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Board » Flag Officers » Rules and Decisions » Ocean Race starts

Posted by
Dingo


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2013-03-09 04:23:58
2020-03-05 03:19:22 - Ocean Race starts
Hi SRC. Just a comment on the ocean race starts. Some time ago there was a ruling on SRC designed ocean races that: 'The start will be placed in such a way as to enable a clear and uncomplicated start to the race.'

I'm writing in reference to the upcoming Lisbon Capetown race, though my comments could also be applied to a number of other recent races. Most races start somewhere between 17:00 and 19:00 (unless tied to real race times) which for many of us around the world (N and S hemispheres) is the middle of the night.

Regardless of start time, people somewhere around the world will not be able to check the WX before the race start. This I assume is the reason behind the ruling about 'clear and uncomplicated' race starts.

The Lisbon race course positions the start some 5nm up a narrow harbour entrance only 0.6 nm wide. This will be virtually impossible to navigate in a fast catamaran, especially if into a head wind, by DCs off an outdated WX.

For the sake of 5nms in a 5000nm race, it would make a huge difference to many SOLers if it had been moved just 5nm down the channel.
No doubt too late for change now, but to encourage participation in these races it would help if these ocean races started according to the racing criteria.

cheers
Dingo

--- Last Edited by Dingo at 2020-03-05 03:20:28 ---

--- Last Edited by Dingo at 2020-03-05 03:28:11 ---

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