Racing Rules of Sailing?

[kahpho]

We could also debate and understand more about the Racing Rules of Sailing.
http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/RRS2009-2012-%5B5950%5D.pdf

(Thought this could use a new thread, so I moved here. Hope I'm in the right place.)

In my misspent youth, we thought we'd keep things simple so there would be no missunderstandings .

1. No motors (oars and paddles were allowed)
2. No actual boarding of another boat (this one was loosely interpreted as "your feet must remain in your own boat")

Two rules to remember, good fun!

mel

[newt]

Have there been any Compac class racing events held? If not I wonder what our PHRF ratings are?

[Bob23]

I'm assuming that boat hook/ water cannons are allowed? It can be used as a boat hook after all!
Bob23

[brackish]

Have there been any Compac class racing events held? If not I wonder what our PHRF ratings are?

http://offshore.ussailing.org/Assets/Offshore/PHRF/High+Low+Mean+PHRF+Handicaps.pdf

Most, but not all of the boats, are listed.

I'm assuming that boat hook/ water cannons are allowed? It can be used as a boat hook after all!
Bob23

I've raced GORC (crewed) which is fairly serious, lots of owners with big bucks spent, not afraid to risk expensive hardware at the start or at a mark to get an advantage.  I've also raced "theme" races with water cannons, water balloon sling shots, gran prix starts and various other quirky touches.  I prefer the latter.  I think the Sun Cat Nationals may be shaping up to be my kind of race.

[kahpho]

I'm assuming that boat hook/ water cannons are allowed? It can be used as a boat hook after all!
Bob23

Absolutely!! Even encouraged. I will pass along a tip. Keep smaller crew away from the rail in close encounters. We got disqualified when our smallest crewman was snatched by apposing crew causing us to violate rule #2.

We got even on the next race when the wind died. We knew we couldn't row fast enough to overtake the leaders so we headed for shore. By the time they figured out what we were up to, our fastest runner was well on his way up the dike road to the finish line.

It was all in good fun.
mel

[newt]

LOL- my only experience with racing was with J-24's years ago. They were much too serious. I need to look around for the type of racing you guys are doing.

[Tom Ray]

Have there been any Compac class racing events held? If not I wonder what our PHRF ratings are?

http://offshore.ussailing.org/Assets/Offshore/PHRF/High+Low+Mean+PHRF+Handicaps.pdf

Most, but not all of the boats, are listed.

...I think the Sun Cat Nationals may be shaping up to be my kind of race.

As Head Jib Trimmer in Charge of the Sun Cat Nationals, I would like to thank you for your support on behalf of the Sun Cat Class.

I note that the sheet shows our Sun Cats rate 318. I think that number is something Mark Milam made up when he owned a Daysailer, but no matter. ALL Sun Cats will race as a single class at the Sun Cat Nationals, and that includes Don, who is ruining my joke by bringing his jib-equipped Sun Cat. Maybe the Class will vote to make him carry an actual jib trimmer. Daysailer and Sunday Cat versions will race with the Class.

To the topic question, the Racing Rules of Sailing allow sailboats in close quarters to maneuver and predict the movements of other boats by establishing when we can use ordinary right of way rules to press an advantage. The various situations that can arise when starting, finishing, and rounding marks are the subject of endless debates on other forums. Knowing and obeying the RRS does help to accomplish one of the main goals stated in the special sailing instructions for the Sun Cat Nationals:

Do not scratch my boats! Do not scratch each other's boats!

The proper response to an imminent collision at our race will be for both skippers to avoid it, regardless of racing advantage. Obviously, that will not work for serious races, but anyone willing to scratch a boat just to win the Sun Cat National Championship Cup doesn't understand our race.

[brackish]

LOL

As Head Jib Trimmer in Charge of the Sun Cat Nationals, I would like to thank you for your support on behalf of the Sun Cat Class.

You're quite welcome.

I note that the sheet shows our Sun Cats rate 318. I think that number is something Mark Milam made up when he owned a Daysailer, but no matter.

Mark probably paid off the head of the rating committee, or had Tammy and the girls sweet talk him into another 10 or 15 seconds.  But boat for boat is best, eliminates all that rating trickery.

Wish I could be there if only to ride on the committee boat and help judge the debate about who actually had right of way when contact was avoided.  But will be running a marathon that weekend for some reason I can't explain.  I do have some course suggestions though.  I think weather legs are highly overrated. All they accomplish is the spilling of drinks and snacks. I suggest they be eliminated from the course and nice beam to broad reaches be the order of the day.  In fact, a nice single leg, one way starting at one nice restaurant/bar at breakfast and ending at another late afternoon, might just be the perfect course.  Just a thought...

As far as Don is concerned, he should be made to tow a drogue with as many square inches of area as the square footage on his Jib.  The very idea.......

[Tom Ray]

I'm already ahead of you on the sailing to windward part. From the original post that created the Sun Cat Nationals:

Who knows, we might just follow the lead of Joe, our most senior Sun Cat sailor, and just sail across the wind until we run out of harbor, then sail back.

And from the Sun Cat Nationals home page:

We will race around any course that seems easy to me for the conditions at hand, unless senior Sun Cat skipper Joe has an idea that seems even easier.

If you learn your lesson about doing marathons, I'll put you on the committee with Joe in future years.

[Salty19]

Seems to me the most important rule of the race has yet to be mentioned, and it's a darn important one that should not be overlooked!  Article 4, section 15 of the SCN race guideline book clearly states "the looser must provide cold imported beer and 100% agave tequila for all entries and support staff at the conclusion of the race. "  So to be prepared for the event, one needs to be aware of the addiional moveable ballast requirement and properly outfit the Suncat for risk of disqualification.

Hey I didn't make up the rules

[Tom Ray]

I don't know. I heard that tequila causes unexplained scratches in boats.

[Caboose]

A link to a rules quiz:

http://www.ukhalsey.com/RulesQuiz/quiz_list.asp

[curtisv]

I'm assuming that boat hook/ water cannons are allowed? It can be used as a boat hook after all!
Bob23

No rule at all covering cannons?  Might be a problem at a pirates festival.

Curtis