GBCA Discussion Forum

  When the first notice for the Fall Series and Chili Chase were posted, it was stated that the results would be combined for the Fall Series results.
  The Angle Regatta was sailed as Fall Series #1. The results of that race, as FS#1, were tossed because of confusion with the SI's (3 different sets of start times). That left Fall Series #2 and Chili Chase as the races that count for the Fall Series score.
  So, that brings up the question where are the results for the Fall Series/Chili Chase combine score?   

  Got some of my back-up crew together and sailed out to watch the Mermaid Regatta. We stayed out of the race course, but watch from a short distance.  I have seen postings of the after party, some crew photos and some of the awards. BUT, no results are posted, and the web site was taken down from Regatta Network, Saturday night, and HYC still hasn't posted the results on it's web site.     
  Did  Q-non  highjack the results to the pizza parlor?   

  The Racing Rules of Sailing, Part 1, Fundamental Rules, Rule 4, Decision To Race, The responsibility for a boat's decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.
  This rule clearly puts anything that happens on the water to any boats crew, on the shoulders of the owner/captain. Not on the sponsoring organization.
  I understand Part 6, Entry And Qualification, Rule 75, Entering A Race, 75.1, To enter a race, a boat shall comply with the requirements of the organizing authority of the race. She shall be entered by (a) a member of a club or other organization affiliated to a World Sailing member national authority, (b) such a club or organization, or (c) a member of a World Sailing member national authority., 75.2, Competitors shall comply with World Sailing Regulation 19, Eligibility Code.
  This rule gives some wiggle room, but basically states you must be a member of some sailing organization, (one design class organization, yacht club or sailing association).
  Also, after talks with different lawyers over the years, (both through work and just B.S.ing about other things), I have been told more then once, Texas does not recognize waivers. So the question is why do we have them. I know they seem like a good idea to protect land property, but they do nothing on the water, where Maritime Law prevails. That clearly states responsibility on the water is with the owner/captain.     
  I have heard more then once, we have the waiver to protect our club assets. Which has nothing to do with on the water. One is civil and the other maritime.
  Now, if you want to have a list of my crew and a emergency contact for them, that is something entirely different. That is something, I see no objection to, as many one design events require a crew list. It is something I can supply at the time I register, or shortly there afterwards, and not make my crew jump threw hoops to fill out.
  In this time of a world wide pandemic, I can also understand a club or organization not wanting to be held responsible if a participant comes down with something during a regatta. This can easily be covered in the NOR's, by stating everyone on club property will social distance and wear a face covering and limiting before and after race activities. Again, this is not on the water. 
  Anyway, that's my two cents worth. So now tell me why my crew should fill out a waiver, for on the water, when it is MY responsibility on the water for their safety, both legally and morally, and not the organizer of the event.         

  Todd, the live aboard on 'P' dock in Seabrook, has passed away today. He help put together the cabana next to dry storage and was always asking anyone that stopped by if they wanted a beer or some other drink he was mixing at the time. His smiling face will be missed.

  I had a friend forward the NOR and SI to me. It looks like a good idea. SOO, why not post them on the web site?   I know there is a conflict with the Peanut Regatta but it gives options.

  I see on the on-line calendar that the Conundrum is scheduled for April 18th. Is the club still planning to run this race? If so what about the NOR.

  I go to the Commodore's Ball photos under past events and get "Page Not Found". Can this be fixed, so the photos show up.

  It's twenty (20) days till the first Icicle. So it's about time to get out the SI's.
  A request!!!! Keep last years Icicle instructions, just change the dates. They are simple, easy to understand and pits similar type boats together, vs the mess caused by the over or under the (SA/D), and the different type & size boats that raced against each other in the Rum Races.
My two cents worth. Gary   

 OK, it's less then a month, so where is the NOR's and registration?

 OK, you have put up the notice on the web page for the Single Handed / Mixed Doubles Races, BUT there is no NOR's or web site to register. These events are in three (3) weeks. PLEASE, get these pages up. 

