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Critter
12-15-2011, 12:26 PM
The 2012 Notice of Race and Standing Sailing Instructions are now available for download. See the link on the front page. Look them over closely, as there are some changes.

Most notably, in our ocean races all boats will be required to have lifelines. Last year we exempted boats under 30 feet. The lifelines will have to meet ISAF offshore specs, with the exception that we'll grandfather in vinyl-coated lifelines for one more year.

You'll also need a Lifesling for ocean races, even if you're singlehanding. This is to make it easier for you to rescue me if I fall off my boat. Thanks in advance.

The season points system is going back to the old setup, with points weighted by the size of the entry. And you don't need to be an SSS member to score points; it just saves you money.

Speaking of money, we're holding the line on membership and entry fees.

Our race in September is going to start and finish at Berkeley. Looks like BYC will put on a casual dinner for us after the race, so please pull in and take advantage of the opportunity to socialize. Thanks to our Race Info Officer Jackie Philpott for taking the lead on organizing this event.

The Three Bridge Fiasco kicks off our season as usual, on Jan. 28. Don't assume that you're starting at the same time as last year: all the start times will be 30 minutes earlier. Hopefully this will reduce the number of unidentified boats finishing after dark, and give your cousin Clarence with his 1963 Calanado 28 a better shot of making the cutoff.

We're also going to let cousin Clarence enter one race without a PHRF certificate. Who knows what a Calanado 28 will rate, but at least he can try shorthanded racing for a minimal cash outlay and see if he likes it.

Stay tuned for the Additional Sailing Instructions for the individual races. They should all be posted before the first of the year, and Three Bridge entries will be open by then also.

Thanks to the SSS Board and the Safety Committee for their hard work putting together the program for 2012.

And remember, we always need volunteers for the race deck! And I'm always looking for speakers for our meetings.

Have a great year.
Commodore Max

Harrier
12-15-2011, 01:34 PM
Is the required "Lifesling" a specific commercial item...or may we "invent" something?

BobJ
12-15-2011, 01:58 PM
Not required for SHTP Ken - SHTP rules trump these local race SSI's.

Harrier
12-15-2011, 05:39 PM
Thanks Bob. Thought we had another "hoop". Could be useful tho, but pretty rare in our situations.

ronnie simpson
12-16-2011, 09:42 AM
I'm glad it's not required for SHTP, but as the General asked, "is this required to be a commercial item?" Can we not use a spin sheet of appropriate length, or poly-pro line, or something? I was planning on doing the Singlehanded Farallones and would hate to have to invest in a LifeSling, so close to the start of Transpac, and then carry the bulky thing on my very small yacht during the Farallones race.

Critter
12-16-2011, 10:47 AM
I wasn't part of the Safety Committee, so I hope that one of them will respond and outline their discussion and thinking on this question.

Max

solosailor
12-16-2011, 03:02 PM
Well the Singlehanded Farallones is the one race where one might be used to rescue another singlehanded sailor. You can probably borrow one for the day, I've got several if needed.

tiger beetle
12-16-2011, 03:07 PM
The Safety Committee (I was part of it) would like to see a proper commercial LifeSling - not something invented by our inventive skippers.

As part of the SSS Standing Sailing Instructions, this requirement exists only for the SSS Farallones and SSS Half Moon Bay races - not needed for SSS races inside the bay, and the rule has nothing to do with SSS TransPac and SSS LongPac races (the last two races have their own rule sets).

A LifeSling might have a few more features than, say, a trailing length of polypropylene. They are not enormously expensive - $125 at the local west marine and not-so-local defender, though not that cheap, either. They are bulky, and need to be mounted on the stern rail to be useful.

If you only need it for the one race, see if one can be borrowed for the day from someone on your dock. I've had success with this over the years when I needed a life raft or an epirb, strikes me that a lifesling would be even easier to borrow from a friend. And don't forget to tie the bitter end to the boat...

