Tacky Bermuda 100 puzzle....... ;)

[henkmeuzelaar]

I was just catching up on old sailing magazines and scanning the September 2006 issue of SAIL when I almost fell of my favorite reading throne because I saw this large photograph of the start of the Bermuda Centennnial race. After verifying that this was not in the April 1 issue, I remained sufficiently puzzled to scan the image (couldn't find a digital version on the internet).So now I am asking all racers, sailmakers and blowhards on this board (in case this happens to leave anyone out, feel free to join in as well ) how the vessel in the background can be on a starboard tack while apparently sailing roughly in the same direction as the other vessels (all on port tack).Your options are:(1) distorted tele-lens perspective(2) in the process of switching to port tack(3) photoshopped picture(4) secretly running the iron genny(5) Harry Potter must be at the wheel(6) whatever else you can think ofHave funFlying Dutchman

 

[Fred Ficarra]

The picture is fine Henk.

The effect is caused by lack of 'depth-of-field'. That's an F-stop adjustment.

 

[Lou 14643]

Fred, you're right, but...

I believe you meant to say it is an exaggerated depth of field rather than "lack of." Depth of field increases with narrower aperture (higher F number). This picture looks as if the boats are closer to each other than they actually are because so much of the picture is in focus due to tighter aperture. Does that sound right?

 

[Ferg]

or.....

making a move to dodge the guy not racing but in the way.....Ferg

 

[Paul Akers]

I know that location

It is Castle Hill In Newport. There is deep water right up to the shore and race boats always tack up to the shore and then tack back. So the depth-of-field creates an illusion here. Notice how many people are on the bank? This is a very common venue for anything leaving Newport because the boats come so close to shore. It's a great place for a wedding, too. All the boats are close-hauled, so he was sailing pretty high and probably getting ready to tack. The closest boat to us is in probably 150' of water.Look at the boat going opposite direction with no genny and just the main on the right side of the picture. That'll give you a good feel for the DOF.

 

[henkmeuzelaar]

Perspective versus pointing

I agree with most of what's been said so far.The reason I don't really believe he is either starting to tack or temporarily pinching to avoid a collision is that the rail meat has not lifted their butts yet and that the genoa's luff is still nice and tight.The reason I don't think there is a great deal of loss of perspective through depth compression is that the actual size of the people on the nearest-by vessel and the size of the people on the shore is not all that much different, meaning they are RELATIVELY close together.RELATVELY close, however, means relative to the distance between the camera and all of the subjects in this picture. Herein may lie the solution. I don't know the local geography but the photographer could well be much further away than one might intuitively think. Instead of trying to shoot this overview from a nearby vessel or other unstable platform, he might perhaps be shooting from terra firma over a considerable distance, e.g. by using a high-resolution Cassegrainian telescope.....Have funFlying Dutchman

 

[Rick D]

Reminds Me Of The Time...

...we watched two boats running nearly DDW with spinnakers going OPPOSITE directions (this was NOT in the 60's). It was one of those weird SoCal winter cold Santa Ana wind days. They came within about a half mile of each other and their spinnakers fell and they both went adrift. It was off Venice beach in Santa Monica bay. Rick D.

 

[henkmeuzelaar]

Venice Beach, eh?

I am glad you made clear that it was NOT in the 60's!Still, the Harley Davidson mama's and papa's probably kept coming there well into the 80's...?Never figured you for one, Rick!Just kidding, of courseFlying DutchmanPSI once ended up in the hospital as a patient and my night nurse confessed she had been a Venice Beach mama some 20 years ago (when she saw the Venice Beach ballcap I was wearing).

 

[Mike]

I know the answer!!!

The boat in the center of the picture, on the starboard tack is not a participant in the race. he's one of those people that cuts right thru the race because it a public waterway and he knows his rights!

 

[r.w.landau]

Just to the left of 913 are two boats.

one on a port tack (the taller sail) and one on a starboard tack mainsail only no jib with a shorter mast.Just thought I would mention that.It appears that there are observers there. Two of them have no head sail. The boat in the center of the picture on a starboard tack my be an observer like Mike points out.My guess is they are boats out to observe or photograph the event.If Paul is right , this may be a point designated for a tack very close to shore. That is probably why there are so many nonracing boats in the picture. This must have been a popular place to view the race, both ashore and on the water. Am I wrong that most race rules state that when encountering nonrace boats that they not violate the rules of the road. I don't doubt that this is common on all big boat races not only in this country but places like Sidney harbor for the New zealand race( the name blows by me right now, age...)(edited ,; Sidney, hobart race)r.w.landau

 

[Paul Akers]

Hank?

The lawn at the Inn is about 300' long to the water's edge. And the width of the passage (to Fort Wetherill on Jamestown) is about 2 miles. I tend to think that the photog is not on terra firma. If the pic was taken by Onne VanDerwal (sp?) or Billy Black, then they are probaly in their boats on the outside of the fleet and about 1/2 to 3/4 mile from the racers.At any rate, there is plenty of room for maneuverability in the portion of the fleet that is shown.

 

[Paul Akers]

This Race (Newport-to-Bermuda)...

...has a great spectrum of boats. Although many are "high end" boat valued at lots of $$$ (whose owners are on their ego-trips) and also lots of offshore racing boats (offshore practice, practice, practice), there is a different classes for regular boats like most of us sail. There are a lot of locals that also participate and many rules that regulate safety equipment. It is a top notch race with top notch racers involved. It alternates annually with the Marion-to-Bermuda Race which starts about 20 nm to the east of Newport. therefore, there is a race each year to Bermuda from the area.

 

[NewportVic]

I took photos at this start ...

Just straight Tele lens effect with a lens over 300mm. They only start a small number of boats ... takes hours to get all the classes off. And there are a lot of boats trying to make sure you don't get in the way. This hasn't got much to do with lens stop ... just lens size. Depth of Field only really applies to focus and range of acceptable sharpness. With a decent high speed color film you are shooting at least f8 and 1/1000. and nearly everything is sharp at the start. You see this a lot with those digital cameras with the 10X zoom. I think the real term is telephoto depth compression effect.By the way. It looks like the guys on port might well be in better position ... probably tack at kettle rock then straight on S between R2 and R4. That's a comment that anyone who sails out of NPT will probably agree with. now that I think about it ... that is exactly what they did.vic "Seven"