  Let me start with, I enjoy doing the Rum Races, they are fun and no pressure. NOW, the complaints. When they started 28 yrs. ago it was simple Spin or non-spin, on Friday evening. Then moved some races to Saturday, and participation jump up a lot. Then fully to Saturdays. A few years back we added Shorthanded class, then Club Handicap. Last year we divided the Spinnaker class into two parts Symmetric and Asymmetric, which was needed (plus more prize rum).
  Now more to the point, I printed out the SI's two weeks ago and they stated Racing Spin Class said LESS then 19.0 SA/D, and Racer/Cruiser Spin Class said GREATER then 19.0 SA/D. Plus both classes stated (Tacked on the bow or any length sprit) which leaves out Spin pole flown spinnakers. I don't know when the wording was changed in the two classes and reversed the less and greater declaration of sail area displacement. Because it was all printed in red, and I had already closely read the SI's I, did not notice the second change that had been made.
  Now we come to inputting your times on line, and we have the classes we had last year, which was a simple definition.
  We need to return to the simple class definitions in the SI's that would match the scoring definitions.     

  It's Wednesday, the first seminar is in two weeks, sooo, it's time to start complaining about High Point Scoring. Let me start by saying, I can not thank Scott, John and the whole race committee for the job they do in putting on the Wednesday Night races.
  Now to the complaint, first, there is a reason U.S.Sailing dropped high point scoring in the mid 90's. It is simpler to start with and if you are scoring over several series, it more accurately scores boats that show up and race every week. Plus there is one less math conversion set to be done by the person doing the scoring. Also you are not penalized for sailing every week vs just when a lot of boats show up in your fleet.
  In my spare time, I re-figured the J-22 fleet overall scores for last year using low point scoring. In the 1st. series boat #1546 scored lower overall then #878, and should have taken honors for that series. There are many examples of boats showing up weekly and doing fair but being beat in the series scoring by boats that missed one or two races, all because of high point scoring. Individual races are scored as they finish, it is when you come to the series and then the summary that the high point causes an inaccuracy.
  In the case of my boat, overall I would be in 6th place with low point vs 12th under high point.
  A side note, fractional scoring was tried in the late 90's and proved to be just about as unworkable, for more then a single regatta.
 
  Now as to how to determine overall combine fleets champion, maybe you assign a high point score after the fact, but not for individual series and fleet summary's.       
  My two cents worth. Tye Dyed Gary     

  I am looking for crew for the upcoming Icicles, to sail on the most fun J-22. Only requirement is a willing to learn and already know port and starboard. Reply to this post or contact Gary Thies at 281-732-7461.

  I would like to see future pursuit races make a change in classes. I would like to see the spinnaker classes, separated by type of spinnaker flown. I am not talking about windward / leewards races. Just around the bay pursuit races.
  Do away with the Sprint / Non-Sprint classes and go to Symmetrical and Asymmetrical spinnakers classes.
  I have sailed for years on many boats with both types spinnakers, and with sprint and non-sprint. There are definite aspects of sail to the two different types of spinnakers.  With only very minor (1 to 3 degrees) point of sail between a sprint vs bow attached asymmetrical sail. But there is a great difference in aspect of sail of a symmetrical spinnaker flown off a pole attached to the mast and a asymmetrical spinnaker.
  I know this would throw some boats without sprints in with the J-105's and 109's that come out for rum races, but would be a more equitable split in the spinnaker classes.
  I realize that both types can be cut full or flat, but the difference in angle of sail between the two types doesn't change. I have pulled the spinnaker pole down to the deck, to tighten the leading edge of a symmetrical spinnaker and still didn't come close to the sailing angle of a bow attached asymmetrical spinnaker.
  I am not proposing a change in PHRF rating, or adding a class, just a change in definition in the two spinnaker classes by type flown during pursuit races.
  The major change that would happen is, some boat owners would have to change from white to pink flags. No matter who wins a given pursuit race, in whatever class, we all share the rum at the party.     

  With four weeks to the first Icicle, it's time to get the SI's posted. And for Skipper's get their crews lined up.

  I just was informed that Julie Goetschius passed last night.  She was a major force in the sailing community and J-22 Fleet. Her smiling face will be missed. 

