Your scribe was away over Easter so didn’t see any of the Saturday’s racing, but Peter V assures that it was a great day with beautiful weather. Division 1 had visitor Ron Fergusson and Paul Simmons on Aero 7’s and Laser (full) of John W and Peter E. Also visiting was Leon Raymond with his Impulse while Mike W was the sole OK representative. Callum Simmons sailed his Laser (4.7) in the first race as a div 1 and in the second race as Div 2. Others in Division 2 were James D and Andrew on Sabres with Andrew Grant’s 420 and Steve C’s Impulse making up the numbers.

In Div 2 race 1 Andrew was a minute ahead of the 420 which led Steve C by three minutes. James D was a minute behind the Impulse. In race 2 Callum was a minute and a quarter ahead of Andrew with the Steve C’s Impulse a minute behind and the 420 a further minute back.

In Div 1 race 1 Ron’s Aero led John W by a minute and a half and John was a minute up on Mike Paul Simmons trailed the OK by half a minute with Leon a mere seven seconds behind. Peter E was a minute later a couple of minutes ahead of Callum’s 4.7. In race 2 Ron again led with Mike about two minutes behind and 30 seconds ahead of Leon. John W trailed Leon by 9 seconds with Peter E 24 seconds astern. Paul Simmons was a minute later.

Thanks to Richard Furneaux as RO and Glen and Peter who assisted and did the timing.

This Saturday racing was abandoned to the disappointment of many and admittedly the water was sailorable. But the sailing committee was very concerned that launching a crash/start boat might be messy, and we had watched the earlier retrieval of a RIB which took an hour and involved two swampings. In addition, a few of us recall launching the old Ozone into easterly waves and seriously damaging a member. It was probably a good decision to not race.

And on another rule thing, why do people keep asking me, here is rule 41 of the RRS.
41. OUTSIDE HELP
A boat shall not receive help from any outside source, except
(a) Help for a crew member who is ill, injured or in danger;
(b) After a collision, help from the crew of the other vessel to get clear;
© Help in the form of information freely available to all boats;
(d) Unsolicited information from a disinterested source, which may be another boat in the same race.

The penalty would appear to be disqualification (r64.2) as exoneration does not apply. There is a paper by RYA which might be of interest (https://www.rya.org.uk/racing/running-racing/guidance-good-practice/outside-help). Two paras:
When a patrol boat has removed a competitor from the water, anyone else in a similar situation should be attended to. If no one else is in need of rescue, it is both normal and acceptable for the patrol boats to return competitors that need no further help to their boats. If this is not possible because of the need for other rescues or for any other reason, any delay in returning the competitors to their boats is not an improper action under RRS 62.1(a).
When competitors are returned to their boats the boat will not have broken RRS 41. However, in exceptional circumstances, it is possible that the boat received help more than that necessary under RRS 41(a). If so, she will still not have broken RRS 41 but she may have broken RRS 42.1 or 48.2. Any such allegation will depend on the precise details of the incident.

Coming up:

Saturday 13 April 2024
Junior L2S commences 0900-1100 (TBC)
Senior L2S commences 1130-1330 (TBC)
Club Racing 1400 Lady Nelson Cup continues

Saturday 20 April 2024
Junior L2S commences 0900-1100 (TBC)
Senior L2S commences 1130-1330 (TBC)
Club Racing 1400 Lady Nelson Cup continues

Laser Training Camp 27 & 28 April (TBC)

SAIL BELLERINE IS 4 & 5 May with set up on Friday 3 May. All volunteers welcome.