Racer not giving way

[Jackdaw]

But if you find yourself in a cross, I think relying on COLREGS is the safe thing to do, for in the end we're all boats on the water.

Is your boat that much of a tub???? It sounds like you think you are driving a 1000 foot freighter. ;^) Make eye contact from 5-10 lengths. To avoid, make a clear, marked dip that they can notice. They'll wave or nod. This all takes just seconds. Sorted. You are making this WAY too hard.

 

[thinwater]

I'm pretty sure if the OP was racing he would have called the cruisers behavior rude.
I raced in the past, and if I cross a course, I go out of my way to avoid close encounters and even any action that will disturb somebody's air. It's just polite. All the OP needed to do was let of off the gas or duck.

Was the racer close? probably not by racing standards.

Yes, obvious COLREGS still applies. A little thought would have told him that racers are on a mission, and that the BEST way to stay safe (job one) is to anticipate the movement of the fleet and avoid it.

 

[Ron20324]

I'm sure others have my problem. In Annapolis Harbor, there might be 6 different races going on when I'm trying to get to/from the bay. It's sometimes impossible to know which boats are in which race, or where their marks are.

 

[markwbird]

Yes, sometimes racers can seem like they think they own the bay or lake or whatever. I have crewed on boats when the skipper yelled RACING at some poor boater just out for a Saturday on the water. I would not do that either. You do not HAVE to yield to racer just because they are racing but why not if you can? On the other hand, I will not sail 2 miles out of my way to stay off a race course that is between me and my destination. I will sail through it and do my best to stay out of their way.

 

[Skipper]

I'm sure others have my problem. In Annapolis Harbor, there might be 6 different races going on when I'm trying to get to/from the bay. It's sometimes impossible to know which boats are in which race, or where their marks are.

I remember that.
Plus all the recreational fishing boats who thought they were special too.

 

[Skipper]

That first part is true I suppose. But we are talking about racers right? And if you ever get into a situation where you have to explain why you drove through a course and start spouting off about COLREGS, they will laugh in your face. 29 foot boats? Please!

OMG the arrogance.
Boat size has nothing to do with the rules in this case.
Am not there to spout or push, like you. Am there to sail safely.
I explained my position re all scenarios.

 

[kimelmore]

I was once out on a lovely Saturday with friends that were visiting from Las Vegas. They had never been on a sailboat before. So there I was with 5 novice sailors and trying to work my way through the middle harbor when all the sudden a bunch of boats that were over a half mile away ( I was on a port tack ) suddenly turned and were bearing down on my slowly moving 30 footer. As they approached they all started yelling "get out of the way this is a race". There was literally no place I could have turned. I felt it was up to them to avoid me at that point. No matter which way I turned I would have caused more mayhem. I do not race personally. I felt it was very rude of them to scream at me (including some words that the two children in the boat should not have been subjected to. I can appreciate the "seconds can count" but it is after all is said and done, just a sporting event. Racers DO NOT have an automatic ROW in my book. Yes I was on a direct line between the two marks but I'm not the idiot that decided where to place the two marks on a summer weekend afternoon. As a side note, I did notice that they had no problem making their way around a couple of fishing skiffs but somehow because I was a sail boat they had a problem. I realize also that the majority of racers that I know, don't condone this sort of behavior. I would only ask that racers understand that for some of us we really don't care who wins your race, we are just out having a relaxing lazy sail....let the flaming begin.

 

[Skipper]

I accept your apology. As long as you promise to never sail within 1000 feet of me! ;^)

LOL you didn't even get that one. Oh the irony.

 

[marke14]

The message I'm hearing is that it is acceptable to be a jerk to other boats because you happen to be racing - that other sailboats must stay clear of you since you are racing.

I go above and beyond to stay out of everyone's way, because that is how I roll. However, if I found myself in a situation where I had to make a gigantic detour to get to my destination, I'd probably try to head up a bit and choose a path through the course that would not shadow anyone or put me in their path, but I wouldn't wait forever and I wouldn't make a huge detour either. In my 25' boat.

As it was said above, the ocean is not owned by a regatta.

 

[LuzSD]

We were out practicing one weekend afternoon and had a kite up. We were basically paralleling the beach a couple miles out. After 20-30 minutes, we saw a boat we know (he races most of the area races) coming up from the beach. He did not change course but we felt sure he would duck us... both of us Starboard, we were leeward. When we were within shouting distance our skipper called out 'Leeward Starboard'... and he kept coming ....then yelled 'racing'. It was a race with possibly 3 boats. We know this boat and his actions weren't altogether a surprise, but very disappointing for a racer. He had plenty of time to see our kite, and a slight adjustment earlier would have made all the difference.


We all race, and though I have felt frustration with cruisers that 'were in our way' I have now changed my thinking ... all boats, paddlers, fishing contraptions, are just the same as any obstacle in our path and it’s up to us to adjust. That IS racing in my opinion, whether it’s a mark we round or an obstacle we avoid. It’s all part of the race and our skills to maneuver that course. Conditions in a single race are unique for each boat and that includes lobster pots, kelp, power boat wakes, and of course the changing wind. That all said, we always check for any races we can spot when going out for a cruise. It’s a big ocean.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Falling off a couple degrees would have had him safely clearing my stern and had little effect on his race.

