Hello Harbor 20 Championship Competitors,

NHYC is eagerly anticipating the event this weekend! It looks like we should have a “Chamber of Commerce” weekend as far as weather goes. Here are a few reminders that we would like to pass along to the fleet to help things run smoothly:

All competitors are reminded they are required to dock their boat at NHYC on Saturday night. We have made arrangements to have access to the entire NHYC dock so there will be plenty of space. Boats which are normally kept on the NHYC multi-vessel docks or on docks adjacent to the club are permitted and encouraged to keep their boat there during the event.

There will be an informal, competitor led, de-brief immediately following racing on Saturday and Sunday. This will take place at the foot of the stairs to the Non-calm room (near the outside entrances to the restrooms).

As a reminder, NHYC has shower and changing facilities available for competitors to freshen up before the festivities on Saturday night. We will also make space and a rack available for anyone who wishes to leave a change of clothing during racing.

Any questions can be directed to the NHYC Race Office:

Charlie Underwood
949 723 6870
charlie.underwood@nhycstaff.org

Just like at last Sunday’s Fall Schock Regatta, a windward offset mark, and leeward gate marks will be used for the Fleet 1 Championship Regatta. If you are not familiar with these marks, come to tonight’s ASK THE JUDGES event at NHYC at 7:00. Don’t go “in the dark” to the Championship! We hope to see you there!

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WINDWARD OFFSET AND GATE MARKS, as were used for the Schock Regatta, and will be used again for the Champoinship? If so DON’T MISS THIS EVENT!

On Thursday, September 27, two days before the Championship, the H20 Association is sponsoring an evening called “ASK THE JUDGES” at 7:00 PM at NHYC. Certified judges will be present to answer any and all questions you might have about the Racing Rules of Sailing for 2009-2012. A whiteboard with magnetic boats will be used to help visualize on-the-water situations as they change over time.

Don’t go into the Championship with lingering questions about the rules. We will be entertaining questions such as:

1)     Can you have contact with another boat and not have broken a rule?

2)     If two overlapped, close hauled, starboard tack boats reach a windward mark to be left to port, does the leeward boat have to fall off at the mark, or can it continue to sail on, taking the windward boat with it?

3)     Can boats on opposite tacks be overlapped?

4)     If a boat running on port tack overlaps to leeward a boat running on starboard tack, and then jibes, does he (she) then have luffing rights?

5)     Does a boat which tacks from port to starboard inside the 3 boat length circle ever have rights to mark room?

6)     The committee boat is a mark and an obstruction. Is an inside boat, overlapped to windward, entitled to room at the obstruction before starting?

7)     Is a boat ever required to sail her proper course?

8)     Does a boat which is sailing above close hauled have to fall off to a close hauled course at the starting signal?

9)     Can you take a penalty turn anytime before the finish of a race to exonerate yourself of a rule infraction?

Answers:

1) No

2) Yes or no, depending on how the overlap was established

3) Yes , if both are sailing more than 90 degrees from the wind

4) Yes

5) Yes

6) Yes, unless approaching the starting line to start (barging)

7) No

8 ) Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It all depends on how overlaps with adjacent boats were established.

9) No. A penalty must be taken as soon as possible after the time of the incident.

What’s your question? Come and get the answer. Find out once and for whether you were right or wrong in past incidents. This should be a really interesting and fun evening!

We hope to see you there!

I have heard many comments this summer about out-of-control rule-breaking, and have personally witnessed a number of such incidents. I believe there are several reasons for this unfortunate state of affairs. First, because summer evening racing  is “informal”,  as contrasted with the High Point series, there is a natural tendency to be more informal as to application of the rules. After all, everyone knows no one is going bother lodging a protest, and host yacht clubs do not wish to staff protest committees on summer evenings.

 Another reason is a direct result of the success and popularity of the Harbor 20 Fleet which is growing with an influx of both inexperienced racing sailors, and very experienced sailors transitioning from other fleets. Those new to the game have had limited time to learn these complex rules and many of the experienced sailors have demonstrated an outdated knowledge of the rules. While similar to the rules one may have learned 10 or 20 years ago, the current rules are NOT THE SAME. The Racing Rules of Sailing are updated every four years in conjunction with the Olympics. 

In 2008, an increasing emphasis on safety resulted in a complete re-write of Section C “At Marks and Obstructions”.  And, that is exactly where the majority of our problems are occurring, which are caused by boats approaching the windward mark on port tack which is strongly discouraged under the current rules, and boats not giving adequate mark-room at the leeward mark. If you have not studied Rule 18 in the 2008-2012 Racing Rules of Sailing, you are likely part of the problem.

