Re: [Cal_Boats] East Coast Report (Chris)
Chris -
I was just talking to the new commodore of our club in which we have 2
fleets that race in different locations. The small boat fleet, which is
primarily Tanzer 22's with very close competitive racing, had a race last year
where 3 boats bailed out of a race because they saw lightning off in the
distance. The committee boat never saw it and everyone else finished the
race. Well because of that, that fleet voted on a new rule that if 50% of the
boats drop out, there is no race. Later it was discovered that all 3 boats
were flying new headsails that day and none of them fit right so now
everyone is wondering if that was the real reason. Anyway, the new commodore is
going to suggest they follow the US Sailing rules that state only the race
committee or the race manager (I think that is the word) can call a race
and that any skipper can decide to quit at any time but it does not affect
the race per se.
Re: testosterone my wife apparently has more than I do, because she wanted
to continue a race once where lightning was rolling in and we could see a
line of white (wind and rain on the water) approaching us down the river.
Fortunately, I am the captain and everyone listens to me and we got tied up
at the dock literally 30 seconds before a huge storm hit. Had I screwed up
the approach to the dock the first time it would have been ugly! The
aforementioned commodore was on our boat that day and remembers it well as he
was very nervous flaking the main and standing near the lightning rod LOL.
Paul
In a message dated 2/13/2012 3:18:42 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
cc… [at] lsnm.org writes:
On 2/13/2012 12:10 PM, Randy Alcorn wrote:
Chris,
I must defend a clubs decision to race in adverse conditions. Every
skipper must sign an entry form acknowledging his vessel and crew are able to
compete. The skipper goes out and he accepts the responsibilty of boat and
crew.
By being a racer and competing in heavy weather, I now know my boats upper
limits and confident on what it can and can't do.
My comments were based on the location and temperatures in question.
Charlie had said that wind and temps were in the mid-20s. That's cold. Wind
is one thing; wind plus severe temps is another. We were doing a
schooner-crew training the other night and one trainer did a hand-out on hypothermia
survival times at various water temperatures. We were talking about summer
conditions here. It's much worse with winter conditions. Trying to
retrieve a MOB (or COB) in Charlie's conditions would be very challenging.
My own view is that sometimes it's worth exercising a bit of discretion
when it's a choice between fun and danger. We guys sometimes get a bit of
testosterone poisoning and think that our manhood will be shaken if we worry
about safety. There were two deaths on one boat in the Chicago-Mac race
last summer. The sailors had lots of experience and they had signed all the
waivers but it turns out the boat wasn't suited for offshore work because
of its range of stability among other things.
I do lots of things that rational people tut-tut over, so I'm not immune
to risks. I sail the iceboat and paddled the sea kayak on the Great Lakes
for 137 consecutive months. I've grasped the iron wheel on the schooner
when the lightning flash and boom were simultaneous (not that I had much
choice). Rational people stay home and watch TV, I suppose.
But there are times when it really is best to say "hey, guys, let's not go
out today." I recall going sailing on my other boat with my Dad one day.
We powered down the river and were entering the Bay and it was blowing up
a bit. Dad said "this is too much like work, let's call it a day."
Sometimes that's the right decision.
Chris Campbell
If I were sitting at the bar and looking out the window and worried about
being out there, I would tend to sit at the bar and look out the window
more than go out and sail.
I have had some really beautiful days on the water that were more than I
was comfortable with before I left the harbor. But, I have prepared my boat
and crew for the stronger winds and conditions.
Lat weekend we sailed in PBYCs first of the spring series. We had 18-20
knots with gusts to 25. With a #2 for the reach and a #3 for the weather leg,
we did very well. The only time we gave up course was on the downwind leg,
we chose not to fly a spinnaker in 9ft seas and left the #3 up and poled
it out. We surfed 8.9 and 9.1 to the finish.
Best
Randy
CAL 2-29
Out Patient
Channel Islands Ca
From: Chris Campbell _<cc… [at] lsnm.org>_ (mailto:cc… [at] lsnm.org)
To: _C… [at] yahoogroups.com_ (mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com)
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2012 6:21 AM
Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] East Coast Report
On 2/12/2012 4:11 PM, Husar, Charlie [USA] (ASE) wrote:
Hi, All. With both the winds (gusts much higher) and the temps in the mid
20s, our Frostbite races were cancelled today. It was good hanging out in
the warm bar socializing with the competition. News people kept using the
word "gale". Added problem is that an NW breeze is accelerated down the
Severn River (high bluffs on the shores create a funnel). The wind in the river
can be 5+ knots higher. Not to mention a very short high chop that develops.
One could readily sail in these conditions (and it is good to practice
this so one can do it when needed),
My theory on such matters is that we have enough involuntary opportunities
to practice in such conditions, so why take unnecessary risks voluntarily?
Sometimes we choose to go out in rough conditions just for the hell of it,
and that's OK. But holding an organized event tends to coerce the
less-willing folks to go out, and that's not so OK.
Chris Campbell