GBCA Discussion Forum

A few people have asked me why the rum race start was changed to an hour earlier than in the past several years. I don't know but suspect that maybe its because the course is a little longer.

A little history as best I remember, but maybe some of the more tenured GBCA folks can correct me...
The races started out as the TGIF races, and were held after work on Friday.  Since the start was after work, it was a little late, and always finished after dark.
The races then moved to Saturday, with the same start time as it was on Friday (I think).  More boats could participate since more people could get to their boats in time.
A few years ago the start time was moved to one hour earlier, still on Saturday.  This year the start time is another hour earlier.

My preference would be to keep the start time as it was, and move the time limit a little later (say 2130?) if that is necessary to accommodate a longer course.  Seems like on the nights when boats can't finish in time, it is very light (and hot) at the start and during the first leg, but fills in later. Adding another hour to the front of that misery won't make anybody thrilled.

Your thoughts?

Stinger's start is now 16:19:41 instead of 17:19:41. 

When our start was 17:19:41, we usually had a dock time around 16:00:00.  I have always felt that 17:00:00 is one of the hotter times of the day, but by the time we started the bay felt pretty nice.  Sun was heading toward sundown and since we were usually on a Westward board as we finished, the sunset was always spectacular. Typically we managed to get to the GBCA clubhouse early, but still frequently after sunset. Other then finishing in the dark the only other negative for me is that I get home late and I no longer like to drive at night all that much.

With a 16:19:41 start, dock time will likely move up to 15:00:00, and we will start very near the proverbial hottest time of the day.  No big deal, its Texas hot all day, and it will probably feel the same out on the bay anyway. I suspect that for most of the races the sun will still be quite high when Stinger finishes so  we will miss that sunset  ???.  The positive for me is that regardless of whether or not I choose to go to the party, I can get home an hour early.  Besides missing the sunset, the negative is I will probably stay at the party longer and so the positive will never happen.

I like seeing the sunset.  Before I got my bionic eyeballs, during 69 years without them, sunsets never looked all that great.  Now they do.

I vote for leaving the start time as it was.

 Your history is basically correct. The earlier start time was to accommodate some of the boats that don't normally built with running lights. I know I, have had some close calls with more then a few power boats racing in the channel after dark.

 To clarify my last post the Saturday starts were move up from the Friday starts for the reason given. I personally don't care what start time we use.

Based upon feedback and requests from a number of skippers and crew, we moved the start up another hour this year to allow more people to make it to the after race party.  We left the cutoff time the same to allow more boats to finish in case of light winds.  Last year had a number of DNF due to time limit.
Personally I preferred the night racing we had years ago.  This is Texas where the summer is hot day and night. 
This is GBCA which is the place to race.  We also have great parties for which we need to facilitate more people attending and thereby possibly drive up membership.
We're trying new things all the time.

I can resemble that remark. :D

Plus it's a test to see who is reading the SI's or just relying upon their memory of yesteryear.  New marks and new time, we'll see who starts when and goes around which mark(s).
8)

I would prefer to leave the start time as it was for most of the reasons outlined by Bee. More time in the sun before the wind fills in does not sound inviting. Additionally, with kids at home, taking a bigger bite out of the day for sailing is not optimal.

On Psyched, rating 78, we started at 7:28 on Fridays and 6:28 on Saturdays in the 90s. Finishing at night was a blast!!  This is why we had the no luffing rule and the 2 boat length passing rule cause most of the racing happened at night.  Somewhere along the way "at night" was removed.  Now we need to remove this altogether and let the RRS work the way there suppose to.  I prefer the later starts personally.  Speaking of Psyched she will be out this Sat with blooper and all!!   Hope this year no one accuses us of cheating by flying two spins!!!

I think the earlier start time is a good idea.  Years ago the Rum Races were dominated by performance boats which could finish the races fairly quickly.  The number of boats that participate in the Cruising Class has increased dramatically over the last few years.  Most of these boats require more time to complete the courses. The earlier start time will allow these boats to finish and make it to the party before it gets too late. One other option may be to allow the earlier start time for the Cruiser Class and retain the later start time for the other classes.  This may allow the participants to arrive at the party at similar times. Just my thoughts.  Its no fun finishing after dark when you can't see the sail numbers or boat names. In any case.. we are looking forward to Rum #1 Saturday!

Quote from: Eric713 on June 02, 2015, 08:13:03 AM
I think the earlier start time is a good idea.  Years ago the Rum Races were dominated by performance boats which could finish the races fairly quickly.  The number of boats that participate in the Cruising Class has increased dramatically over the last few years.  Most of these boats require more time to complete the courses. The earlier start time will allow these boats to finish and make it to the party before it gets too late. One other option may be to allow the earlier start time for the Cruiser Class and retain the later start time for the other classes.  This may allow the participants to arrive at the party at similar times. Just my thoughts.  Its no fun finishing after dark when you can't see the sail numbers or boat names. In any case.. we are looking forward to Rum #1 Saturday!

...or add 30 seconds to all the Cruising Class ratings.

Hopefully someone will get a picture of that Blooper Blooping.  Actually hopefully the wind God will make the winds favorable for Bloops.

Everyone on our boat is disappointed about the earlier start time.  It's hotter, the wind is lighter, and leaving the house even earlier doesn't help things on the homefront.  One of my favorite things about summer is watching the sunset while sailing in after a rum race.  Eric713's suggestion of starting the cruising class earlier is a good one.  Maybe 30 minutes instead of an hour.  Leave the rest of us alone!  It wasn't broken!

Sailflow predictions for this Saturday:

3pm     7kts     88*
4pm     9kts     88*
5pm     9kts     88*
6pm     9kts     87*
7pm     9kts     87*

Doesn't look like the earlier start time is going to make any difference.