When you sign the entry form for a race, you are required to agree that you will abide by the Racing Rules of Sailing. Rule #3 “ACCEPTANCE OF THE RULES” states that “By participating in a race conducted under these racing rules, each competitor and boat owner agrees to be governed by the rules”. So, if you do not know the rules, you are actually already breaking them by entering and participating in a race.

The reality is that if one has not studied the rules, one cannot actually know the rules. The collective rules “knowledge” at most yacht clubs could be described as “tribal”, which is incomplete at best, and incorrect at worst. But, Harbor 20 Fleet 1 aspires to a higher standard, as evidenced by the fact that a majority of our participants have already attended the comprehensive “Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing” one-day seminar at least once. And the timing is right, because the second presentation of this seminar in 2012 is coming up on September 9. If you are not well versed in the rules, or you know someone who could benefit by attending, please come join us, or urge others to attend.

If you are thinking “I’ll just wait until next year because the rules will change again”, Dave Perry has informed me that the changes to the rules in Part 2 are not substantive.  And, if you think you really do know the rules, you can test your knowledge by taking Dave Dellenbaugh’s “Rules Quiz”.  Experience has shown that there is a direct correlation between the quality of competition in Harbor 20 Fleet 1 and the number of our sailors who have attended this comprehensive seminar. So please, either attend yourself, or urge someone else who could benefit by the experience. You’ll be glad you did!

Rules Quiz

Course Description

Registration Form

Don’t miss this Premier Social Event of the Year!

REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO FRIDAY, AUGUST 17

Flyer

Registration

(Please read the Flyer for registration instructions)

A Fleet

(11 sailors)

1st Place - Karl and Cole Pomeroy

2nd Place - Gary & Karen Thorne

3rd Place - Guy Doran and Sandy Baker

B Fleet

(10 sailors)

1st Place - John and Kimberly Whitney

2nd Place – Anne and Greg Hatton (not pictured)

3rd Place - Mark Hurwitz

C Fleet

(4 sailors)

1st Place - Michael Volk and Ellen Reader

Posted on behalf of Fleet 1 Captain John Whitney:

The Class/Fleet 1 Championship Regatta Is Fast Approaching!

This July 30 marks 60 days before the Class and Fleet 1 Championship Regatta.  Boats that are racing in this regatta must have been kept in the water continuously for 60 days prior to Class Championships and Fleet Championships, per our Class rules. If you are planning to haul your Harbor 20 for maintenance before the Champs you must do it before July 30.

Also, now is the time to make sure you are familiar with the Class and Fleet 1 rules regarding eligibility of both skipper and crew, equipment required and permitted to be on board, and other rules pertaining to the Championship Regatta. The Class and Fleet 1 Bylaws can be found on-line at www.Harbor20.org. Don’t put yourself in the position of being disqualified because of rule violations. 

If you have any questions, you can contact Class Measurer Warren Duncan, Fleet 1 Measurer Lee Sutherland, Class President Peter Haynes, or me, Fleet 1 Captain John Whitney.

You’ll be glad you did!

If you are already planning on hosting some guests for this event, but have not responded, please do.

The three series Lorin Weiss Regatta concluded with awards at the BCYC Sunday after the races. A total of fifteen races were conducted over three days beginning in April and concluding yesterday. Approximately 27 Harbor 20s participated in the regatta. A beautiful and warm summer day provided the background for a very challenging last day of racing, as shifty and gusty winds toyed with even the most contemplated strategies.

Bill & Diane Menninger handily won in the A Fleet, and were awarded the Commodore Lorin Wiess Memorial Perpetual Trophy (most know this trophy as the bell next to the bar at the BCYC).

Jeff Gorden took 1st place for the B Fleet, also by a large margin, and was awarded the Jim Kerrigan Perpetual Trophy.

And a first-time award was given to the recently formed C Fleet winner, Kathryn Reed.

Official results have been posted on the race board at BCYC but not yet posted online as of this writing.

There is no LIYC barbecue after the race on Fri. July 13th.  Kathy Sangster will be hosting a barbecue at her house for the H20 sailors after the race,  Please bring meat to barbecue and your beverage and she will supply the rest.  RSVP:   Kathy Sangster

403 Via Lido Soud

Newport Bch, Ca. 92663

kathykenya@yahoo.com

949- 723-0350