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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

What's the best way to cross a race course?

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matsche
Captain

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USA
280 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/07/2005 : 10:27:59

Was out this weekend in some beautiful weather. There were about 100 other sailboats out having a big race. The course was set up in such a way that it blocked my access to the larger part of the lake. As it was, I needed to stay close to home so it wasn't a problem. But, I was wondering, if I DID want to get to the other side...

For you race fans, my question is, what is the best way to cut through a race course with minimal impact on the racers? Should I just try to cut through the middle? There were a lot of boats and the wind was such that I would have been on a port tack (constantly yielding the right of way). Would it be better to temporarily "join" the race and sail with them until I got to the other side?

It's a public lake and I should be able to go where I want, but I'd also like to be considerate of the racers. I might want to be one some day!

John Matsche
PO of 1985 Catalina 25 TR/FK #5171
CO of 1990 Capri 26 WK #97

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5937 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2005 : 10:56:37

As you said, it's a public lake, and you have a right to go anywhere you wish, but, as in all things, the racers will appreciate your consideration. In short, cross as you wish, but try to do it in a way that will have the least effect on any individual racer. If that can best be done by sailing directly across their course, then do it that way. If it can best be done by sailing along with them, in the same direction, then that's fine. Usually it's probably best to cross their course, rather than sailing along with them, because, when you cross their course, you will occasionally put some of them in your wind shadow, but only briefly. When you sail along with them, there is a greater chance that you will put one of them in your wind shadow for a longer period of time. If you're on a collision course with a racer, it would be considerate of you to yield to him, even if you have the right-of-way. If you force him to tack, it could cost him many seconds of time, and it could make the difference between winning and losing, after the handicaps are worked out. If you have the right-of-way, but are going to yield to him, hail him and tell him to hold his course. Let him know you're going to yield to him. Otherwise, he'll see that you have the right-of-way, and he'll tack out of your way.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 09/07/2005 11:01:51

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2005 : 11:52:48

Like Steve mentioned, its a free lake so you can go anywhere. I would recommend that you motor through the course and set sail when you’re out of the middle.

Even though you might have the right of way, wave those on Port Tack through. For them altering course a few degrees for you to pass could cost them minutes in the long run.

While under-sail give everyone plenty of room; if your cutting across the race course with a spinnaker, racers may prefer you cross ahead of them, as opposed to them passing ahead of you. Many are wise enough to know who is and isn’t racing, so look for direction from them. They may wave you across much in the same way a driver will wave another car through an intersection with 4 stop signs. Also, don’t unintentionally lee-bow anybody while trying to keep out of the way of others.

Lastly, avoid the layline and the leeward mark (any marks for that matter– pins, buoys, boats etc)

dw

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2005 : 14:16:11

John, I had the same experience as you; a sailboat race taking pretty much the whole width of the reservoir. What I did, which I don't necessarily recommend, was try to go around. The marks were so close to the shore that I had to cut really close to the mark (maybe thirty feet). As it turned out I ran aground anyway! Fortunately the bottom was soft mud, and it was when I had my swing keel, so I was able to crank it up a few turns and be on my way.

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takokichi
Captain

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USA
321 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2005 : 19:08:21

I find the best way to cross a race course is with a port-tack, pin end start and a huge left shift. Ideally, you lay the mark at that point. Follow that up with a good run. Repeat as necessary...

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2005 : 07:46:24

Justin -

You keep on trying that. I'll get you one out of every 10 times when your left shift never comes.

dw

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takokichi
Captain

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USA
321 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2005 : 08:34:27

True, but man, when it does come...

When you're sailing the slow boat in the fleet, you learn to take the flyers.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2005 : 08:36:27

I race, (poorly) and I work regattas (most often on the marks/rescue boat), we have a responsibility to set up a course which meets the needs of the racers and does not interfere with the lake traffic around our yacht club. If a regatta committee is setting up a course which blocks access to an area then that regatta committee needs to rethink their priorities and you should have no qualms about sailing through the course in any manner that you like. If the course reflects an effort to consider the traffic patterns of the waterway then you should show as much courtesy as you can in crossing the course. As most people have mentioned, the best course is a direct one. Sailboat racing anticipates the existence of obstructions on a course and some of those are other sailors. During our 05 nationals we had several coastguard auxiliary volunteers on wetbikes that spent their time intercepting lake traffic and diverting it from our course area. They did this by screaming at them while closing on them at full speed. I did not request their aid and had no idea they were going to show up. They surprised me by being at the skipper’s meeting and when I asked them if they would like to say anything they said they would try to keep our course clear. It sounded like a nice offer until I observed how aggressively it was done. My point is that racing is an activity that people can choose to either “respect” or ignore; it is not the prerogative of the racers to impose sanctions on other sailors just so they can play.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 09/08/2005 08:44:21

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.