Match racing in the bay?

[Black Jack]

Why should you go match racing? Because you love to sail single and double handed. And because you want to improve your sailing skills. And because you want to have more fun on the water than you have ever had before. In a match race, you and your crew will perfect your boat handling skills much more quickly than in a series of fleet races. In that time, you will usually do a pre-start, 2 windward legs and 2 leeward legs. In the bay we could do longer more fun sails with the city front as part of our reward for being out there.

A match race has been likened to a chess game on the water. It is a usual race between two boats over a prescribed course. There is no handicapping. Each team tries to outwit the other through superior crew work, tactics and strategy and judicious use of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS). In a match race, you usually have only one other boat to beat and it does not matter if you win by one second or one minute. There is no second place in match racing – only a winner and losers, just as in a chess matches. Though almost all match races are sailed in identical, one-design boats, there is always major exceptions. In the America’s Cup, the boats are all designed to the America’s Cup Class rule, but each boat is slightly different than the other and speed differences are common. In the typical big money match race, the boats are basically identical and will theoretically sail at the same speed, the match is principally a test of crew work, tactics and strategy. The best crew should win the race. In more realistic working man races, with so many different boats - these traditions and rules need not apply. We race what we brung - as far as boats and equipment go, it is up to the skipper or crew.

If you are one of those who want to race or sail with others during Covid-19 issues it be without committee boats, so match boat racing may be our answer - 

I kinda like the city front to do these challenges. May 2nd may a good day to begin.



I hope this will catch on. Let's open the conversation!

 

[BobJ]

So we're on the same page, real match racing on the City front in May would look like this, assuming you have well-practiced crew:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bACo5zKuByI

Whose boats were you thinking we'd use?

 

[mike cunningham]

So we're on the same page, real match racing on the City front in May would look like this, assuming you have well-practiced crew:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bACo5zKuByI

Whose boats were you thinking we'd use?

Yikes!

 

[DaveH]

Evidently you haven't been paying attention to the very real consequences of close tactical racing, in typical May slot conditions, & particularly in mixed fleets of single and double handed boats.
With aggression encouraged, (an essential match racing component)?
2 words -
HELL NO.

 

[AlanH]

So we're on the same page, real match racing on the City front in May would look like this, assuming you have well-practiced crew:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bACo5zKuByI

Whose boats were you thinking we'd use?

I've seen that footage before, but had forgotten it. Hot damn!
However, singlehanded? Nope!

 

[Dazzler]

Ted,
It’s not long after April 1, but are your serious? You really need to start paying attention.

I for one, had hoped you would see the folly in your proposed race around TI/YBI with the prize a cooler full of potentially infected bottles. I was disappointed that you didn’t see any reason to call it off. Were you surprised at the lack of response? I do hope you notified SFPD that the cooler you left behind on the float wasn’t an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) so they don’t have to call out the bomb squad.

I speak from no official position, but this forum might not be the best place to present your ideas.

 

[SFBaysailor]

So we're on the same page, real match racing on the City front in May would look like this, assuming you have well-practiced crew:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bACo5zKuByI

Whose boats were you thinking we'd use?

Video gave me anxiety. It reminded me of the NASCAR saying, rubbin’ is racin’.

JD

 

[Black Jack]

So we're on the same page, real match racing on the City front in May would look like this, assuming you have well-practiced crew:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bACo5zKuByI

Whose boats were you thinking we'd use?

That video made me sweat - too close for comfort!

I was thinking that many boats that fall between certain assumed ranges could sail against each other. Two boats (or more) sailing the same course is just splended and if there is a hint of assumed marked results, the better.

I am working to have my first match against another mull 30, Shadow. Shadow should be slightly faster. As with bay racing, timing, current and luck are part of a successful run. It would take a lot for me to sail to Bruce's 145 phrf.

 

[Black Jack]

Ted,
It’s not long after April 1, but are your serious? You really need to start paying attention.

I for one, had hoped you would see the folly in your proposed race around TI/YBI with the prize a cooler full of potentially infected bottles. I was disappointed that you didn’t see any reason to call it off. Were you surprised at the lack of response? I do hope you notified SFPD that the cooler you left behind on the float wasn’t an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) so they don’t have to call out the bomb squad.