- rob/beetle

Philpott
12-16-2011, 04:03 PM
What if my boat doesn't have a stern pulpit? Oh, I forgot. There's a lifeline requirement for my Cal 20 this year, so I won't be able to sail in the Half Moon Bay this year anyway. I had a really good time sailing in it last year. Thanks, fellas. I feel safer already. Jackie Philpott, Race Information Officer, SSS

todd22123
12-16-2011, 10:38 PM
At Blue Pelican Marine, one can purchase a used lifesling for substantially less than new. They repackage into new outer bag. Most of the wear is on the outer bag from UV, and the lifesling itself is quite new looking. The owners are friends of mine, but I believe this is a good way to go.

Todd Olsen

Travieso
12-18-2011, 09:39 AM
What if my boat doesn't have a stern pulpit? Oh, I forgot. There's a lifeline requirement for my Cal 20 this year, so I won't be able to sail in the Half Moon Bay this year anyway. I had a really good time sailing in it last year. Thanks, fellas. I feel safer already. Jackie Philpott, Race Information Officer, SSS

Maybe you want to join JetStream on the new 'excluded boat' division, we can do our own scoring. Wouldn't want to miss one of my favorite races.

Philpott
12-18-2011, 12:26 PM
What?! No points? No hats? You bet! I'm in.

Culebra
12-19-2011, 11:16 PM
I'm glad it's not required for SHTP, but as the General asked, "is this required to be a commercial item?" Can we not use a spin sheet of appropriate length, or poly-pro line, or something? I was planning on doing the Singlehanded Farallones and would hate to have to invest in a LifeSling, so close to the start of Transpac, and then carry the bulky thing on my very small yacht during the Farallones race.

They come in 2 sizes. I have a smaller one that I kept after selling Tenacity, my swift and trim SC27 "yacht." It will fit on your leaner and meaner "101" if you want to borrow it.

Paul

solosailor
12-25-2011, 11:17 AM
Our race in September is going to start and finish at Berkeley.This is going to be a huge problem for many boats. Berkeley is SHALLOW and I left that marina a decade ago since I'd often be stuck on the bottom with a draft of 6.8' on Starbuck...... now I have a boat that draws 7.3'. Why change the race venue AGAIN ?

solosailor
12-25-2011, 04:24 PM
Looks like the Berkeley start/finish would be well outside the breakwater.....

ronnie simpson
12-25-2011, 05:59 PM
Thanks for the offer and the info, paul. I wasnt aware that they made a smaller one.

marinergeek
12-26-2011, 07:18 PM
>>(I was part of it) would like to see a proper commercial LifeSling.

Are you trying to save me from myself or did you invest in the company. Thanks for more regulations we don't need. (profanity deleted but you deserve it).

tiger beetle
12-27-2011, 09:15 PM
>>(I was part of it) would like to see a proper commercial LifeSling.

Are you trying to save me from myself or did you invest in the company. Thanks for more regulations we don't need. (profanity deleted but you deserve it).

The purpose of the lifesling is not for you to save you from yourself, but rather to make it more likely that a singlehander could recover a skipper or crew member that fell off another boat. The thinking is that the boats most likely to provide immediate assistance are those in close proximity, and on these two courses the closest people to you (if you're the one in the water) are likely to be your competitors. The members of the SSS Safety Committee thought this was a good idea and worth adding to the standing sailing instructions for SSS races outside the Gate.

And thanks for the positive attitude.

- rob/beetle

ronnie simpson
12-27-2011, 09:33 PM
Marinergeek is obviously an internet troll looking for a reaction and should have their IP banned.

BobJ
12-27-2011, 10:17 PM
Fussin' about any new rules is an annual ritual - I've done my share of it.

I've had a LifeSling for 10 years and usually have it ready to deploy. After a bunch of tests it was found to be the most effective MOB recovery tool, mainly because it provides a means to get the victim attached to the boat and ready to bring on board. I have the dedicated block-and-tackle that goes with it, to be able to hoist someone over the lifelines.

