Re: SoCal Racing Deaths

>... The story is not told yet, but I start to wonder about radars, lighting, and awareness. To that list, I would add AIS. I'd rather have radar, but if I didn't (or even if I did), I'm pretty sure I'd have AIS if I were racing at night in shipping lanes - even on the Chesapeake. It's low-cost and while it doesn't help you be seen (but I don't count on big ships seeing me in any case), it's an excellent way to see the big ones and get plenty of information that can help you avoid them. With good units costing less new than a used cruising sail ($400), I can't see how you justify not including that technology on your boat when racing at night in shipping lanes. Alfred Poor HDTV Almanac 700 East Walnut Street Perkasie, PA 18944 ap… [at] verizon.net 215-453-9312

Not all shipping has functioning AIS Transponders. Nor is there a radar watch at all times. I have sailed the Ensenada race when we had 600+ boats in the 1980's and there would be a sea full of running lights of racers on nearly all points of sail. You simply have to keep a sharp lookout. I sailed Synnove III 8US8 with Chuck and Brad Avery. SynnoveIII did not have an engine. One delivery back to San Diego took 60h to go 60miles. Many, many times at nite we crash tacked to avoid a returning racer with the engine turned way up and nobody in the cockpit---the autopilot was steering. My Best, Mike Farrell From: Alfred Poor <ap… [at] verizon.net> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 6:33 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: SoCal Racing Deaths >...The story is not told yet, but I start to wonder about radars, lighting, and awareness. To that list, I would add AIS. I’d rather have radar, but if I didn’t (or even if I did), I’m pretty sure I’d have AIS if I were racing at night in shipping lanes – even on the Chesapeake. It’s low-cost and while it doesn’t help you be seen (but I don’t count on big ships seeing me in any case), it’s an excellent way to see the big ones and get plenty of information that can help you avoid them. With good units costing less new than a used cruising sail ($400), I can’t see how you justify not including that technology on your boat when racing at night in shipping lanes. Alfred Poor HDTV Almanac 700 East Walnut Street Perkasie, PA 18944 ap… [at] verizon.net 215-453-9312