GBCA Discussion Forum

Someone can't just move the mark!!  The starting times are based on the distance, moving the mark will obviously change the distance. 

So much for the new classes for rum races. 

J 105s and 109s are not planning hulls.  Asyms (sprit or no sprit) have a huge advantage over sym spinnakers on the clockwise RR and many times on the counterclockwise course.  The design of the asym sail, regardless if it's on a sprit or the bow, gives that boat a big advantage over symmetrical spins on the spinnaker reaching legs. 

I'd like to see the start pushed back to Friday and the course shortened up so everyone can make the party Sat night.  Taking two days off of work and ending up back home in Seabrook takes away from the "vacation" aspect of Harvest Moon.  Many people had to take off work 5 days or more due to the storm and won't be able or willing to take two additional days to race offshore.  I have spoken to many of the racers and they agree on this. 

I think the entries of our offshore races in the past shows that overnight racing and finishing at home is not a very popular race.  I do think we will get more participation for HM regardless of the format than we do for Heald Bank because many people have already planned for it but I do think a Friday start would be more appealing. 

We are needing someone to step up and organize the food for Rum Race 8 this Sat.  You will be re-imbursed, all you need to do is the legwork and set up.  Please email if interested at hayesrigging@aol.com. 

Thanks
Kevin Hayes

OK, 76 people have viewed this topic so many people are interested in the Rum Race parties but so far no one has stepped up to offer to help!!  We have RR#1 and RR#3 covered but looking for others.  Remember none of this happens without the help of volunteers, so we are looking for volunteers to help out! 

Let me know if you are interested!  hayesrigging@aol.com

GBCA is looking for volunteers to help with the Rum Race parties.  We will make it very easy for you and provide you with guidelines that will outline budget and expectations.  Basically you will provide the food and set up the food for the party.  You will NOT be responsible for cleaning up, GBCA board members will do that.  You will be reimbursed for expenses as provided for by the budget. 

Please let me know if you are available and would like to help out!  Remember GBCA is run by all volunteers! 

If you would like more information or would like to volunteer please contact me at hayesrigging@aol.com.

Thanks

Kevin Hayes

If you have a 80-120 degree wind shift the race should be abandoned by the RC.  Granted rum races are a different story but I don't recall that big of a shift on a rum race in a long time.  Rum races aren't "true" triangles that you would have if set by a RC.  The two reaching legs would be 135 degree tight spin reaches.  This typically leads to follow the leader on boats of the same speed, no tactical manuevers, its straight line speed. 

Boring W/l vs triangles?   Triangles limit the passing lanes big time.  Also makes racing a sym vs a sym inpossible.  i don't think there is any venue in the country that runs triangles for keel boats.  The distance/pursuit style racing is a different story but if we are going to up the racing on GB it's going to be with a measured rating rule using w/l format. 

And no Jay I'm not volunteering for PHRF committee! 

I don't think offering ORC classes alongside PHRF classes will work.  Our race fleet is so small to begin with, adding more classes we're going to end up with even smaller classes.  I think a one day windward/leeward ORC only event would be ideal. 

I'm not sure how this would work with the pursuit starts and the random reaching legs we have on rum races.  To get a true measure on the rating system we need to run a w/l inshore race just as the certificate states.  ORC fleet would not need to be split between sprit and non sprit classes.  The ratings take that into account.  The second place boat in KW was a sym boat.  For that matter in PHRF w/l racing it doesn't make sense to separate sprit and non sprit boats either. 

I just sailed on Kenai in Key West Race Week which was scored using the ORC rating system.  I was very impressed with how it seemed to rate the races from heavy air at the beginning of the week to light air at the end of the week.  I really wish we could move this direction on Galveston Bay.  If you look at the results of the races it was very tight racing in almost every race (take away the result of Kenai in race 5 and 6, the three blade max prop wasn't folded and we were dog slow). 

The system uses a 3 rating band for light, med and heavy air.  The RC decides prior to the race which rating system will be used and can later change that if they deem the race was sailed in another wind speed band. 

I would like to see us run an ORC only event on GB at some point this year to be able to get our feet wet. 

Any thoughts??

There is no longer any local sailors onboard Otra Vez.  Most if not all of the crew on the boat lives in Europe. 

Am I reading the NOR correctly, there is no mention of Offshore Safety Regulations.  No MOB equipment needed or harnesses required??  I would classify this as more of an offshore race than Harvest Moon.  Mark roundings, definite sail changes amd further from the shoreline than HM. 

Am I missing something??

Brian I agree.  In many cases the size of boat and rating go hand in hand but there are some cases where boat type should over rule the rating in determining the class splits.  I think the Ben 25 not being able to race in a w/l class this weekend is the start of a big problem that we have.  This is the premiere GBCA w/l race of the year and the Ben 25 is no doubt a race boat.  They wanted to race w/l and were automatically put in the distance class cause they are an aftermarket sprit. 

I believe until we hear from more boat owners or regatta organizers on this topic I am afraid nothing is changing. 

In the conundrum maybe Psyched will be in the "symmetrical home built class"?

The 3 boat one design class (J109) this weekend is exactly what I've been talking about in regards to class splits.  There could be a great class A with the 122, c&c115 and 3 J109s.  Then have the rest of the boats Melges 24, J-80, j-92s, J-70 and Pingo in Class B.  I would also add in the Ben 25 (which is another reason not to split the "factory vs non factory sprits".  When was the last time you saw 8 boats in a under 30' class with all relatively similiar design on GB? 

Where will the class split be if the 109s have there own class?  It's not fair racing for either end of the spectrum in the PHRF group.  I never recall sitting in a PHRF committee meeting and someone on the board ask "how well will a J-122 sail against a J-80"?   PHRF works with similiar boats of similiar size. 

Just my thoughts!