I'm not a fan of adding more rules but this is a good one. The SSS has always been about looking after each other out there. A LifeSling and monitoring Ch. 16 might put you in a position to save one of your friends.

Ergo
12-29-2011, 11:28 AM
Bob’s right about the annual reaction to the new requirements. I’ve experienced it from both perspectives: inflictor and inflicted.

At some point, I pushed hard for removing the requirement that all boats carry MOB gear for the LongPac. (This was before the CG mandated additional equipment before it would issue a race permit for races going west of the GG Bridge.)

Personally, I’m not a big fan of rules but they are necessary if SSS is going to function as an organization. On that note, we need to have requirements that satisfy the Coast Guard’s requirements for getting a race permit and also need to mesh with the cultures of sister organizations such as yacht clubs that allow us to use their race decks and other clubs such as one design-fleets and BAMA. But sometimes, because of the unique nature of the SSS, this isn’t reasonable, such as complying with some organizations’ requirement that someone on a boat be CPR certified. We’re a talented group of sailors but, really, self administered CPR?

My opinion is that there’s a big difference between educating skippers about the realities and possible consequences of shorthanded sailing and requiring them to carry gear they will probably never use. Offshore, shorthanded racing is not an adventure tourism activity. I believe that trying to make it “safe”, while laudable, is unreasonable. There are just too many of worst case scenarios to cover with equipment band aids.

Also, if SSS requires Lifeslings for Farallons and HMB, it should require Ilifeslings for LongPacs and TransPacs. I know, the boats are further apart….but, what if a TransPac's skipper passed a body 800 miles offshore wouldn’t they want to be able to get it out of the water?

Required equipment should be limited to the absolute minimum necessary to run a race. Anything else may be a good idea and worth considering but should be left up the skipper of the boat.

Bill Merrick

Philpott
12-29-2011, 08:07 PM
Our former Commodore is back and I'm glad. With regard to the Lifesling requirement, who else would be so reasonable as to ask "what if a TransPac's skipper passed a body 800 miles offshore wouldn’t they want to be able to get it out of the water?" Why, yes of course I would drag that body into Dura Mater's cockpit. I mean, duh! Welcome back, Bill!

Ergo
12-30-2011, 09:06 AM
Thanks, Phil. I'm very glad to know that you'd give the cadaver a ride, BUT do you really think you would be able to that unless you had a genuine, patented, fool proof Lifesling and, of course, you wouldn't have one unless required by the race rules.

Bill Medrrick

BobJ
12-30-2011, 10:19 AM
. . . This was before the CG mandated additional equipment before it would issue a race permit for races going west of the GG Bridge . . . we need to have requirements that satisfy the Coast Guard’s requirements for getting a race permit . . .

As Bill knows (he was the inflictee on that one), I had to pull the permits for the 2010 SHTP. When you've been through that process you realize the only equipment required by the Coast Guard is the normal stuff that's mandated for all boats - PFD, distress signals, fire extinguisher, etc. and since 2010, a "406 device" for races outside the Gate. Everything else is a club's idea of what makes a boat "safer" out there. For the longer offshore races (like SHTP and LongPac) the Coast Guard is also very concerned about a R/C maintaining communication with its fleet. Getting race permits isn't what's driving this.

So what IS driving our equipment rules? In the case of the SSS, it's part of our purpose as an organization and was written into our "charter" when the SSS was formed nearly 35 years ago. From the SSS home page: "The races provide an organized arena in which ideas, equipment, designs, and vessels specifically created, built, modified, or equipped for long distance singlehanded racing may be tested and evaluated through friendly sportsmanlike competition." At the core, it's why the SSS is a 501(c)(3) instead of a 501(c)(7) like a yacht club.

We get a lot of boats in our races (the majority probably) who are just there to race. Some of those skippers see the equipment requirements as a nuisance and even an impediment to being competitive. Personally I'd like to see the SSS get closer to its roots. There are some really experienced and smart sailors in our group who have taught me a lot about how to race solo offshore. They have become increasingly quiet these last several years as the number of race entries has grown.

