Southern Straits Race???
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Having raced in a number of those races, I was keeping track of what was happening. Sixty percent of the boats either dropped out or DNF. The RC of the WestVan Yacht Club abandoned the race sometime Friday and asked that all boats find shelter and please contact the yacht club when they could.
A further report that I cannot confirm is that one boat was sunk but the six crew members were recovered safely.
Winds were basically sixty knots but higher in some spots.
A further report that I cannot confirm is that one boat was sunk but the six crew members were recovered safely.
Winds were basically sixty knots but higher in some spots.
Here is the web site for the Southern Strait race. Once boat sunk but all crew saved.
http://www.southernstraits.ca/index.html
http://www.southernstraits.ca/index.html
We survived Southern Straits 2010!
At the weather briefing on Thursday evening at WVYC, the synopsis was for a 980 to 990 millibar low to shift into the Georgia Straits area early afternoon on Friday, with gale force winds in store for the race. By itself this was not all that unusual. Several races in the past have been run in these exhilarating conditions. However, there was the potential for the low to deepen to 970 on Friday, which would result in storm force winds especially north of Nanaimo where the long course and medium course down wind marks were positioned. An hour or so after the start at 10:30 a new weather update noted the low had deepened and Environment Canada had issued storm warnings, but things were well underway. We were on an HC50 in the medium course, and storming along at 13 knots, handling conditions well, but they were deteriorating with wind strength increasing to 45 apparent and seas higher than I have ever seen them in the Strait at 4 to 5 meters, steep with a short frequency. It didn't help having a strong ebb against the wind. The first mayday we heard was around 14:00 from a 38 foot Dufor which had lost its mast, and the next one was shortly after that from a boat that was watching a 27 foot custom boat, Incisor, have a complete knock down and start to sink rapidly. Apparently it happened so fast that the skipper did not have time to send out a mayday himself. This lead to having 6 people in the water (bloody cold at this time of year!), 2 other boats standing by and the coast guard hovercraft and the RCMP catamaran Haggit on the scene shortly thereafter. Fortunately, although the 6 were pulled from the water with hypothermia and rushed to Nanaimo hospital, all are now fine. Shortly after that incident the RC pulled the pin and abandoned the racer. As for the Dufor, they managed to cut away the rig and made it to Nanaimo. As for us on Starlight Express, we pulled the pin (along with most of the fleet) before the race was abandoned. While the downwind ride was rough, it was controllable. However, the prospect of rounding the downwind mark in 55 knots and making any upwind headwind in those kind of seas was a fantasy. Instead we pointed up so we could reach into Nanaimo where we spent the night licking our wounds and assessing the myriad bits of damage. There were at least a dozen others at the dock ahead of us, with everyone reflecting on the day.
In retrospect (20/20 hindsight), it might have been best to postpone the race for a day, and there are now plenty of post-mortem discussions about the alternatives. It will be interesting to see what falls out of all this. Although there were a couple of other medical emergencies, besides those on Incisor, fortunately, no one lost their lives, but there will be lots of discussion about the implications for the RC for future protocols based on weather.
Hope that gives everyone a good summary.
