The
VSS Racing ForumThe purpose of this Racing Forum is
to promote the free exchange of ideas among sailors in the Venice Area
who are interested is sailboat racing. In particular, what should
we do to promote better participation, better competition and more
fun? If you want to make suggestions or respond to anything you
see, just email me at VeniceSailor@Comcast.net by clicking here.
(Underlining indicates a link, usually to email to the original author
or to other web pages.)
8/29/9 In a recent email, Gordon McKeehan, the owner of the Nautical Trader wrote:
At the Change of Watch over Memorial Day Weekend the new Commodore, Steve Saewert, passed out some guidelines and/or suggestions for the Fleet Captains and others. For my area he listed:
Mission - More boats, More fun
Consider:
1. a novice class
2. a "ground school" for new captains (and experienced ones)
3. the second race to have "fun" components or to be "fun" races
4. a later start (e.g. 1:00 pm(?))
5. a Party or Dinner after races to build camaraderie and to promote racing, e.g. "see you at Scamotz at 5:30"
6. challenge races (men vs. ladies, jibs only, mains only, etc.)
7. Can we integrate with VYC sailors more?
My take on a few of these: I'm certainly in favor of trying to improve participation and having more fun, and I think one way to increase the fun is to have more boats. I also think going back to 1:00 pm starts might help, as we would waste less time waiting for the sea breeze. Perhaps Steve's wish for the second race of the day to have a "fun" component might be combined with the party idea. Tail-end-Charlie (Winner??) buys the first round? I especially liked the years when we had beer at VYC following the races.
My own personal "want list" includes:
1. Increase participation, including more VYC boats
2. Change the "virtual distance race" into a real race around marks with a regular start. I have no objection to it being longer, but the "virtual" format has attracted very few participants and boat-to-boat racing certainly increases the fun. A personal agenda is to consider using my spinnaker (with a rating adjustment) in these longer races. I do not presently plan on just making the regular buoy series into a twice a month affair. There may be some who don't want to race on 16 days a season.
3. Set out some "permanent" race buoys. I have heard many times that the authorities won't allow it, but what I have in mind wouldn't begin to be the hazard that the thousands of crab trap buoys off Venice are, so I'm going to look into it.
4. Use more courses that have runs and close reaches and not just the beats and broad reaches of triangles. I think the old style "olympic" courses I set for the last four races of the 2008/9 buoy race series were well received by most sailors, and I hope to keep up the practice.
5. Continue using Rabbit Starts when a suitable committee boat is unavailable, but at the same time try to find ways to enlist more boats for RC use.
Last season's Race Chairman, Bob Jensen, sent an email with the following suggestions:
Use VHF Channel 69 for boat to boat
communication
US Sailing's Quick Guide to the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS)
A Power Point Presentation on the basic rules
The Rule 26 Starting Sequence (PDF)
The Rabbit Start Proceedure
Courses That Will Commonly be Used
A List of Marks on the Gulf Near Venice
Looking for a crew or a boat to race on? Want to be on the Race Committee? Click for ISO!
US Sailing's Quick Guide to the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS)
A Power Point Presentation on the basic rules
The Rule 26 Starting Sequence (PDF)
The Rabbit Start Proceedure
Courses That Will Commonly be Used
A List of Marks on the Gulf Near Venice
Looking for a crew or a boat to race on? Want to be on the Race Committee? Click for ISO!
8/29/9 In a recent email, Gordon McKeehan, the owner of the Nautical Trader wrote:
John
A member of your forum suggested a post-race party and we have discussed hosting 1 of these a couple times a month with beer, sodas, and light snacks. Let me know your thoughts.
A member of your forum suggested a post-race party and we have discussed hosting 1 of these a couple times a month with beer, sodas, and light snacks. Let me know your thoughts.
Gordon
Visit us at "thenauticaltrader.com"
I suspect that we will be able to make use of Gordon's invitation quite soon!
Visit us at "thenauticaltrader.com"
I suspect that we will be able to make use of Gordon's invitation quite soon!