Ergo
12-30-2011, 11:09 AM
Thanks, Bob. Good summary of the facts. In virtually all instances of required equipment, SSS does not specify a specific manufacturer or brand: vhf radio (not icom radio), PFD (not Mustang PFD). etc.

One of the first questions asked about this requirement was about satisfying it with something other than a "Lifesling": the response from Tiger Beetle was that it was his preference that only Lifeslings would suffice. It is unknown whether this is SSS' position or just Tiger Beetle's personal preference. In any event, the rule specifies "Lifesling". One of the consequences of having been on the SSS board is thinking this anally about the race rules. As a PRO, I'd hate to have to disqualify a skipper because he/she didn't have a "Lifesling" aboard during the Farallons race but if "Lifeslings are specified, this would be the case.

I'm all for the stated purpose described in the charter but, are we really honoring that purpose by telling our skippers that they meet the requirement by purchasing a specific item? I don't think so. If the safety committee thinks this is a serious enough issue to be addressed by a requirement, I'd prefer language that a skipper have the gear and ability to use the gear to get someone out of the water.

I know from experience, that thinking through a possible emergency situation, before it happens, is much more valuable than going to West Marine, buying something and checking it off the list. How many of us have a dozen or so flares but have never fired one off?

Bill Merrick

BobJ
12-30-2011, 11:25 AM
The LifeSling is somewhat unique because there isn't, to my knowledge, a competing device that does exactly the same thing. The Mom-8 requires inflation (and periodic certification like a liferaft), and is much more expensive. A standard horseshoe may not have a floating line attached and isn't good for lifting a person out of the water.

On the other hand, the LifeSling does not qualify as a "Type 4 (throwable) device easily accessable to the helmsman" (a legal requirement for most of us).

I'm not on the rules committee this time so it's just my opinion, but if a skipper had a device, mounted and ready to deploy, that was functionally equivalent to a LifeSling, I would grant them a waiver.

What's crazy (IMO) is the OYRA rules which require a LifeSling AND a horseshoe (with a bunch of crap attached) AND a man-overboard pole, even in the SHS division.

Wylieguy
12-30-2011, 12:17 PM
I'm probably the guilty SSS Safety Committee guy who plugged for the Lifesling requirement, so I guess I should speak up. Of course a Lifesling won't get a singlehander back on board her/his boat and a dead body in the middle of the ocean probably couldn't grab the thing, but I could if I were alive and in the water and you sailed past. I don't think my keel's going to drop off, but I doubt if anyone who's had that happened coming back from the Farallons planned on that happening either. There are several keels out there.

As to certification. A Lifesling is a "Type V which substitutes for a Type IV". I guess you can either have bulky horseshoe/life ring (do you REALLY want to try to hang on to a seat cushion???) or a Lifesling bag hanging on your pushpit. The Lifesling is ISAF certified, too, so if it happens you want to sail in one of their races, Bob's your uncle.
Pat Broderick

bobwalden
12-30-2011, 01:06 PM
I have a lifesling and I think they're pretty effective in the "get the mob back to the boat" stage of a recovery. But then I have a big boat and a lifesling is not gonna cost me a race (it'll be a long time before I'm a good enough sailor that things like that will make or break the race for me).

So I guess I have no probs with it being a requirement; it is true that they've been shown many times to be a very effective device for saving lives. In the majority of cases, it is not actually of much use as a hoisting device; it's real utility is in being thrown over the stern and towed in a circle to get it into the hands of a conscious person. If the mob is unconscious, forget it. You're in a bad situation. I think a gaffing stick might be the best bet (kidding!)

but with a conscious, effective mob, it's a good deal to use it to get them alongside. How you recover them then is dependent on your boat and capabilities.

Should we require lifesling brand? I would say not. I agree with those above who say if you demonstrate equivalent functionality with a home-grown design (ie, floating tether tied to a ring buoy, for example), then it should be accepted.

