RTIR 12 - Cancelled Classes

   A brave call to cancel the day and sports boat classes - but, in my opinion, the wrong one.  Notwithstanding the weather actually being more than manageable for the reasonably competent (we went round anyway and had a pleasant sail - albeit not as good as it could have been if racing), the safety implications of the very many crew who jumped onto other yachts without any record on the entry crew lists cannot be overstated.  Unwittingly, the cancellation decision had other perilous consequences.  What has anyway happened to the ISC's Corinthian spirit; its founders would be turning in their graves. Similarly, the principle that ultimately the decision on whether to sail, or not, to continue or retire is one best taken by each skipper who knows the limitations of his boat and crew. Paragraph 16 on the NoR says it all and adds that boats should be equipped and prepared for extremes.  25kts with some legacy swell and the odd stronger gust is not extreme. A sad day for our sport.

I first tried to post this message on the ISC RTIR webpage forum - They have failed to allow it past their moderation policy.  Shame on you ISC - first for a poor decision badly executed in respect of the race; secondly for now seemingly seeking to curtail free speech too!

Edited by Keelboat Junkie - 01 Jul 12 at 10:52am

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Keelboat Junkie Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 12 Location: Solent Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote Keelboat Junkie Report Post Quote Reply Topic: RTIR 12 - Cancelled Classes Posted: 01 Jul 12 at 10:49am
	A brave call to cancel the day and sports boat classes - but, in my opinion, the wrong one. Notwithstanding the weather actually being more than manageable for the reasonably competent (we went round anyway and had a pleasant sail - albeit not as good as it could have been if racing), the safety implications of the very many crew who jumped onto other yachts without any record on the entry crew lists cannot be overstated. Unwittingly, the cancellation decision had other perilous consequences. What has anyway happened to the ISC's Corinthian spirit; its founders would be turning in their graves. Similarly, the principle that ultimately the decision on whether to sail, or not, to continue or retire is one best taken by each skipper who knows the limitations of his boat and crew. Paragraph 16 on the NoR says it all and adds that boats should be equipped and prepared for extremes. 25kts with some legacy swell and the odd stronger gust is not extreme. A sad day for our sport. I first tried to post this message on the ISC RTIR webpage forum - They have failed to allow it past their moderation policy. Shame on you ISC - first for a poor decision badly executed in respect of the race; secondly for now seemingly seeking to curtail free speech too! Edited by Keelboat Junkie - 01 Jul 12 at 10:52am

Mister Nick Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 01 Aug 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 389	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mister Nick Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Jul 12 at 1:02pm
	Definitely the wrong decision. How you can refuse to let J80s race and still allow Quarter Tonners, Sonatas etc go out is beyond me. We made the decision not to race on Friday afternoon simply because the forecast looked bad (40 knots plus on some websites) and we didn't want to spend 3 hours in the car only to arrive and feel it was too windy/have our class cancelled. Also, we didn't want to get round the back of the island and have to deal with that much wind - J80's don't have reefing points in the main or carry smaller headsails so it might have been a bit difficult. However, 25 knots would have been a blast, very manageable and good fun. It should have been left at the skippers discretion to decide whether they could handle it. Had the forecasts been more accurate and we had made the journey I would have been absolutely livid when our start was cancelled. I think that the organisers have become way to cautious after last years event. Yes, some people had problems but with 1.5k + boats out in a that much wind then it's just inevitable. Very poor decision, it hardly helps to throw off the stereotype that sailing is a boring sport, does it? >_< Edited by Mister Nick - 03 Jul 12 at 4:05pm

laser193713 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 889	Post Options Post Reply Quote laser193713 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Jul 12 at 3:59pm
	We went round in cool runnings, despite the class being abandoned. Mainly because we wanted to race against the bigger boats and knew we had a good chance of showing up the bigger boats. We started the race on our biggest jib 2 minutes after the class 1 start and decided to change down a jib at hurst. That probably took 5 minutes as we had to stop as it is a jib luff. Off we went again and a 2 sail blast from the needles to st cats at about 15 knots before setting the kite for a 20+ knot blast to bembridge. By that time we were ahead of all the farr 45s and the two sail reach to ryde let us overtake the Ker 40 "Apollo". By the end we had lost a couple of places because of the beat to the finish and ended with a time of 5 hours 56 minutes which gave us 11th on line honours. Not bad for a 25 foot boat!!

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Jul 12 at 7:05pm
	Have you a picture of Cool Runnings, please? Sounds like a fun boat!
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Quagers Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Oct 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 279	Post Options Post Reply Quote Quagers Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Jul 12 at 8:02pm
	I've got to agree with the comments here, we were all a bit surprised when we head it announced while waiting for our start. Hurst and St. Cats to Bembridge were interesting but not unmanageable. Also seemed an odd choice as it was actually the multihulls which caused the most problems last year.

laser193713 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 889	Post Options Post Reply Quote laser193713 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Jul 12 at 8:04pm


Contender443 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 01 Oct 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1211	Post Options Post Reply Quote Contender443 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jul 12 at 7:29am
	I am guessing they made the decision on the type of boats that had problems last year. I would also think the RNLI and Coastguard will have influenced the decision in some way. I don't see what the problem is as events get cancelled all the time and there are always someone who is unhappy.
	Bonnie Lass Contender 1764

Quagers Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Oct 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 279	Post Options Post Reply Quote Quagers Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jul 12 at 9:10am
	Because it was a knee jerk reaction based on a forecast which I think most people sailing out to the start thought was a bit over the top. And indeed we never saw the 30knts I had heard some people panicking about on the dock. Also as I see it the small sports boats are not the ones that caused the biggest problem last year, its unprepared cruisers who only ever do this race each year and the trimarans which caused the most problems in last years very windy race. Its interesting to contrast this with the RORC Eddystone race the weekend before, thee race was started in 38knts and of about 40 entrants only 15 showed up to the line and only 3 managed to finish. But the important thing is that RORC still ran the race and left it up to the skippers, as it should be. In the end this descision was pointless as many went round anyway (and got in our bloody way, which is another rant) but without anyone knowing who went round and who didnt so they were less safe it there was a problem.

Neptune Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jun 09 Location: Berkshire United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1314	Post Options Post Reply Quote Neptune Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jul 12 at 11:19am
	http://www.sailinganarchy.com/fringe/2012/Actual%20RTI12tm_Mdles2444.jpg Looks like it was pretty breezy around the back of the needles!
	Musto Skiff and Solo sailor

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: 6661	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jul 12 at 11:41am
	Inland in Surrey we saw regularly 30knot gusts all day on our club anenometer and 35knot gusts on more than one occasion - certainly one gust that was 35knots for 10 seconds or so about 1pm. After recent events in the US you can imagine organisers being nervous about the RTI fleet. Its so much a once a year event for many competitors, so large a fleet and so on I'm not sure comparisons with RORC races are useful.