New Boat 4 Sled

[sleddog]

3BF is known for its unusual scenarios. One of ours on Wylie-39 CHECKERED PAST was sailing downwind in 3 knots of wind with a BS (boat speed) of 1 knot through the water while going backwards at 2 knots in S. Bay ebb through the anchored fleet under the Bay Bridge. We narrowly avoided snagging any anchor lines, but had to periodically center the mainsail to avoid the wishbone hanging up on becalmed competitors. The confusing question in my mind was how to steer a boat that is sailing forwards but is going backwards, stern first, through a minefield of obstructions..

The finish off Golden Gate had an interesting hypothetical scenario. At first I thought the start/finish line between GGYC and Mark X being defined in Rule 9.2 as an "Obtrusion" was a misspelling. It was not a misspelling, but intentional. Look it up.

Never mind, here came 3 racers for possible podium finishes. Boat A was reaching on port tack from YRA 16 (Crissy) to the Finish in a northerly wind of 12 knots. At the same time Boat A was approaching Mark X from the west, Boat B was approaching from the opposite direction, from TI, also making 6.5 knots but on a starboard reach. It looked an even bet who would get there first. Here is where it gets silly. Boat C was approaching the finish running downwind from Red Rock at 90 degrees to the courses of Boats A and B. All three boats entered the 3 boat length zone at Mark X at the same moment. Your trivia is to tell us who won and why. (Collisions were thankfully avoided.)

 

[todd22123]

My thought:

Boat B wins- starboard tack vs Boat A on port tack
And leeward of Boat C

Rule 18 (mark room) does not apply:

18. MARK-ROOM
18.1. When Rule 18 Applies
Rule 18 applies between boats when they are required to leave a mark on the same side [NO REQUIREMENT TO LEAVE THE FINISH MARK ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER] and at least one of them is in the zone. However, it does not apply​

1. between boats on opposite tacks on a beat to windward,
2. between boats on opposite tacks when the proper course at the mark for one but not both of them is to tack.
3. between a boat approaching a mark and one leaving it, or
4. if the mark is a continuing obstruction, in which case rule 19 applies.​

Therefore, the situation is covered by right of way rules 10 and 11:

10. ON OPPOSITE TACKS
When are on opposite tacks, a port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard-tack boat.

11. ON THE SAME TACK, OVERLAPPED
When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat

In case there is any prize available for this, I offer to give to someone who can help me understand two additional situations that I have seen in the 3BF.

Is it legal for a boat to use an electric windlass to raise and lower the anchor if there is no specific permission included on the PHRF Cert?

Is it legal for one Express 27 to hang on to another Express 27 that is anchored?​

I think the answer to both of these is NO.

 

[sleddog]

Photos of West Marin rainbows taken today by CBC observers. Photo 1 of double rainbow taken by Milly Biller looking north from Inverness Yacht Club at low tide. Thank you, Milly.!



Photo 2 of rainbow crossing Chileno Valley, west of Petaluma, taken by Sally Stewart. Thank you, Sally!

 

[BobJ]

Love the rainbows and the green hills! Here's one over the ravine behind the Johnston yard and sail folding area.

When we moved here 29 years ago there were no houses back there, just the hills.

Those aren't UFOs above the rainbow - I took the photo through the kitchen window.

 

[sleddog]

"Crossing the Bar" can mean a peaceful transition between Life and Death. Or it can mean you will die if you try to cross the San Francisco Entrance Bar on a bad day, as in the photo above. That's the Potato Patch in the upper left, and the South Bar in the foreground. Even the shipping channel is hard to discern.

As for the mythical "South Channel" marked on older charts, it doesn't exist except in the mind of some old timers. There was even a red buoy there once upon a time. But in 1966 it ended up on the beach when run over by a ship and was never replaced. Don't go there if the Bar is breaking, thinking you'll take a shortcut.