Just my .02.

Bob Walden
Sea Star

Ergo
12-30-2011, 01:29 PM
Thanks, Pat. First, the folks who actually do the work necessary to have organized racing are few in number and None, as far as I know, have done more for as long as Pat has.

I apologize for my use of hyperbole to make a point. To be clear, I'm not interested in hashing out the relative merits of any specific piece of equipment. I have my preferences and other folks have their's. My concern is any club requiring that I buy a specific piece of equipment to address something that could happen. Sure, it's great to have the right thing at the right time at the right place but to REQUIRE that Every boat have the latest and greatest and then expect a race deck to enforce it?

There are emergency situations in races. There have been fatalities but, with one exception, I don't know of any in which a LifeSling would have made any difference. In the case I'm most familiar with, Daisey, no one even witnessed the incident and the CG never rendered a finding. They reacted by ramping up the requirements for getting a race permit even though having a 406 EPIRB might not have made any difference for Daisey's skipper and crew.

I can understand having a requirement for MOB gear on boats with crew - but Singlehanded boats? Not so much. Could a Lifesling make a difference in a situation where a singlehander happened to see someone bobbing around in the water? Sure. Could I win the TransPac? Sure, but the odds are about the same for both situations.

BobJ
12-30-2011, 07:27 PM
Bill, you could win the SH TransPac. You just need the right boat and the time to sail the battens out of it.

As for that cadaver, if it was a glass fishing float I'd be all over it. The cadaver just gets his coordinates reported.

Ergo
12-30-2011, 08:05 PM
Bob, from what I hear about some of those glass floats, they stink almost as much as cadavers but, you've got a point about the pick up. You can't clean up a cadaver and keep it in your trophy case.

Bill Merrick

Philpott
01-02-2012, 11:45 AM
I've really enjoyed the very civil back and forth between Bob J and Richard V regarding the recent lifeline rules change on Pressure Drop. Too bad it couldn't have taken place in this forum.

BobJ
01-02-2012, 10:12 PM
Thanks Jackie. As you read, I encouraged Richard to post his concerns here but apparently there's a problem accepting new SSS forum registrants.

Culebra
01-02-2012, 10:28 PM
In coastal waters, racing or not, singlehanding or not, where other sailors are likely to be nearby (like a Farallones race), I do think it's a sailor's duty (sounds stuffy, but it's sincere) to be prepared to rescue another sailor in the water. The SSS rules committee I think correctly interpreted their job to promote this "rule" of seamanship IMHO, for this set of races. It's their job to take a stand, and actually, I think, to set a standard, which they emphatically did. To be fair, sure a skipper can exercise their autonomy to effectively prepare their boats and skills any way they like, and do a very fine job of it. But just not in an organized event. In the organized event you get rules and standards. Nothing new here. Ugh. And, totally fair.

Anyway, to the point: Try sidling up to a crew overboard in the ocean and grabbing them with just a boathook or by tossing a heft of line. No thanks. The lifesling concept allows you to circle the COB so you can effectively snatch them in a seaway. And then it gives them floatation because they're totally exhaused by now. I suspect this is the standard the rules committee was aiming for. If you aren't familiar with how the lifesling works, scroll forward to 3 min on this video (or watch the whole thing if you can tolerate Rousmaniere's very boring delivery, but hey, he's the king of seamanship so we have to cut him some slack, right?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnhjOhWD4j0

Paul/Culebra

bobwalden
01-03-2012, 01:55 PM
Second to Culebra's post. It don't have to be lifesling-brand IMHO, but it is an effective, low-cost device.

bw

cafemontaigne
01-03-2012, 04:49 PM
Paul,

I don't get it, I have a ring buoy and a horseshoe buoy on my transom. They each cost me $20. The ring is attached to 25' of polypro line, and I've played around with towing it around in a circle just like in the video - it works fine. The only benefit of the $400 lifesling seems to be you can then use it as a harness to pull your COB out of the water. But you could have a separate device on board for this purpose - say 3ft of webbing ($3), or even a piece of line that you tie a couple eyes in ($0) - that you pass around the COB when he's been brought alongside, then hook him to a halyard and haul away. That's been my plan at least... The Lifesling is an elegant package, but it seems like you're just paying for their marketing.