I call BS. I haven't read the thread, I will later. C'mon, be real.

 

[BayMan]

Wow. Simply wow. The same ones lecturing on ROW before now announce the huge exception that in addition to all other rules, racers have ROW over cruisers.

 

[cb32863]

Well that didn't take long to degrade in to the usual racer v cruiser BS. How about you use common sense when you see buoys and figure there is a race going on you just be cool and mosey over there and then go back on your course once you are clear of the race course. Why is that so hard?

 

[kimelmore]

I do try to stay out of the way when I see a regatta. There are many in my neck of the woods. But it isn't always easy to tell what the course is when out cruising the harbor. And in that case ...yes I become another obstacle that the racers will have to avoid and then do their best to overcome and win the damn race. THEY DON"T HAVE THE ROW just because they are racing. I have watched as racers have had to make adjustments (sometimes huge ones ) to avoid the large freighters and tankers that frequent LA harbor. I have also watched arrogant determined racers cut in front of the same kinds of ships because they are so determined to win. It has actually caused the harbor police to visit yacht clubs in the area to revisit the ROW rules to all concerned. Safety must be the paramount concern whether it be ROW rules or tethers and harnesses.

 

[Davidasailor26]

Wow. Simply wow. The same ones lecturing on ROW before now announce the huge exception that in addition to all other rules, racers have ROW over cruisers.

I don't think anyone said racers have right of way. What racers have said is that it's polite of cruisers to make a clearly defined move to avoid racers, if possible.

To the OP - I'm still a little unclear on the geometry of the cross and whether it's possible that the racer would have crossed cleanly (albeit closely) without your action. Heading up to avoid a collision in a port/starboard cross is not really conventional, and may have caused confusion that resulted in the racer's trouble with his competitor. In your position, I would've hailed "starboard" to try to find out the racer's intent. Obviously I wasn't there to see the cross and maybe it was all you could do because of the angles, I just can't visualize it.

Edit - I re-read your original post where you said he "nearly rammed you", then headed up. This suggests to me that his bow would've struck your side, and not that he was trying to cross in front and you didn't think he could make it? If this is the case, then I'm guessing that he just didn't see you, as he and his crew may have been focused on the other racing boats. If so, bad on him for not having proper look out, but an advanced hail from you may have helped that as well.

 

[cb32863]

Rule #3: Don't be a dick.

 

[Jackdaw]

Well apparently commonsense doesn't work for some folks. Neither does humor. So I'll go back to my basic suggestion. It's probably the most cool to stay out of a races way. If you can. But if you cannot, that's cool as well. But if you feel like you need to play COLREGS, or bulk carrier captain just because you can go right ahead- I won't mark you down for that. But most racers will probably think that you're a DB. Seem some people like that.

 

[Skipper]

Well apparently commonsense doesn't work for some folks. Neither does humor. So I'll go back to my basic suggestion. It's probably the most cool to stay out of a races way. If you can. But if you cannot, that's cool as well. But if you feel like you need to play COLREGS, or bulk carrier captain just because you can go right ahead- I won't mark you down for that. But most racers will probably think that you're a DB. Seem some people like that.

It's not "playing" COLREGS.
It's reverting to them if you find yourself in a crossing. Under any circumstances.
BTW sorry if I missed the humor, I usually don't. :-D

 

[kimelmore]

In clarification of my feelings when that particular racing fleet was bearing down on me... they were going downwind and came up on me very fast. They had no reason to scream... or make rude gestures...my guests were quite offended that their children had to hear such language. I felt that the safest thing I could do was maintain my course. Racers are of course used to maneuvering in close quarters...to a non racer as was pointed out...maybe 50 feet is close enough thank you very much. Had I made any maneuvers it may have well caused a collision. But as an aside...one of my guests suggested that perhaps I should have gotten in the way of the one particular boat who had crew members displaying their IQ with a single finger pointed in my direction...and using language better saved for the engine room of an aircraft carrier. In contrast several of the boat crews smiled and waved. Several even hooted and hollered with joy at having so much fun. It certainly took some of the sting away.

 

[jeepbluetj]

In my local waters, there's quite a few races from time to time. If I look up and see a bunch of boats with those fancy carbon sails that cost more than my boat? Yup. That's a race. I try to stay clear. (Actually I head to the windward mark to see the spin launches)

One day I was in the middle of the course. Well, more of right next to the windward mark. I was becalmed (Big fat C-30). The racers, OTOH, were sailing at 4-6kts in wind that wouldn't move my fat boat out of the way. What did I do? I started the engine. 'cause it was the polite thing to do.

OTOH, if I sailed though a course that wasn't obvious, I'd hold to colregs. And I'd likely bellow "Starboard!" if necessary. I've had informal races with other boats where the other skipper thought I was too close. At 100 meters or so... Sheesh. I did take a stern yesterday at 20 meters or so - got a wave from the other skipper. I do not pass power boats that closely. (Except for jetskis, which I completely ignore)

Sailboat racers may loudly complain, but they're ok. The outrigger canoes out of Dana are the absolute worst - I've seen em get 5 blasts from the 100+ ft Catalina Express and they just hold their course. Yaknow, they're racing. And they're human powered. So everything needs to get out of their way. Including a boat that basically takes half the entrance to the harbor to get in.