taken.

That's what you get for having weight on the bow!

 

[PhillM]

Not to mention it needs to be safe for the race committee, any mark laying boats, safety boats, jury boats etc.

I completely understand the "it's the competitors decision to race arguement" but that's for when it's 20kts etc. Once it becomes a competition of who's mast will stay up the longest it's not really a race.

As a race officer you have a responsibility to your fleet(s) and committee etc. If you say "I'm going to put the race on, you decide if you are man enough to take part" you are saying "I believe this is raceable". Raceable does not mean one boat wins because it's the only one brave / daft enough to have limped round on a handkerchief without loosing a mast.

It's also likely that if the race ended in carnage the PRO will have to abandon the race to allow the carnage to be dealt with. (Just like a Formula 1 race being red flagged). But the risks don't stop the second he flies the N over H flag. Those boats still need to get ashore, including the race committee. No formula 1 race director would start a race expecting to red flag it, not should a PRO be expecting to N flag a race.

Far better to be ashore wishing to be out on the sea than the reverse.

+ 1 . A race officer has responsibility for the safety of their team. Speaking as a mark layer, I would not want to be out in a rib trying to set and haul anchored marks. They are also responsible for "safe and fair racing". Today you could not achieve either. Good call from the Cowes Team, me thinks.

 

[Ohlin Karcher]

Not to mention it needs to be safe for the race committee, any mark laying boats, safety boats, jury boats etc.

I completely understand the "it's the competitors decision to race arguement" but that's for when it's 20kts etc. Once it becomes a competition of who's mast will stay up the longest it's not really a race.

As a race officer you have a responsibility to your fleet(s) and committee etc. If you say "I'm going to put the race on, you decide if you are man enough to take part" you are saying "I believe this is raceable". Raceable does not mean one boat wins because it's the only one brave / daft enough to have limped round on a handkerchief without loosing a mast.

It's also likely that if the race ended in carnage the PRO will have to abandon the race to allow the carnage to be dealt with. (Just like a Formula 1 race being red flagged). But the risks don't stop the second he flies the N over H flag. Those boats still need to get ashore, including the race committee. No formula 1 race director would start a race expecting to red flag it, not should a PRO be expecting to N flag a race.

Far better to be ashore wishing to be out on the sea than the reverse.

Thanks ShinyShoe, for explaining all those considerations, a very educational post, to me at least!

 

[Ohlin Karcher]

I suspect the OP was just a troll ... nobody could be that ignorant or pompous! Hahaha! Good one mate ... very amusing! And yes, I spent many seasons racing in the Solent, mostly one tonners. I notice he hasn't commented since!

I assure you it was a genuine enquiry..I really can be that ignorant about some aspects of sailing! Not intended as a troll but the wording re health'n'safety etc could be taken as provocative I suppose

 

[Daydream believer]

Why has it been cancelled?

View attachment 79597

They reckon a crewman in the bows was 6 m below water when the pic was taken.

I thought that Silk was only 40 ft long. If that was the case then the mast would be 6 m from the bow and at 45 degrees the bowman would have only been about 4m under and then only if he was right at the point.
still makes a good story at the bar though
the owner put the blame on the failure of the spinnaker to shred in the gust which he thought it should have done rather than drive the boat under
good bit of helming to keep it nice and straight as it went down . Pity it flopped sideways after, rather than pop up straight again

 

[Seajet]

Why has it been cancelled?

View attachment 79597

They reckon a crewman in the bows was 6 m below water when the pic was taken.

I hope that taught him to go on a diet