At the weather briefing on Thursday evening at WVYC, the synopsis was for a 980 to 990 millibar low to shift into the Georgia Straits area early afternoon on Friday, with gale force winds in store for the race. By itself this was not all that unusual. Several races in the past have been run in these exhilarating conditions. However, there was the potential for the low to deepen to 970 on Friday, which would result in storm force winds especially north of Nanaimo where the long course and medium course down wind marks were positioned. An hour or so after the start at 10:30 a new weather update noted the low had deepened and Environment Canada had issued storm warnings, but things were well underway. We were on an HC50 in the medium course, and storming along at 13 knots, handling conditions well, but they were deteriorating with wind strength increasing to 45 apparent and seas higher than I have ever seen them in the Strait at 4 to 5 meters, steep with a short frequency. It didn't help having a strong ebb against the wind. The first mayday we heard was around 14:00 from a 38 foot Dufor which had lost its mast, and the next one was shortly after that from a boat that was watching a 27 foot custom boat, Incisor, have a complete knock down and start to sink rapidly. Apparently it happened so fast that the skipper did not have time to send out a mayday himself. This lead to having 6 people in the water (bloody cold at this time of year!), 2 other boats standing by and the coast guard hovercraft and the RCMP catamaran Haggit on the scene shortly thereafter. Fortunately, although the 6 were pulled from the water with hypothermia and rushed to Nanaimo hospital, all are now fine. Shortly after that incident the RC pulled the pin and abandoned the racer. As for the Dufor, they managed to cut away the rig and made it to Nanaimo. As for us on Starlight Express, we pulled the pin (along with most of the fleet) before the race was abandoned. While the downwind ride was rough, it was controllable. However, the prospect of rounding the downwind mark in 55 knots and making any upwind headwind in those kind of seas was a fantasy. Instead we pointed up so we could reach into Nanaimo where we spent the night licking our wounds and assessing the myriad bits of damage. There were at least a dozen others at the dock ahead of us, with everyone reflecting on the day.
In retrospect (20/20 hindsight), it might have been best to postpone the race for a day, and there are now plenty of post-mortem discussions about the alternatives. It will be interesting to see what falls out of all this. Although there were a couple of other medical emergencies, besides those on Incisor, fortunately, no one lost their lives, but there will be lots of discussion about the implications for the RC for future protocols based on weather.
Hope that gives everyone a good summary.
Re: We survived Southern Straits 2010!
Wow - excellent report, Phil! I'm glad everybody ended up safe. There were a lot of exaggerated reports flying around ("12 people in the water, at least one boat sank, dozens of Maydays..."), so glad to hear what really happened.
I am interested in knowing how Incisor went down - I heard the main hatch was open, but surely in those conditions it would be closed...? Also glad to hear apparently no MOBs (except the crew of Incisor) - would have been hard to find a body in those conditions! The advantages of wearing a good harness.
druid
Wow - excellent report, Phil! I'm glad everybody ended up safe. There were a lot of exaggerated reports flying around ("12 people in the water, at least one boat sank, dozens of Maydays..."), so glad to hear what really happened.
I am interested in knowing how Incisor went down - I heard the main hatch was open, but surely in those conditions it would be closed...? Also glad to hear apparently no MOBs (except the crew of Incisor) - would have been hard to find a body in those conditions! The advantages of wearing a good harness.
druid
Abandoned?
Still perplexed as to why they abandoned the race. The choice to continue racing is the skippers (and crew). It is not like a F1 car race, or ski race that when abandoned all competitors are safe on the side of the track. With sailing if a race is abandoned the sailors are still out there and still need to make their own decisions as to what to do. So it is rather pointless abandoning the race, as this does not reduce the danger to the competitors.
There were many cries from the media that they should abandon the 2007 Fastnet, which I competed in and DNF. Can you imagine if you were one of the ones to finish and found the race abandoned? I was, many years ago, in a race that was abandoned and I and two other boats had no idea of the abandonment so completed the race successfully (and very enjoyably).
It is the responsibility of the skipper to ensure that the boat and crew are up to the job to complete safely and not the committee.
Still perplexed as to why they abandoned the race. The choice to continue racing is the skippers (and crew). It is not like a F1 car race, or ski race that when abandoned all competitors are safe on the side of the track. With sailing if a race is abandoned the sailors are still out there and still need to make their own decisions as to what to do. So it is rather pointless abandoning the race, as this does not reduce the danger to the competitors.
There were many cries from the media that they should abandon the 2007 Fastnet, which I competed in and DNF. Can you imagine if you were one of the ones to finish and found the race abandoned? I was, many years ago, in a race that was abandoned and I and two other boats had no idea of the abandonment so completed the race successfully (and very enjoyably).
