Race Marks

   Doing some research as I have volunteered to take on part of the race management role within the club.
Our racing is in a large brick clay quarry with depths of up to 100 feet,  and more importantly in places an extremely uneven bottom. 

Canvassing for ideas of the underwater mechanisms other clubs use to anchor moveable marks,  and take up slack, or allow for adjustment in rope length. 

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mnorman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 21 Aug 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote mnorman Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Race Marks Posted: 21 Oct 09 at 6:33pm
	Doing some research as I have volunteered to take on part of the race management role within the club. Our racing is in a large brick clay quarry with depths of up to 100 feet, and more importantly in places an extremely uneven bottom. Canvassing for ideas of the underwater mechanisms other clubs use to anchor moveable marks, and take up slack, or allow for adjustment in rope length.

Stuart O Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 22 Jul 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 514	Post Options Post Reply Quote Stuart O Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 23 Oct 09 at 9:21am
	We use inflatable marks with a couple of old brake discs under the mark to help keep them vertical, the each mark ahs roughly the same the length of warp on them, with a 1.5m chain and plough anchor. The RIB drivers who lay the marks are expected to shorten the warp as required when laying them, as we are tidal they do leave a bit extra.... At other inland clubs I have sailed at they have used buckets filled with concrete on the marks instead of anchors, but still used a fixed length of warp which is shortened as required.

JimC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6662	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 23 Oct 09 at 10:45am
	We use a short length of chain under the mark to ensure that it goes straight down no matter what, enough length of chain at the bottom end to deal with all variations in depth of water, and a lump of concrete on the end. If you're not going to hang boats off it the concrete probably doesn't need to be very big: half a bucket seems plenty, but its obviously better if its a cubical weight rather than a bucket shaped one that can roll.

Garry Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 18 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 536	Post Options Post Reply Quote Garry Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 23 Oct 09 at 4:43pm
	Get a soft plastic bucket (builders type) 1 m chain stick put small amount of chain in bottom of bucket and then suspend vertically in centre of bucket using stick across top. 1/2 - 3/4 fill with concrete. When dry turn out - you should have a concrete slab with chain embedded through it and the bucket intact to make the next one. Fill 2 pint milk bottle with concrete connect rope to chain, through ring on mark and tie to milk bottle. Rope length should be max water depth + a few feet. The system will self level and milk bottle should keep rope vertical. possible to also add chain but shouldn't be needed. Some stick like marks need a lot of weight to make sure they are upright For something more substantial you can tie a small boat to and will leave fixed in place fill a car tyre with conrete with chain (do it on a plastic sheet or board, again embed the chain so you can attach rope. Careful when you lift it, esp if using a large tyre. Garry
	Garry Lark 2252, Contender 298 www.cuckoos.eclipse.co.uk

Buzz Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 14 Jun 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 101	Post Options Post Reply Quote Buzz Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Oct 09 at 10:00am
	We use a variety of marks, small and large spherical plastic bouys and pyramidal inflatable marks. The easiest to handle are the pyramidal ones made by crewsaver. They are about 1 - 1.5m high and highly visible. We anchor them with 2kg Bruce anchors. The line connects directly to a stainless ring underneath the mark. They don't need weights as they sit correctly in the water anyway. We use about 2 -3 m of chain between the end of the line and the anchor to help the anchor lay correctly and bite. The pins in the shackles are all tie wrapped in. The line is made up of 20 m lengths with stainless Karabiners each with a threaded locking screw at each end. Depending on the depth you connect the required number of 20m lengths together and then fine tund by adjusting one length by coiling it up and wrapping a number of turns around the coil with a bight taken through the coil and over the top and pulled taut. We sail on the sea and with the correct amount of line they don't drag.