Waiting for the stragglers?

   Surely it depends on circumstances.

As a club we are trying to be friendly and encourage people to race. After all we are ment to be doing this for fun. I wouldn't postpone for 1 or two boats but often for various reasons most of the fleet can be running late.

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A Seabadger Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 11 Oct 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 222	Post Options Post Reply Quote A Seabadger Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Waiting for the stragglers? Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 9:09am
	Surely it depends on circumstances. As a club we are trying to be friendly and encourage people to race. After all we are ment to be doing this for fun. I wouldn't postpone for 1 or two boats but often for various reasons most of the fleet can be running late.
	I don't suffer from insanity...I enjoy every moment of it.

jeffers Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3048	Post Options Post Reply Quote jeffers Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 8:11am
	We get this a lot at Hunts. The RO waits to sound the signal until people are on the water. In reality the sailors are generally waiting for the signal to launch (especially when it is windy) as the start line is generally just off the shore. I always try to start on time, as starting the first race late has a big knock on effect on the following races.
	Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74

ASok Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 26 Sep 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 739	Post Options Post Reply Quote ASok Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 8:01am
	I don't think its about getting up early and rigging to win a series. The race times at club level are either fixed permanently for an inland club or published months in advance for a coastal club. You can then plan to be there on time or not. I'd agree that unforseen issues on the beach or really light airs meaning that the majority are struggling, would need to be viewed and a delay might be in order.

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: 06 Jul 10 at 11:43pm
	Depends completely on the circumstances... Unexpected traffic jams on the way to the club - wait. Light airs and ridiculous time to reach the start line - wait and send the safety boat out to give people tows. The job of the Race Officer is to provide good racing for all the competitors: its not to play some kind of schoolmaster yah boo serve you right game... If half of them aren't there then the fun of the race is diminished for the rest anyway. I'd much rather the RO waits 5 minutes and have everyone there rather than have the race/series/whatever compromised because half the competitors are missing. Its supposed to be a sailboat racing competition not a getting-up-early-and-boat-rigging competition. One person, on the other hand, well that's probably just tough.

bert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 23 Apr 05 Location: norwich usually Online Status: Offline Posts: 584	Post Options Post Reply Quote bert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jul 10 at 9:31pm
	Start on time every time - the stragglers will usually learn to read a watch evenually. After all I have been known to be late but I can`t really blame you or the RO for not waiting. can I? No throught not
	Phantom 1181 AC-227 IC 304 blaze / halo 586

ASok Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 26 Sep 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 739	Post Options Post Reply Quote ASok Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jul 10 at 9:16pm
	Agreed - race at the published time. Get organised and leave the slip in plenty of time if it will be busy. I'm not perfect and have been late on many an occasion, but am willing to take it on the chin if I'm late. There is nothing more annoying that sitting out there waiting for others to join the start. If RO's were stricter then people would start to get there on time

ChrisJ Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Far too distracted from work Joined: 07 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 337	Post Options Post Reply Quote ChrisJ Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jul 10 at 6:14pm
	Is this a good race officer or a bad one?? "the race officer did the civilised thing and signalled a short postponement to allow the stragglers to reach the race area before the warning signal". Discuss! Personally, I feel that one a start time is posted you should get there at that time. If you are late, the RO should NOT wait for you (UNLESS all boats are late). If some can get there, then all could get there. There may be local variations to this: for example a queue on the slipway waiting to launch. But in general: waiting for the stragglers mean that those who planned their launching correctly are hanging about getting cold, wet and exhausted while waiting for those that didn't do their planning correctly.