It is the responsibility of the skipper to ensure that the boat and crew are up to the job to complete safely and not the committee.
There's a first person account
over at the Sailing Anarchy site from the skipper of Radiant Heat, the J-30 that stood by Incisor and pulled two crew from the water. It's a real eye-opener.
http://www.sailinganarchy.com/index_page1.php
If you read this you'll realize how close it came to going really wrong. Everyone should read this. Thanks to this skipper for giving a very detailed and objective report as it allows others to learn from the experience.
Phil, thanks for your report. It's when we all get honest information (rather than hyperbole) that we can learn how we should prepare our own boats and crew.
As for my own opinion, I do agree that each skipper is responsible for making good decisions about whether to participate or not in truly heinous conditions. Unfortunately, this scenario only works when the skipper is competent and prudent. We all know this isn't always the case. Additionally, even good captains get it wrong sometimes (again, read the account from Radiant Heat.)
I'd also disagree with SobUK. Abandoning a race is not pointless. Maybe Phil can chime in, but there's a HUGE difference in making a relatively safe course into port rather than doggedly rounding say, a leeward mark only to bash into steep 5 meter seas in near hurricane conditions. Also keep in mind that this was a Cat. II race, not Cat. I, a different category event than the '07 Fastnet I think.
over at the Sailing Anarchy site from the skipper of Radiant Heat, the J-30 that stood by Incisor and pulled two crew from the water. It's a real eye-opener.
http://www.sailinganarchy.com/index_page1.php
If you read this you'll realize how close it came to going really wrong. Everyone should read this. Thanks to this skipper for giving a very detailed and objective report as it allows others to learn from the experience.
Phil, thanks for your report. It's when we all get honest information (rather than hyperbole) that we can learn how we should prepare our own boats and crew.
As for my own opinion, I do agree that each skipper is responsible for making good decisions about whether to participate or not in truly heinous conditions. Unfortunately, this scenario only works when the skipper is competent and prudent. We all know this isn't always the case. Additionally, even good captains get it wrong sometimes (again, read the account from Radiant Heat.)
I'd also disagree with SobUK. Abandoning a race is not pointless. Maybe Phil can chime in, but there's a HUGE difference in making a relatively safe course into port rather than doggedly rounding say, a leeward mark only to bash into steep 5 meter seas in near hurricane conditions. Also keep in mind that this was a Cat. II race, not Cat. I, a different category event than the '07 Fastnet I think.
That is a very good article by Tony, especially the lessons learned. I did not realise that the race was a Cat II. Suprising considering the water it is raced in. I look forward to taking part in the Southern Straights race next year.
Yeah, I'm not familiar with that area
but from Tony's comments I'd agree that from his description of open fetch and rising bottom it's capable of creating a deadly sea state that would warrant category I preparations.
I race on the Gulf coast of Florida where the seas are rarely three meters. I've had armchair sailors tell me that 6 - 10 foot waves are no problem which tells me they've probably never faced a nearly vertical wall of water of that size and seen what it can do. 5 meters? No thanks. SobUK, if you were in the Fastnet I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about.
but from Tony's comments I'd agree that from his description of open fetch and rising bottom it's capable of creating a deadly sea state that would warrant category I preparations.
I race on the Gulf coast of Florida where the seas are rarely three meters. I've had armchair sailors tell me that 6 - 10 foot waves are no problem which tells me they've probably never faced a nearly vertical wall of water of that size and seen what it can do. 5 meters? No thanks. SobUK, if you were in the Fastnet I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about.
Re: Yeah, I'm not familiar with that area
I have never read any suggestions that indicate that there is any shame in deciding that conditions are not safe for your boat or crew. To continue a race in life threating conditions is reckless at best.
I have never read any suggestions that indicate that there is any shame in deciding that conditions are not safe for your boat or crew. To continue a race in life threating conditions is reckless at best.
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