  This is me just blowing off steam. Last year (2017) when Capt.Kidd showed up at the end of "P"dock, I asked the question, How long is he going to tie up here? I was told then, that it would move down the dock around the end of June. I, stopped by and introduced myself, and talked to Joe for about an hour. He was very friendly and helpful. I brought up the fact that on any given Wednesday night there could be as many as 25 boats put in for the races. I pointed out that the big Catamaran, that was dock where Capt.Kidd is now, allowed us to tie up to it. Joe said he he saw no problem with us tying up for a few minutes while waiting to pull out, just be careful and don't climb on the Capt.Kidd.
  Fast forward to this last Wednesday (4/18/2018), there were 20 boats launched from Seabrook that evening. The section of "P"dock that is south of the Hoist only has 13 mooring cleats. One boat had been demasted and needed two of the cleats to steady itself while the crew finished securing the mast and shrouds. Remembering what Joe, told me from last summer, I put out all my fenders and tied to Capt.Kidd's port stern line and rear cleat, with my boat never touching his. About 5 minutes later Joe, shows up yelling to get my F---ing boat off his and that we Wednesday night racers think we own this place. I asked him about our conversation last year, to which he stated, he never said that, and to get my F---ing boat moving or he'd cut the lines. I moved off within a few seconds. When we finely got tied up , one of my crew headed to use the Head. At which point Joe, started yelling at her about no respect and using more profanity. She went about her business and tried to ignore him, but was a little distressed when she came back to the boat.
  I am not saying that Capt.Kidd does not have a right to be tied up where it is, even though there are two empty 50 ft. slips closer to the security gate, that could be better for his business. What I, am saying is, Joe needs to remember some of us have been in the marina a lot longer then he has, and we work together to try and have a pleasant boating experience.
  When I, had a boat I kept in the water by the repair yard, I would offend find a boat blocking me in and sometimes tied to my boat, waiting on the boat lift. A few simple words, a little help, generally remedied the situation without any stress.
  Maybe, if enough of us complain, the marina may move him down to one of the empty slips closer to the gate. I know he gets along with the live aboard's, but they don't understand why hes not down by the gate and I, have heard complaints about his guest and their habits.     
  I kind of wonder how Joe will act on weekend with large regatta's like the Shoe race or J Fest?               

  Last night someone left a TackTick on the pick-nick table by the tractor shed, in dry storage at Seabrook. It is in my car and I will return it when I am notified or you can pick it up next Wednesday from Student Driver.

  First let me start by saying the WNR race committee does a great job that I / we cannot thank them enough, for there effort and time. Plus I. told Scott I was going to post this for general input.
  My complaint is with the extra complication and overall unfairness of High Point Scoring (HPS). There is a reason US Sailing abandoned high point scoring in the mid 90's. WNR does have the right to use any scoring method it chooses to use per rule 90.3(a), as log as it's posted in the NOR's.
  High point works for a single race but fails when combine with several races spread over several weeks for an overall totals. While there is only minor differences in say the first five boats total scores. It changes for those competitors further down in the scoring,(example... I score 15th with HPS but 8th using low point scoring). I was out scored by three boats that missed two series with HPS, yet when using low point I place higher, as did some other boats.
  I know over time I should improve and move up in the standings. Meanwhile, I think the scoring should reflect more accurate overall scores and standings for those that participate regularly vs those that only make it out occasionally for what ever reason.
  Plus it would be simpler to total scores using low point, as you could drop the step of converting to a percentage to come up with an arbitrary number based on a changing variable, (number  of boats in a given race / series).       
  I would like to see WNR go back to scoring as set forth  in Appendix A in the RRS 2017-2020.
  That's my two cents, fill free to poke as many hole in my argument as you can.
>>> This is NOT to imply that we should change the scoring method used for Rum Races.<<<

  Seabrook Marina Dry Storage area (pier P) was  turned into a mud pit during Harvey. They have done a lot to clean this up, but there is still a lot loose dust. Be aware that while driving through that area you will be kicking up dust behind your car. It will just take time for it to wash away with future rains.