Adrian

Harrier
01-03-2012, 06:26 PM
My thoughts exactly, Adrian. Which is why I questioned the requirement for a "specific" commercial product "way back when". The main point in my mind is: "Do you have a means of doing what we want you to be able to do?"
Demonstrate that, and you should be OK! The plot thickens...?

Culebra
01-05-2012, 12:58 AM
Just to be clear, I'm not speaking for the committee, just offering my thoughts on the subject. I too think a brand shouldn't be specified, and I would agree that there are some (not many) homemade solutions that work perfectly well. But my point is that the committee correctly exercised their job of defining a requirement that assures their desired outcome, which in this case was obviously a very high standard of safety. There are no boat inspections to validate if a skipper's home grown approach meets the standard. I happen to agree that the standard should be high, so with that premise in mind, either you write a rule that is unambiguous, as they did, or you get very clever in describing the allowed substitutes (which I concede has some appeal). But if you go with the latter, then you probably don't achieve the desired outcome fully.

The smaller Lifesling costs $129. W/out the block+tackle. Which is still plenty if you're on a budget.

Paul/Culebra

Harrier
01-05-2012, 08:46 AM
Good points, Paul. It would seem that many "rules" are driven by the difficulty of deciding whether the eqipment specified will accomplish the desired result. Requiring the Lifesling sidesteps that problem. All very academic to me, since I don't race locally with you guys...ha ha.
By the way, where did the "coastal cruiser" tab under "Harrier" come from?

BobJ
01-05-2012, 09:05 AM
Many of these computer forums give you a "status" that changes as you accumulate certain numbers of posts. For example, you might start out as "New Member" and when you reach 20 posts you become "Not-so-New Member" and at a 1,000 posts you become "Expert Veteran" or some such.

I post on another sailing forum where the status labels are based on the stages of development of the male anatomy. On that one (and here) I asked the Forum Admin to permanently change my status to "J/92 Ragtime!" which somehow seemed more useful than "Testies Dropping." As I write this, I note that our distinguished Commodore currently enjoys the latter status on that other forum. But not to worry - if he continues to post over there, he will soon become a "Group 3 Studmuffin."

Critter
01-05-2012, 10:07 AM
Thank you for pointing that out, Bob.

Harrier
01-05-2012, 11:38 AM
Thanks, Bob. I was just curious...andI'm way too old to worry about becoming a studmuffin.

cafemontaigne
01-05-2012, 04:20 PM
If you want to change it, click on "User CP" in the upper left of this window, then "Edit Your Details", enter "Navigator Extraordinaire of the Ocean Sea" or whatever you like in the "Custom User Title" field, and hit "Save Changes" at the bottom of the page.

BobJ
01-05-2012, 11:30 PM
I vote for "General Studmuffin"

Harrier
01-06-2012, 08:24 AM
Naw...muffins are too soft and squishy. I'll just stick with what I've got since there are no advantages or disadvantages, it's meaningless.
Good to see you're paying attention tho, Bob. Happy New Year! You too, Adrian....and thanks for the info.

Philpott
01-07-2012, 09:09 PM
Richard on Can O'Whoopass wants to be included in the the HMO's excluded boat division.

Whoopass
01-08-2012, 08:43 PM
:) Happy to be on board. I have no illusions of successfully trying to petition the SSS Board to rescind the dropping of the lifeline exemption for boats under 30' in the 2012 SSI's, but will if there are enough to help carry that water. Since this is my first post here, I'll refrain from a detailed argument as to why I feel that general exemption, while it reasonably might be subject to more strict scrutiny per each type of boat, makes clear sense from a safety standpoint, especially as the foredeck gets smaller. But I'll gladly go there, if there is interest among those who wish to race in the SSS's season series, which this year includes but one offshore race (subject to the lifeline requirements), the HMB. There's plenty of time to announce a change in the SSI's, as they pertain to this race.