On the other side of the coin, we could start at 7pm, finish in the dark, and skip the parties.
Just sayin'.

Charles,

More often it starts light and builds.
Why don't you poll the members and see what they want as far as start time goes. I think starting the cruising class earlier, if that is what they want, would be a good solution.

Balancing family and sailing is pretty tricky and the source of some pretty serious tension in my household and an earlier departure just adds to the problem.

This matter should be decided by the members of the club not by a committee.

George

I don't really care what time we start, one hour doesn't make any difference to me.  It's June racing, it's light air and if the sea breeze is not established by 2:00, it's not coming.  Other than Rum Races we start at 10:00 or 11:00 - I don't see what the big deal is.

I just saw the poll at the top of this post. Everyone please take the poll. At the moment the sentiment is to leave the start time as it was.

Just to be clear, I also don't really care what time we start.  Stinger will be out there one way or the other.

Eric713, great idea! Gets everyone to the party at the same time!

I like early, more time to be at the party before I make the 75 mile drive back to Katy Tx.

Its too early.

Quote from: hayesrigging on June 01, 2015, 10:39:34 PM
 Hope this year no one accuses us of cheating by flying two spins!!!

Was there a change to the rules that allows two spinnakers?  I'm just curious as I was under the impression this was not allowed since it's flying multiple headsails.  This is meant for information only.  She did look cool flying down the channel.

We did not fly 2 spinnakers, the smaller blue and white sail is a blooper, not a spinnaker.  It is legal to fly along with a spinnaker.  It was actually too light last night for the blooper but I decided to fly it just for the heck of it.  Psyched is for sale if anyone wants it!!

Going back to the topic of this discussion, I dislike the earlier starting time.  Its brutally hot getting the boat ready to go.  Now your entire Saturday is devoted to racing rather than just late afternoon/evening.  The old "Sat night rum races" have turned into another day race that the only difference is the staggered starts.  That being said we will still be out there but I do wish we would start later.  Maybe designate one or two rum races with a later starting time so we can experience a little bit of the evening racing?

Kevin Hayes

With my heavy liveaboard boat and light winds, even with the extra hour I missed the 9PM cutoff time (21:03:52 finish = DNF). (I do not like going upwind in light air.) I vote we keep the hour earlier start time at least for the cruising class.

Let the cruising class start early and move the rest back to the hour later start time.

I agree with Kevin. An hour less in peak heat, one more hour for family obligations before leaving for sailing, sailing in with the sun setting... maybe even some night sailing on low wind days.

                                            Back to the previous start time please (later is better)

It's too hot to be starting at the earlier time for my taste. Higher sun angle= more sunburn. The early boat time cuts into doing much else those days.
And additionally the lower handicap boats (faster) will be starting in the later sea breeze providing a bit of an advantage for them. If cruising club wants to start earlier let them (or lower all their ratings).
  Pete

If the "go fast boats" want to start an hour later I am ok with that, without the extra hour it would of been close to the DNF for us on FireWater with the light wind at the start. Here is another idea, go back to the later time and use Icicle course for the slower boats and the new course for the "go fast boats", the race losses some of its fun if half the fleet is DNF.

Another option is to shorten the course.  I know you guys have had problems with J mark, M54, M53.  Why not use F, G, or H to shorten the north side of the course?  Wait till next race.  If we get more light air..it'll be a beat 5 mi from E to M55.

We like it later, like last year.  It's awfully hot at the dock rigging up and waiting for crew when the start is this early.  It will get worse as the summer heats up.  In the summer, evening sailing is much nicer.  Perhaps extend the deadline for finishing for the slower boats.

Figaro crew prefers the later start.
I realize that it would take two sets of starting times but I like Ed's suggestion to shorten the course for the handicap class.
Consider using the high range instead of the low range ("E").
GW

Anyone else want to weigh in? Log in and vote..... Did I mention it's hot?
:P

It's fine the way it is now.

I voted to have it earlier as that gives boats coming from HYC more time to get back and still make it to the party (hopefully before all the food is gone) :)

Late guys (cool breeze, cruising into the sunset) - 47.2% (38.9 plus 8.3) clearly in the lead versus early guys at 38.9% (sweltering heat, crew has a hard time to get there in time from Houston and Katy). 
Consider keeping the early start for the cruising class (one hour earlier) or a shorter course, but give the rest of us late guys back something to look forward to!
GW

I go with Gerhard.  Sunsets were very nice in the "old" days.

You would think the start time was moved up 5 hours.  IT'S...JUST....ONE...HOUR!

The cleanup crew likes it earlier.  We don't get done till around midnight as it is.   ???

Hey Charles - that's a lot of rum drinking and very little cleanup  ;)

Took the words right out of my mouth Greg..

I have to wonder if something needs to be tweaked in the Cruising Class rating system if there are boats that consistently finish very late or not at all.  The handicap system should take care of this by increasing their ratings and moving their start times earlier.  I would rather not start the Cruising Class at a different time than other classes.  I enjoy seeing boats from other classes and wondering who I could have beat, or not, by going PHRF.

WB

Quote from: Greg A Casamayor on July 14, 2015, 09:49:06 AM
Hey Charles - that's a lot of rum drinking and very little cleanup  ;)

Caught again!

So the real question is.... how many more people attended the party with the earlier start time?

Personally, I favor the original start times form the 90's. Finishing at night was always a treat, but I prefer night sailing anyways.

We could have a TGIF that starts at sunset... not sanctioned by GBCA, or any club, just grassroots racing (sailing for my boat). Could run the first one on a full moon, so that no one gets scared...