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Cheers - Bryan
2012 rules posted
- Thread starter Critter
- Start date
cafemontaigne
Olson 30 "Idefix"
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Happy to be on board. I have no illusions of successfully trying to petition the SSS Board to rescind the dropping of the lifeline exemption for boats under 30' in the 2012 SSI's, but will if there are enough to help carry that water. Since this is my first post here, I'll refrain from a detailed argument as to why I feel that general exemption, while it reasonably might be subject to more strict scrutiny per each type of boat, makes clear sense from a safety standpoint, especially as the foredeck gets smaller. But I'll gladly go there, if there is interest among those who wish to race in the SSS's season series, which this year includes but one offshore race (subject to the lifeline requirements), the HMB. There's plenty of time to announce a change in the SSI's, as they pertain to this race.We on the Can are down with doing the race anyway, in the "Excluded Division". I propose that we start 10 minutes prior to the first warning for the "Legal" event, using no sound signals, but only Zulu time. And, all start flying protest flags. I'll throw down a bottle of my coveted Blackberry Mead as the "Pickle Dish", albeit a useful one, for the PHRF TOT winner in the division, and be happy to crunch numbers to determine the lucky one.
Cheers!
Cruise? You have never tasted my Blackberry Mead, sir. If you want bona fides, ask John Clauser, or his lovely wife Bobbi Tosse. No, this is more like Occupy, without the disruption.
Merrill has it dead right. I have a picture of a Cal 20 returning from an ocean race in MORA, back in the day. (War Dog, for those of you monitoring Pressure Drop). No pulpit, no lifelines. Has the design become more unsafe with the passage of time? With the addition of hard points and tethers?
The smaller a boat gets, once it is under 30' OA, the smaller the foredeck gets. On a Cal 20, it's about 28 sq. ft. One can easily grasp the mast, the forestay, the spinnaker pole (if up), the upper shrouds, etc., from anywhere on the dance floor, if one has to go forward (while tethered). If one were on a ledge of, say 30" of width, would one want a tripwire at calf-height to walk next to, or just the aforementioned safety features?
I've also had responses on PD, pointing out how Black Feathers (a Cal 20, who ceremoniously did the SH TransPac a few years ago), was a proper example of how lifelines could be incorporated into Lapworth's original design. Well, yes, it can be done, but at what cost to the boat's efficiency? With all respect to Mr. Crawford, that's one slow Cal 20. And we're ALL just trying to sail our boats to their respective ratings, here.
I also do understand, and appreciate, that the SSS values individual accomplishments as highly as "placing" in a given race or series. Nothing wrong with that. I also appreciate the "Joshua Slocum" look that is popularized in the SSS branding. However, the SSS, for better or worse, has become a major player in SF Bay racing, offering events that invite SH and DH entries. The SSS also offers an annual series, and heretofore, is the only SF Bay entity requiring, for 2012, bow pulpits and lifelines, for otherwise perfectly seaworthy racing vessels, for purposes of racing offshore. To Half Moon Bay. In August.
We will have a Lifesling on board this year. But, as one who has had actual MOB experience during a race (in the bay, when Paul was just learning to sail), I can state that it was infinitely easier to haul him back on board manually, given our 6-18" freeboard.
Cheers to all.
. If you want bona fides, ask John Clauser, or his lovely wife Bobbi Tosse. No, this is more like Occupy, without the disruption.Merrill has it dead right. I have a picture of a Cal 20 returning from an ocean race in MORA, back in the day. (War Dog, for those of you monitoring Pressure Drop). No pulpit, no lifelines. Has the design become more unsafe with the passage of time? With the addition of hard points and tethers?
The smaller a boat gets, once it is under 30' OA, the smaller the foredeck gets. On a Cal 20, it's about 28 sq. ft. One can easily grasp the mast, the forestay, the spinnaker pole (if up), the upper shrouds, etc., from anywhere on the dance floor, if one has to go forward (while tethered). If one were on a ledge of, say 30" of width, would one want a tripwire at calf-height to walk next to, or just the aforementioned safety features?
I've also had responses on PD, pointing out how Black Feathers (a Cal 20, who ceremoniously did the SH TransPac a few years ago), was a proper example of how lifelines could be incorporated into Lapworth's original design. Well, yes, it can be done, but at what cost to the boat's efficiency? With all respect to Mr. Crawford, that's one slow Cal 20. And we're ALL just trying to sail our boats to their respective ratings, here.
I also do understand, and appreciate, that the SSS values individual accomplishments as highly as "placing" in a given race or series. Nothing wrong with that. I also appreciate the "Joshua Slocum" look that is popularized in the SSS branding. However, the SSS, for better or worse, has become a major player in SF Bay racing, offering events that invite SH and DH entries. The SSS also offers an annual series, and heretofore, is the only SF Bay entity requiring, for 2012, bow pulpits and lifelines, for otherwise perfectly seaworthy racing vessels, for purposes of racing offshore. To Half Moon Bay. In August.
We will have a Lifesling on board this year. But, as one who has had actual MOB experience during a race (in the bay, when Paul was just learning to sail), I can state that it was infinitely easier to haul him back on board manually, given our 6-18" freeboard.
Cheers to all.
Hi, Richard. Apologies? What for? I actually agree with your position. In fact, I don't agree with the lifeline requirement for any singlehanded boat, regardless of length. I much prefer tether and jack lines over lifelines but don't have the time or energy to tilt against wind mills.