 

[sleddog]

You might have to duck your head as you pass under this rainbow caught by Sarah Killingsworth on Pt. Reyes two days ago

 

[sleddog]

My thought:

Boat B wins- starboard tack vs Boat A on port tack And leeward of Boat C

Rule 18 (mark room) does not apply:

18. MARK-ROOM
18.1. When Rule 18 Applies
Rule 18 applies between boats when they are required to leave a mark on the same side [NO REQUIREMENT TO LEAVE THE FINISH MARK ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER] and at least one of them is in the zone. However, it does not apply​

1. between boats on opposite tacks on a beat to windward,
2. between boats on opposite tacks when the proper course at the mark for one but not both of them is to tack.
3. between a boat approaching a mark and one leaving it, or
4. if the mark is a continuing obstruction, in which case rule 19 applies.​

Therefore, the situation is covered by right of way rules 10 and 11:

10. ON OPPOSITE TACKS
When are on opposite tacks, a port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard-tack boat.

11. ON THE SAME TACK, OVERLAPPED
When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat

In case there is any prize available for this, I offer to give to someone who can help me understand two additional situations that I have seen in the 3BF.

Is it legal for a boat to use an electric windlass to raise and lower the anchor if there is no specific permission included on the PHRF Cert?

Is it legal for one Express 27 to hang on to another Express 27 that is anchored?​

I think the answer to both of these is NO.

Thanks, Todd, for your adept analysis! I would agree with your conclusions. The Racing Rules of Sailing are befuddled by many out-of-ordinary situations. And this is one of them. 3BF is a legit race with clear instructions. Yet the RRS boggles smokes, and melts when presented with exceptions such this created by crafty SSS sailors. Ultimately the bottom rule would be "don't hit your competitor."

Is the use an electric windlass while racing legal if not rated for such? It can be argued both ways. Is the electric windlass advancing your position on the course? Should electric autopilots be legal?

I would say that two Express-27's hanging off one anchor would be classified as "outside assistance" in my mind, even if the boats never touched. But this was the 3BF, and anything seems to go, within reason of course.

The recent Global Solo Challenge race around the World has an interesting exception. Motoring is legal! Does that make it a race, or a rally?

 

[sleddog]

You can run, but you can't hide. Capt. Bob in Hawaii caught the sleddog inbound today on the Santa Cruz Harbor entrance webcam. Thanks, Bob! It was delicious paddling weather with offshore wind.

 

[Philpott]

Good to know somebody is watching over you, Skip.

 

[MillyB]

Good to know somebody is watching over you, Skip.

Great pic ! I only ever see you outbound !

 

[AntsUiga]

I will match your double paddle, lower the elevation by 282 feet below sea level, and float on a mere 2-3 feet of water that is saltier than the ocean. I will allow Marsha as the paddler.

Ants

 

[sleddog]

View attachment 8918

I will match your double paddle, lower the elevation by 282 feet below sea level, and float on a mere 2-3 feet of water that is saltier than the ocean. I will allow Marsha as the paddler.

Ants

Good one, Ants! Few have boated in Death Valley! You and Marsha are to be congratulated, and are awarded the Challenge Pennant from CBC for a most unusual and challenging expedition. Well done!

 

[sleddog]

Port Captain Spruit has recently launched his Super El Toro PUFF. Here is a photo of PUFF on her maiden sail at Santa Cruz. PUFF's rig is a balanced lug, and even reefed as in the below photo, this 12 footer has the same sail area as a standard Laser, 76 sq. feet.

Your challenge for a bowl of Macapuno at CBC, or a copy of Sailing On Wildflower is to tell us what error did the sailmaker make when building PUFF's sail. Hint: Semaphore signal "ND"


photo compliment of Rainer Stegemann

 

[Philpott]

Nice photo of Marsha, Ants.
Howard's boat looks a bit like my first boat, a 15' West Wight Potter, which I sailed on Wisconsin lakes. Maybe Howard will bring his boat up, participate in the Bullship Race from Sausalito to the St Fancy?