I speak from no official position, but this forum might not be the best place to present your ideas.

The simple white foam cooler was open with no lid, filled with seawater and soap. the beer was visible. The position of the cooler was on a private club dock which takes a key or a boat to get to it.

We can chose to live our lives anyway we chose. There are a lot of people who are afraid of the numerous things that might be or possibly happen. I and many others will not let minimized risk deter us for enjoying what we love while being inclusive for others. Obviously not having organized volunteers to put on a sailboat contest has dampened the second and third quarters of the year. Us sailors can furl up and stay home or we can do something that is the next best thing. Considering how many older solo and double-handed sailors we have here among us, there are not as many sailing seasons left as we pretend there will be.

I imagine many of the first solo racers who organized the first singlehanded Transpac were told to stay at home too. It was better level headed sailors and their friends that made this organization what it is.

 

[Thom]

The simple white foam cooler was open with no lid, filled with seawater and soap. the beer was visible. The position of the cooler was on a private club dock which takes a key or a boat to get to it.

We can chose to live our lives anyway we chose. There are a lot of people who are afraid of the numerous things that might be or possibly happen. I and many others will not let minimized risk deter us for enjoying what we love while being inclusive for others. Obviously not having organized volunteers to put on a sailboat contest has dampened the second and third quarters of the year. Us sailors can furl up and stay home or we can do something that is the next best thing. Considering how many older solo and double-handed sailors we have here among us, there are not as many sailing seasons left as we pretend there will be.

I imagine many of the first solo racers who organized the first singlehanded Transpac were told to stay at home too. It was better level headed sailors and their friends that made this organization what it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeOf-tv_YtI

Risk is a personal thing. Folks don't sail singlehanded without acknowledging that they are taking a risk. So, Imprimus-SSS folks are risk takers. OTOH, match racing seems to be about the start and penalties when played at the upper levels. The covid cup beer cooler challenge is more of an acceptable risk. Lots of possibilities that don't "up the ante" include a simple fox and hounds, or reverse start "there and back". Even other options are available with GPS, just post your track and challenge anyone to beat your time on that course.

 

[Tchoupitoulas]

BAMA had the online racetrack. It was a pretty fun course.

 

[jkalucki]

Low-key racing proposal

Any SIP racing needs to be:

• Easy to run and score fairly. (i.e. no on-the-water race committee)
• Extremely low risk of injury or damage that might require external intervention.
• Low stress and fun!

Make it look and work like a day sail, but the "racing" is all scored afterwards.

I'd suggest a slightly virtual contest where all scoring is done via GPS track. Use an existing app (e.g. Strava) that makes it clear that the results weren't doctored and came straight from the phone app. Allow for a long starting window, perhaps 5 minutes + 30 seconds per boat, to prevent pre-start chaos. Very long first leg to allow the fleet to spread out before the first turning mark. Maybe even require a short video clip of you and surrounding boats as you approach and again when depart each mark. Offset marks where possible. Single-handed only, no temptation to combine households.

It wouldn't be windward-leeward racing. Tactics would be minimized. Strategy and boat-handing to the fore. Public safety nearly equivalent to day sailing.

 

[BobJ]

Based on what my club/harbor and the USCG are saying (via 'Lectronic Latitude yesterday), I'm going to try to stay off the Bay. My sailing is essential only to me, and that's just psychological.

My son is stuck on an aircraft carrier that hasn't ported in 40 days to protect the sailors, my DIL is an ICU nurse working long shifts, and so on. It's what I need to do. YMMV

 

[AlanH]

While I'm dying to get out on the water, I'm with Bob on this one.

Yes, I flouted my county's orders to not travel more than 5 miles, on Sunday. Joan and I did a bike ride that at it's farthest point took us more like 9 miles from the house. But I would feel very indulgent, going sailing, when I can do "boat stuff' at home right now...build that windvane, modify the e-rudder cassette, make stuff for the Piper and so on. It's only a month more to wait, maybe....just a few weeks.

