It was blowing a bit on Saturday (15 kn with gusts to 18kn at the South Channel) and it wasn’t that warm but we still had 16 boats on the water with most racing. Division 1 had visitor Ron Fergusson’s Aero 7, Radials sailed by John W, Dave Kershaw, Peter E and Peter C while Manfred sailed a full rig. Division 2 had Sabres sailed by visitor Bec Bonling (a friend of Lucy) James D, Tony, Lucy, Billy, your scribe and James Dixon on his father’s newer Sabre. Geoff sailed the Sabre with the big sail. Steve Copland was visiting from Adelaide and sailed his Impulse and Callum sailed the 4.7 Laser.

There was a sameness in both races in Division 1 with Ron ahead of Manfred, ahead of John W, ahead of Peter C, ahead of Peter E, ahead of Dave. Ron ran away winning by 3 minutes (race 1) and one and a half (race 2). Manfred followed in both races 1 minute and then half a minute up on John W. Peter C was close behind (13 seconds and 1 minute) and Peter E trailed him by three minutes in race 1 with Dave K a minute further back. Dave retired for race 2 as did Peter E who broke something.

Callum should have nailed both races in division 2 winning the first by two minutes but unfortunately missing a mark in race 2. In race 1 Tony led Lucy into second place by about half a minute with Billy trailing Lucy by 20 seconds. Your scribe was next in trailing Billy by 26 seconds with Steve C a minute further back. James Dixon (he tells me that the Sabre might be better rigged) trailed by three and a half minutes or so, but he did stop to check Geoff who had tipped the Shark which along with Bec did not finish. James D wisely decided it was not his day. In race 2 Callum did not finish and Lucy was able to turn the tables on Tony leading by 24 seconds. Billy was a couple of minutes further back and a minute up on Steve C and your scribe after getting away on the dash to the finish. In the closest finish of the day Steve C was about 10 inches (say a link) ahead of the writer whose wife has been booked in for eye tests.

Thanks to John Price as Race Officer to Peter Viney on Ozone and to Glen on the crash boat and who also gets the boats ready for L2S. Thanks to Anne who kept watch and times from the tower and to Julie for all her work.

Those with long memories will recall the scribe’s wonderings a few weeks ago along the lines of: if since 2021, to hit the start or finish line, you look at whether the hull of the boat has hit the line therefore did this philosophy also apply to hitting a mark and if the sailor, his or herself, hit the mark, this was not the boat so OK. Case 77’s head note says “Contact with a mark by a boat’s equipment constitutes touching it.” There is no mention of the crew being equipment. This is a foolish error by the scribe as he should have gone to the actual case which says “A boat touches a mark within the meaning of rule 31 when any part of her hull, crew or equipment comes in contact with the mark.” (Actually it was a misfunctioning spinnaker guy trailing 9 metres astern which hit the mark in this case).

Which leads to another rule thing. An anonymous sailor asks “Is it OK to come into the windward mark on port and tack within the zone?” To which the Ed replies, and these are solely his thoughts with absolutely no authority, “Yes Virginia, you can charge in on port and tack in the zone and upset all those innocent starboard tackers who are fetching the mark; but you had better get it right. This is rule 18.3 which does not quite prohibit this action but does say that if any of the starboard tackers have to sail above close hauled to avoid you, then you are in breach and will have to exonerate yourself or face a protest committee demanding your right hand cut off at the wrist in recompense. And Virginia, your argument that you tack and have then gained an inside overlap will probably fail as overlap rights are governed by rule 18.2 and rule 18.3 says “When this rule applies … rule 18.2 does not apply …” And while you probably have no overlap rights 18.3 does allow the innocent starboard tacker to dip down and establish an inside overlap against you and to then politely ask you for mark room (I can’t wait to try this). All in all I don’t think you have many rights as even if you demanded room as leeward boat, that would be self inflicted evidence that you are in breach of 18.3.

Coming up:

Saturday 30 March 2024
Junior L2S commences 0900-1100 (TBC)
Senior L2S commences 1130-1330 (TBC)
Club Racing 1400 Lady Nelson Cup continues

Saturday 6 April 2024
Junior L2S commences 0900-1100 (TBC)
Senior L2S commences 1130-1330 (TBC)
Club Racing 1400 Lady Nelson Cup continues