We on the Can are down with doing the race anyway, in the "Excluded Division". I propose that we start 10 minutes prior to the first warning for the "Legal" event, using no sound signals, but only Zulu time. And, all start flying protest flags. I'll throw down a bottle of my coveted Blackberry Mead as the "Pickle Dish", albeit a useful one, for the PHRF TOT winner in the division, and be happy to crunch numbers to determine the lucky one.

Cheers!

Travieso
01-10-2012, 09:42 PM
Looking at the calendar, it might be worth it more to do the Sarcoma Cup than a 'cruise' to HMB... bummer

Whoopass
01-10-2012, 11:10 PM
Cruise? You have never tasted my Blackberry Mead, sir:). If you want bona fides, ask John Clauser, or his lovely wife Bobbi Tosse. No, this is more like Occupy, without the disruption.

Merrill has it dead right. I have a picture of a Cal 20 returning from an ocean race in MORA, back in the day. (War Dog, for those of you monitoring Pressure Drop). No pulpit, no lifelines. Has the design become more unsafe with the passage of time? With the addition of hard points and tethers?

The smaller a boat gets, once it is under 30' OA, the smaller the foredeck gets. On a Cal 20, it's about 28 sq. ft. One can easily grasp the mast, the forestay, the spinnaker pole (if up), the upper shrouds, etc., from anywhere on the dance floor, if one has to go forward (while tethered). If one were on a ledge of, say 30" of width, would one want a tripwire at calf-height to walk next to, or just the aforementioned safety features?

I've also had responses on PD, pointing out how Black Feathers (a Cal 20, who ceremoniously did the SH TransPac a few years ago), was a proper example of how lifelines could be incorporated into Lapworth's original design. Well, yes, it can be done, but at what cost to the boat's efficiency? With all respect to Mr. Crawford, that's one slow Cal 20. And we're ALL just trying to sail our boats to their respective ratings, here.

I also do understand, and appreciate, that the SSS values individual accomplishments as highly as "placing" in a given race or series. Nothing wrong with that. I also appreciate the "Joshua Slocum" look that is popularized in the SSS branding. However, the SSS, for better or worse, has become a major player in SF Bay racing, offering events that invite SH and DH entries. The SSS also offers an annual series, and heretofore, is the only SF Bay entity requiring, for 2012, bow pulpits and lifelines, for otherwise perfectly seaworthy racing vessels, for purposes of racing offshore. To Half Moon Bay. In August.

We will have a Lifesling on board this year. But, as one who has had actual MOB experience during a race (in the bay, when Paul was just learning to sail), I can state that it was infinitely easier to haul him back on board manually, given our 6-18" freeboard.

Cheers to all.

Whoopass
01-10-2012, 11:12 PM
My apologies, Bill Merrick.

Ergo
01-11-2012, 09:19 AM
Hi, Richard. Apologies? What for? I actually agree with your position. In fact, I don't agree with the lifeline requirement for any singlehanded boat, regardless of length. I much prefer tether and jack lines over lifelines but don't have the time or energy to tilt against wind mills.

The worst part of serving on the SSS board was having to balance personal opinions against what was in the club's best interests. They aren't always the same. I think these questions are made more complicated by two factors. Those are: using standards that have been developed and accepted for crewed boats as being equally suitable for singlehanded boats and trying to come up with minimum standards that make it possible to have a race among a fleet of very different boats. That said, I also don't understand why SSS chose to be more restrictive than necessary.

I'm thinking about joining you and Dan in the excluded division but don't know if would that be allowed. My boat is 35' and has lifelines. The reason I'm interested isn't a protest. It just sounds like that division might be more fun.

