Race Management: Race Marks

Print Page | Close Window

Race Marks

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Race Management
Forum Discription: For race officers and competiors to discuss the topic
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6061
Printed Date: 28 Jun 25 at 8:12pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Race Marks

Posted By: mnorman
Subject: Race Marks
Date 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.

Replies:

Posted By: Stuart O
Date 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.

Posted By: JimC
Date 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.

Posted By: Garry
Date 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

Posted By: Buzz
Date 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.