Da Link -

http://www.twinhulls.com/springfever2009/09results1/

Obviously, as expected, everyone had a great time, and the event was well-run.

How was the racing managed, i.e. how many starting groups, how many laps, separate weather marks, reaches, etc?

Mike

Can't remember what the starting groups were off the top of my head.. I know that the F18's started with the N20's though.

Two courses... outer and inner... separate start/finish line. Management was, of course, stellar.

Does "outer and inner" mean two sets of weather marks and two sets of gates? (I've seen other variations.)

Mike

No gates but yes, two separate sets of windward and leward marks.

F16 and A-Cat's had same start. Most courses were Course6: S-W-L-W-L-F (at top ). Sail back down and repeat next race.

Could someone send me the sailwave file(s) so I can add these to my SCHRS database please. Or, whom should I contact?

Cheers

Simon

I think Jamie Diamond did the scoring.

IIRC.

Sorry, I don't have his contact info.

Mike

What's the latest thinking on the number of boats in the fleet that makes a gate essential. (I would think it 's not needed until you get close to 20 boats.)

In cats... do spinakers change your thinking.

It's not a matter of being "essential" for any number of boats - after all, a gate was used in the last America's Cup when there were only 2 boats.

It's a matter of adding another level of strategy to the game. Do you go left or right? Which mark is favored? In traffic, which mark am I more likely to come out cleaner? There are a lot more opportunities to pass with gates. They add a lot to the game.

A single leeward mark entrenches the pecking order as boats are forced into single file as they round the mark. Boats tacking to starboard after rounding create collision hazards.

Gates were introduced to the Hobie class 15 years ago by PU at the H-17 North Americans in Syracuse. We've been using them ever since. Once you've become accustomed to them, you never want to go back to a single leeward mark again.

I just deleted everything I wrote, because Matt said it all (must have been typing at the same time).

I would add (only as an observation) that there are some PROs, at an advanced level, that feel gates are not worth the resources unless there are x number of boats (usually 15-20 is given as a number).

Personally, I don't see gates as a "resource" issue at this point. They've been used for so long that everyone has enough equipment, and everyone is used to having one mark boat do the gate, so nothing is being saved by having a single mark.

The other thing to consider is that for classes that have large NAs, the weekend events are usually much smaller, but it's good to be able to practice with the gates. So, regardless if the H16 or A Cat fleet is the largest fleet at an event, and that fleet only has 10-15 boats at an event, we want the gate because at the NAs, there will be lots more boats, and there will be a gate. Not a good place to use it for the first time all year.

Mike

I really like gates and it's always nice to have options at the bottom mark.

It's not even really a resource issue.

I run races for CRAM all the time with just two RC boats - their 20 ft Boston Whaler serves as signal, pin and gate boat, and another boat works the weather mark(s).

I'll rough set the gate marks first, then drop down 50 yds and set the pin, then anchor the boat, using the anchor line on the boat to square the line. After the starts, I drop the anchor line off on a float and now I'm a mark boat. I can tweak the gate if I need to and shorten up the line (leaving the original pin anchor on a float) for the finish.

Before the finish, I'll pick up my boat anchor line float, square the line and do finishes. Once everyone has finished, I'll drop the line on the float again, buzz over to the finish pin, leave the anchor line on a float, move the pin out to its starting line position (anchor line still on a float), then buzz back, pick up my anchor line float, and start the next sequence while I'm squaring the line again.

Sounds complicated, and it's not ideal, but it goes really fast - I can be in a sequence within 3 minutes of the last boat finishing.

When I'm the lead boat, I could get along just fine without the options the gates provide

When I am NOT the lead boat, I LOVE Gates ! !

Ask a good PRO why they have gone to downwind finishes and the answer will probably be "there are more passing lanes when sailing downwind"

Most changes in course management over the past 20 years have been geared towards keeping the races from being "parades"

Using gates during small local regatta's is good because if gives everyone practice actually using the tactical options that having a gate provides.

One thing PRO's should keep in mind is that longer courses tend to favor the "more experienced" sailors.

A longer course gives more experienced sailor the opportunity to grind his way back to the top if he makes a mistake early.

In my opinion, when running local regatta's more short races is better than a few longer races.

As an experienced sailor, I dislike short "drag races", because I know that even if I blow it at the start or make a bad call on the first leg, I can usually "reel in" the fleet and recover if the race is long enough.

During small local events, running the shorter courses, "drag races" if you will, and gives everyone plenty of practice with starts, rounding's and finishes, AND it gives the newer sailors a chance to take advantage of a lucky break and actually bag a good finish.

Just some random thoughts before I fly out of cold snowy Denver for a couple of weeks in the BVI's
Hows that for a shameless brag.

Stephen

For an event like SF, with so many different fleets of vastly different performance, I can definitely see the value in using two separate leeward marks, as opposed to one gate, if there were not enough marks available (something that could also be borrowed).

Don't get me wrong, I would still prefer to have two gates (not critcizing SF, just speaking hypothetically as a PRO).

But, as I've noted in other threads, it's far more helpful to keeping the system running smoothly to separate the start and finish areas when running such a mixed bag.

Now, if one of the classes had 30 boats, I'd find a way to come up with another mark to give them a gate.

As a sailor, I prefer more roundings. So, I typically run more 3-lap races than 2-lap races. Here's the key a LOT of people miss: you adjust the course length to keep the target time the same. So, all of the races actually take the same amount of time (which many, many people confuse with length), but there are more close roundings to develop rounding/crossing tactics, which again, helps in the bigger picture (practice for NAs, etc.).

I make it a point to know my sailors, and some of them prefer longer windward legs to "stretch out" and spin sailors like longer runs, aka fewer hoists/drops (especially the crews), so I mix it up, use longer weather marks for the spin boats, etc.

All of this is great fun to discuss, and there are 1000 ways to skin a cat. All of this hypothetical discussion aside, SF did a great job and everyone came away happy. At the end of the day, that's the true measure of success.

Mike

pics are up.. my crews face made the main page!

damn, that's awesome ,you da man.