But that's just me.

 

[bobwalden]

From what I saw in the L38 post yesterday, and a few other communications with coasties, I'd say all it would take for them to follow san diego in ordering all non-essential vessels to stay in their slips, would be 1 911 or mayday call on the water from a recreational boater, causing a CG crew to have to scramble and pull in shore duty folks away from other jobs to support them.

That being said, I've gone out a couple times, in super mellow conditions, for some mental health sailing with my live-in co-skipper. We all gotta do what we gotta do, but I strongly advocate for extreme caution and zero organized events on the water until SIP is lifted.

 

[Black Jack]

I am reading that many here are concerned. I get it. I among other things am a professional first responder, a navy veteran as well as self employed business owner. Frankly we have been living in a COVID19 community here in the bay area since late November 2019. The bronze rivet is the the social distancing problem. Sailing solo or double handed sailing or racing isn't a problem. It is all conjecture about what authorities will do to people who endeavor to do an informal, safe sailing event as we lift the SIP orders in the upcoming weeks. Whether we sail alone on the bay for exercise or with a group of other boats really doesn't matter. We have always had an obligation to do our part to be safe out there, to care of our other sailing friends, as well manage our recreational boating risk.

But getting back to the biggest bronze rivet, we can not count on having a committee boat or deck as we have known. The virus isn't going away and we can not let our valuable friends cluster like they have. Adding additional sailing electronic and managing the tracking is other hurdles that are being some want pressed takes the fun out to the point of almost why bother.

We are going to be dealing with this virus for a while. Thinking it is going away in summer isn't going to happen. In reality this is a multiyear problem. The economic and social consequences for many of us will change in the next months to come. I put out this proposal as just one idea. The other around the island event was as safe as I could think of by myself. I hoped to be challenged by smarter and more socially connected like minded people who will begin to think outside of the box until we can go back to the way it was.

 

[Thom]

Checked with Solano county and asked about an organized, family oriented or single handed regatta-since the coasties are doing what the counties tell them to do regarding their SIP requirements. They responded nyet, no, don't do it, and made up a bunch of stuff that boiled down to they ain't gonna agree to allow an organized recreational venue of any sort. One of the situations where it is better to ask forgiveness if you need it, but never ask for permission.

 

[Black Jack]

Checked with Solano county and asked about an organized, family oriented or single handed regatta-since the coasties are doing what the counties tell them to do regarding their SIP requirements. They responded nyet, no, don't do it, and made up a bunch of stuff that boiled down to they ain't gonna agree to allow an organized recreational venue of any sort. One of the situations where it is better to ask forgiveness if you need it, but never ask for permission.

If we do informal non-sanctioned events - we are just outside taking the airs and getting our exercise, the coast guard is happy to see us out there. The few days I have gone sailing in the estuary during this event, we have been greeted with waves and smiles by our fine young men and women who patrol our waters. Really, the worse thing the authorities may do is ask us to go home if we get too crowded or look too organized. I doubt in the weeks and months ahead that either will be the case. In my own business as well as hearing form my wife's great company - the new normal isn't coming for a long time, the ideas of active lifestyle will be modified but can not be detoured to those who actively seek it.

There are many people in the bay area who would love to shut down boating for growth and development. Every time we in the bay area reduce the amount of boating, the boating activity and access to the water - the greater the argument is reduce marinas, dry storage space and put further restrictions to launch facilities. It has happened in Redwood City, Alameda, Sausalito, Petaluma and along the Napa river. The response to this virus pandemic is profound in ways we can not imagine. These days we are living in now will effect how much freedom and access we have in the months and years to come.

 

[BobJ]

Certainly, go sailing. But if you need assistance or in some other way you poke the bear, you could shut down recreational boating on SF Bay for all of us. It only takes one phone call from the right authority. And it's likely we'll know it was you who caused it.

With the Corona Challenge, you're encouraging a group of boats to join you as you sail past the Coast Guard station on YBI. That's poking the bear.

So sure, go sailing on your own boat. But please stop trying to organize events on the SSS website.