The worst part of serving on the SSS board was having to balance personal opinions against what was in the club's best interests. They aren't always the same. I think these questions are made more complicated by two factors. Those are: using standards that have been developed and accepted for crewed boats as being equally suitable for singlehanded boats and trying to come up with minimum standards that make it possible to have a race among a fleet of very different boats. That said, I also don't understand why SSS chose to be more restrictive than necessary.
I'm thinking about joining you and Dan in the excluded division but don't know if would that be allowed. My boat is 35' and has lifelines. The reason I'm interested isn't a protest. It just sounds like that division might be more fun.
Bill Merrick
The worst part of serving on the SSS board was having to balance personal opinions against what was in the club's best interests. They aren't always the same. I think these questions are made more complicated by two factors. Those are: using standards that have been developed and accepted for crewed boats as being equally suitable for singlehanded boats and trying to come up with minimum standards that make it possible to have a race among a fleet of very different boats. That said, I also don't understand why SSS chose to be more restrictive than necessary.
I'm thinking about joining you and Dan in the excluded division but don't know if would that be allowed. My boat is 35' and has lifelines. The reason I'm interested isn't a protest. It just sounds like that division might be more fun.
Bill Merrick
BobJ
Alerion 38 "Surprise!"
If I thought every single-hander clipped in 100% of the time I would tend to agree with Bill. But we don't, do we? (Nor are we always single-handed.) The lifelines are just there.
With respect to the SSS rule history this argument reminds me of tax credits. There will always be those who, when a one-time credit expires, will still yell "tax increase!" It makes me wonder if SSS can ever try relaxing a rule.
(I'm sure I'll make some friends with that one.)
With respect to the SSS rule history this argument reminds me of tax credits. There will always be those who, when a one-time credit expires, will still yell "tax increase!" It makes me wonder if SSS can ever try relaxing a rule.
(I'm sure I'll make some friends with that one.)
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Regarding the lifeline issue...how much longer shall we endure this? Is it really necessary to call out the one person that sailed his Cal 20 in the SHTP and say his boat was slow? If I recall, Mr. Robert Crawford sailed his boat pretty fast and placed well in the fleet...with lifelines on it! Wow, go figure.
Damn, I always get in trouble speaking my mind, especially in forums, but my god, can we give it a rest already. Some of the board members' terms will be up this year so there should be room for "you" to get involved and change those rules you oppose.
Damn, I always get in trouble speaking my mind, especially in forums, but my god, can we give it a rest already. Some of the board members' terms will be up this year so there should be room for "you" to get involved and change those rules you oppose.
To Sparky: It's an ugly little secret among us handicap racing Cal 20s that, if we can get the kite up for more than 60% of the race, we're practically unbeatable. They go NO faster than 4.75kts hard upwind, ever. But we've hit 12s and 13s regularly on the flip side. I was just reflecting on how things worked out when we were racing against Mr. Crawford boat for boat. No disrespect for his accomplishment.
To BobJ, I actually think taxes are pretty low, considering what a hole we're in. There, that should take some pressure off you.
To Mr. Merrick: The whole fun of the "Excluded Division" is that no-one is excluded! Protest flags while crossing the Start or Finish lines should be optional, and will not affect eligibility for the mead.
Cheers, all
To BobJ, I actually think taxes are pretty low, considering what a hole we're in. There, that should take some pressure off you
.To Mr. Merrick: The whole fun of the "Excluded Division" is that no-one is excluded! Protest flags while crossing the Start or Finish lines should be optional, and will not affect eligibility for the mead.
Cheers, all
BobJ
Alerion 38 "Surprise!"
Sparks, I think we'll probably all have a beer together when it's said-and-done. Not to minimize the impact of the change on Dura Mater*, the Can and the Spear, but some of this may be cabin fever.
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* I realized I left Jackie's Cal 20 out of my comment. It got me thinking though - we have "Can o' Whoopass" and "Death Spear" (okay, really "Jetstream") both sounding like they were named by guys. What softer, gentler name might "Dura Mater" be, presumably chosen by a woman? From the MedicalNet dictionary:
"Dura mater: Literally, hard mother (in Latin). The outermost, toughest, and most fibrous of the three membranes (meninges) covering the brain and the spinal cord."
'Yo Phil, can I have some of that popcorn?
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* I realized I left Jackie's Cal 20 out of my comment. It got me thinking though - we have "Can o' Whoopass" and "Death Spear" (okay, really "Jetstream") both sounding like they were named by guys. What softer, gentler name might "Dura Mater" be, presumably chosen by a woman? From the MedicalNet dictionary:
"Dura mater: Literally, hard mother (in Latin). The outermost, toughest, and most fibrous of the three membranes (meninges) covering the brain and the spinal cord."
'Yo Phil, can I have some of that popcorn?
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Phil MacFarlane
New member
I've been following this thread for quite a while. First over at pressure drop and now over here.
I'm going to have to go out and get more popcorn soon.
Carry on.
I'm going to have to go out and get more popcorn soon.
Carry on.
Nice job, guys. Eating your young, as in those currently involved in the SSS, or those who might otherwise be inclined to get involved. Oh, and the past kahunas, too. And winking smugly to each other about it. That's the recipe for long-term success, for sure.
Guess we'll have to get this done out on the water, and revisit in the fall.
Guess we'll have to get this done out on the water, and revisit in the fall.