 

[Intermission]

Your challenge for a bowl of Macapuno at CBC, or a copy of Sailing On Wildflower is to tell us what error did the sailmaker make when building PUFF's sail. Hint: Semaphore signal "ND"

Easy to fix.

 

[sleddog]

The bumpersticker on Milly's truck says "Plan on Improvising." As Port Captain of Inverness YC, she certainly gets to practice improvising. IYC has one of the largest Laser fleets for members use in the SF Bay area. The Junior Program has at least a dozen..and Adult Sailing is additionally blessed. Synthia has recently donated her old Laser that she bought 21 years ago from Stan Honey. Appropriately, Milly named it STAN'S HONEY.

5 new 4.7 Laser prqctice sails arrived at IYC last week. They came with battens, but no sail numbers except several block "8's" in an envelope. It didn't take Milly long with her pair of shears to create numbers "1," "2," "3," "4," and "5," out of the number 8 for the new sails. When push comes to shove afloat or ashore, you want Milly on your side!

 

[AntsUiga]

Puff - the Magic Sailor

Port Captain Spruit has recently launched his Super El Toro PUFF. Here is a photo of PUFF on her maiden sail at Santa Cruz. PUFF's rig is a balanced lug, and even reefed as in the below photo, this 12 footer has the same sail area as a standard Laser, 76 sq. feet.

Your challenge for a bowl of Macapuno at CBC, or a copy of Sailing On Wildflower is to tell us what error did the sailmaker make when building PUFF's sail. Hint: Semaphore signal "ND"

View attachment 8919
photo compliment of Rainer Stegemann

Howard should be proud and enjoy his new watercraft.

As for the logo, the insignia for the Scamp is a lantern. So, the semaphore clue N and D. Well, it took a second cup of coffee, but I finally came up with the answer -NO DICE!

Ants

 

[sleddog]

Howard should be proud and enjoy his new watercraft. As for the logo, the insignia for the Scamp is a lantern. So, the semaphore clue N and D. Well, it took a second cup of coffee, but I finally came up with the answer -NO DICE! Ants

Sorry Ants, No dice on "No Dice" being the answer to the sailmaker error trivia. Try again before someone else gets it.

 

[Dazzler]

Port Captain Spruit has recently launched his Super El Toro PUFF. Here is a photo of PUFF on her maiden sail at Santa Cruz. PUFF's rig is a balanced lug, and even reefed as in the below photo, this 12 footer has the same sail area as a standard Laser, 76 sq. feet.

Your challenge for a bowl of Macapuno at CBC, or a copy of Sailing On Wildflower is to tell us what error did the sailmaker make when building PUFF's sail. Hint: Semaphore signal "ND"
photo compliment of Rainer Stegemann

“0ne of these things is not like the other. One of these things is not the same…”

 

[sleddog]

View attachment 8922
“0ne of these things is not like the other. One of these things is not the same…”

Dazzler wins! Howard's iconic peace sign on PUFF's sail was designed by Gerald Holtom for the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in 1958. The vertical line in the center, missing its lower half on Howard's sail, represents the flag semaphore signal for the letter D, and the downward lines on either side represent the semaphore signal for the letter N. “N” and “D”, for nuclear disarmament, enclosed in a circle.

The peace symbol became widely known in the United States in 1958 when Albert Bigelow, a pacifist protester, sailed the 30' Sea Witch ketch GOLDEN RULE fitted with the peace flag into the vicinity of an American nuclear test and was arrested.



Not copyrighted, trademarked or restricted, the symbol spread and was adopted by the wider disarmament and anti-war movements. Indeed, in 1967, well respected members of our sailing community flew a peace flag from their winning US Navy 44' yawl while competing in the collegiate championship Kennedy Cup at the US Naval Academy at Annapolis. As admirals and at least one senator were spectating, you can imagine the upset that resulted.

My guess is Howard will correct the sailmaker's error.