At the Change of Watch over Memorial Day Weekend the new Commodore, Steve Saewert, passed out some guidelines and/or suggestions for the Fleet Captains and others. For my area he listed:
Mission - More boats, More fun
Consider:
1. a novice class
2. a "ground school" for new captains (and experienced ones)
3. the second race to have "fun" components or to be "fun" races
4. a later start (e.g. 1:00 pm(?))
5. a Party or Dinner after races to build camaraderie and to promote racing, e.g. "see you at Scamotz at 5:30"
6. challenge races (men vs. ladies, jibs only, mains only, etc.)
7. Can we integrate with VYC sailors more?
My take on a few of these: I'm certainly in favor of trying to improve participation and having more fun, and I think one way to increase the fun is to have more boats. I also think going back to 1:00 pm starts might help, as we would waste less time waiting for the sea breeze. Perhaps Steve's wish for the second race of the day to have a "fun" component might be combined with the party idea. Tail-end-Charlie (Winner??) buys the first round? I especially liked the years when we had beer at VYC following the races.
My own personal "want list" includes:
1. Increase participation, including more VYC boats
2. Change the "virtual distance race" into a real race around marks with a regular start. I have no objection to it being longer, but the "virtual" format has attracted very few participants and boat-to-boat racing certainly increases the fun. A personal agenda is to consider using my spinnaker (with a rating adjustment) in these longer races. I do not presently plan on just making the regular buoy series into a twice a month affair. There may be some who don't want to race on 16 days a season.
3. Set out some "permanent" race buoys. I have heard many times that the authorities won't allow it, but what I have in mind wouldn't begin to be the hazard that the thousands of crab trap buoys off Venice are, so I'm going to look into it.
4. Use more courses that have runs and close reaches and not just the beats and broad reaches of triangles. I think the old style "olympic" courses I set for the last four races of the 2008/9 buoy race series were well received by most sailors, and I hope to keep up the practice.
5. Continue using Rabbit Starts when a suitable committee boat is unavailable, but at the same time try to find ways to enlist more boats for RC use.
Last season's Race Chairman, Bob Jensen, sent an email with the following suggestions:
1) Buoy racing twice a month.
2) Eliminate Distance Race in
current format.
3) Make one of the buoy races per
month a LONG course. (Love to see more cruisers come out)
4) Set the Olympic Race Course
more often.
As you see, our thinking is similar.
VYBA President John Thomas has made these suggestions:
1. Hold races with a destination, e.g. a race to Marina Jack's with dinner to follow.
2. Have some races on Sundays to get some sailors out who may not have Saturdays free.
My take: I wouldn't advocate racing through Big Pass, but racing to it would be o.k. How about a distance race out on the Gulf that finishes at the jetties with an after race stop at VYC, The Crow's Nest, Pops or Marker 4?
In all of my earlier sailing experiences we had as many Sunday as Saturday races (not to mention Wednesday evenings). How do you feel about other days than Saturday? I must point out that John Thomas is almost always coaching on Saturdays but he might get out in his "new" old C&C 34 on Sundays.
Back to the Racing Page
As you see, our thinking is similar.
VYBA President John Thomas has made these suggestions:
1. Hold races with a destination, e.g. a race to Marina Jack's with dinner to follow.
2. Have some races on Sundays to get some sailors out who may not have Saturdays free.
My take: I wouldn't advocate racing through Big Pass, but racing to it would be o.k. How about a distance race out on the Gulf that finishes at the jetties with an after race stop at VYC, The Crow's Nest, Pops or Marker 4?
In all of my earlier sailing experiences we had as many Sunday as Saturday races (not to mention Wednesday evenings). How do you feel about other days than Saturday? I must point out that John Thomas is almost always coaching on Saturdays but he might get out in his "new" old C&C 34 on Sundays.
My friend Dan Harris, who I have been
sailing with since the 1960s advised:
It's always better to go sailing.
That's wise council.
Please send in your comments and
suggestions. You can either write to me HERE or "respond to all" on
the "racers" mailing list.It's always better to go sailing.
That's wise council.
Back to the Racing Page
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