AITA? Racing situation that came up

[stickinthemud57]

Kinda, but not quite. Offending boat in my case was on a port tack, not starboard as all these boats were initially.

The common element is the failure on the part of the second boat's skipper to accept the fact that they we not going to make the mark, and act accordingly.

The second boat to mark was out of control, and in their ardor to make the mark, the following boats just continued sailing into the disaster. Even the boat that tacked to port tacked back to port to avoid the mess tacked back to starboard too soon, and back into the mess.

This is what happens when competitive pressure is so high. Skippers take risks. Momentum and the desire to win trumps good judgement.

 

[PaulK]

I like the judges in the RIB watching it all. Didn't see anybody actually hitting the mark though. Looks like everybody needs to do two turns - just in case...

 

[william24424]

This is common in our Wednesday racing, boats get stuck on lay line parade and are some are missing mark., my thought is avoid the stack...make the tack early., seems good prevention...that is, if you're not a pro and often guess wrong (like me) ...at least be safe & worst case you fall off before mark & get speed even if sailing some extra distance...for being too cautious.

 

[william24424]

I'm not sure if this video shows the rounding but sailing too far right of windward mark put us far behind first..yet avoided the cluster far behind us... if that makes any sense.

 

[stickinthemud57]

This is common in our Wednesday racing, boats get stuck on lay line parade and are some are missing mark., my thought is avoid the stack...make the tack early., seems good prevention...that is, if you're not a pro and often guess wrong (like me) ...at least be safe & worst case you fall off before mark & get speed even if sailing some extra distance...for being too cautious.

Not sure I would agree with the "tack early" advice (that is, if I understand you correctly). In my instance, tacking early was what led to the problem, with the other skipper unable to make the mark, having to tack back to port, then ending up in the irons after trying to tack around the mark.

In the video presented, boat number 2 was similarly unable to make the mark, and having to go to a port tack at the mark led to the pile-up.

I like the "long tack" strategy, and will wait until the mark is 90 degrees off my beam before tacking. That way if I get a lift, I can come off the close-hauled heading and pick up some speed. If I get knocked, I generally have the margin I need to make the mark. Sometimes circumstances force me to be on a port tack at a mark, but I would rather come in last than fail at the mark as happened in my situation and the YouTube pile-up.

 

[BarryL]

Hey,

I *think* what william meant by 'tack early' is that if you're not going to make the mark, tack early to give yourself plenty of time and space to clear other boats and then get on the layline.

In my area, we have 10-15 boats on a typical Thursday evening and It can get crowded at the windward mark. If the wind is shifty, or there is a current that will set us DOWN at the mark (meaning the current is moving starboard when we're on a starboard tack) we will intentionally overstand the mark. This gives us some margin for error. Having to tack onto port, near the mark, and with other boats around is never to going be the fast way around the course. Overstanding the mark by a LOT is also slow. Overstanding by a little isn't fast, but it's much better than realizing you're not going to make it and having to duck a whole line of boats on starboard.

Regarding the 'long tack' be careful doing that. Generally you don't want to get on the extreme edge of the course. If you do, and the wind shifts, you're in a real bad way with no recovery possible. With an experienced crew, a tack doesn't take much time and doesn't cost too much boat speed. So doing a few tacks allows you to stay in the middle of the course where you can take advantage of shifts. If you're short handed or have an inexperienced crew, then tacking is 'expensive' and you may want to reach the windward mark in as few tacks as possible. When I race double handed I do much less tacking and jibing but everyone else is in the same situation.

Barry

Not sure I would agree with the "tack early" advice (that is, if I understand you correctly). In my instance, tacking early was what led to the problem, with the other skipper unable to make the mark, having to tack back to port, then ending up in the irons after trying to tack around the mark.

In the video presented, boat number 2 was similarly unable to make the mark, and having to go to a port tack at the mark led to the pile-up.

I like the "long tack" strategy, and will wait until the mark is 90 degrees off my beam before tacking. That way if I get a lift, I can come off the close-hauled heading and pick up some speed. If I get knocked, I generally have the margin I need to make the mark. Sometimes circumstances force me to be on a port tack at a mark, but I would rather come in last than fail at the mark as happened in my situation and the YouTube pile-up.

 

[william24424]

Yes, thanks for clarification Barry. I meant early tack = as soon as you realize you're not going to make it....better halfway through leg than port tacking into stack @ mark.

 

[Daveinet]

As one commenter put it, "if you ain't trading paint, you ain't racing...oh wait, that's NASCAR."

 

[stickinthemud57]

If you're short handed or have an inexperienced crew, then tacking is 'expensive' and you may want to reach the windward mark in as few tacks as possible.

Yes, my crew is inexperienced, but they are getting better.

You make some good points in your post. Iast time out I acquainted them with the idea of being prepared to tack to take advantage of wind shifts.