Bill Merrick

Travieso
01-11-2012, 09:44 AM
Hey Bill, I know of a <30 boat without lifelines that your could buy :)

Jeez, with you coming out and Richard offering up some grog, it is beginning to sound like a pretty good division.

BobJ
01-11-2012, 09:45 AM
If I thought every single-hander clipped in 100% of the time I would tend to agree with Bill. But we don't, do we? (Nor are we always single-handed.) The lifelines are just there.

With respect to the SSS rule history this argument reminds me of tax credits. There will always be those who, when a one-time credit expires, will still yell "tax increase!" It makes me wonder if SSS can ever try relaxing a rule.

(I'm sure I'll make some friends with that one.)

Sparky
01-11-2012, 05:47 PM
Regarding the lifeline issue...how much longer shall we endure this? Is it really necessary to call out the one person that sailed his Cal 20 in the SHTP and say his boat was slow? If I recall, Mr. Robert Crawford sailed his boat pretty fast and placed well in the fleet...with lifelines on it! Wow, go figure.

Damn, I always get in trouble speaking my mind, especially in forums, but my god, can we give it a rest already. Some of the board members' terms will be up this year so there should be room for "you" to get involved and change those rules you oppose.

Whoopass
01-11-2012, 09:42 PM
To Sparky: It's an ugly little secret among us handicap racing Cal 20s that, if we can get the kite up for more than 60% of the race, we're practically unbeatable. They go NO faster than 4.75kts hard upwind, ever. But we've hit 12s and 13s regularly on the flip side. I was just reflecting on how things worked out when we were racing against Mr. Crawford boat for boat. No disrespect for his accomplishment.
To BobJ, I actually think taxes are pretty low, considering what a hole we're in. There, that should take some pressure off you:).
To Mr. Merrick: The whole fun of the "Excluded Division" is that no-one is excluded! Protest flags while crossing the Start or Finish lines should be optional, and will not affect eligibility for the mead.

Cheers, all

Whoopass
01-11-2012, 09:47 PM
Oh, and, for the record, on the Can, if we're west of Pt. Bonita, we are clipped in.

BobJ
01-11-2012, 10:10 PM
Sparks, I think we'll probably all have a beer together when it's said-and-done. Not to minimize the impact of the change on Dura Mater*, the Can and the Spear, but some of this may be cabin fever.
________________________________________________

* I realized I left Jackie's Cal 20 out of my comment. It got me thinking though - we have "Can o' Whoopass" and "Death Spear" (okay, really "Jetstream") both sounding like they were named by guys. What softer, gentler name might "Dura Mater" be, presumably chosen by a woman? From the MedicalNet dictionary:

"Dura mater: Literally, hard mother (in Latin). The outermost, toughest, and most fibrous of the three membranes (meninges) covering the brain and the spinal cord."


'Yo Phil, can I have some of that popcorn?

Phil MacFarlane
01-12-2012, 01:31 AM
I've been following this thread for quite a while. First over at pressure drop and now over here.
I'm going to have to go out and get more popcorn soon.
;)
Carry on.

Whoopass
01-12-2012, 10:04 PM
Nice job, guys. Eating your young, as in those currently involved in the SSS, or those who might otherwise be inclined to get involved. Oh, and the past kahunas, too. And winking smugly to each other about it. That's the recipe for long-term success, for sure.

Guess we'll have to get this done out on the water, and revisit in the fall.

BobJ
01-12-2012, 10:27 PM
If you think that's what I'm doing, you don't know me very well. Yes, it was edgier than my normal posts but my take on Dura Mater's owner is she knows exactly what her boat name means, otherwise I wouldn't have posted it.

But my, aren't we the sensitive sort?

Phil MacFarlane
01-13-2012, 06:14 PM
Richard how do you know I wasn’t winking at you?
You manage to insult everyone. You are so conceded you think the SSS made safety rules just to keep you out. (When we all know they were made to keep Dan out) that’s a joke by the way.
You feel it’s necessary to continually point out to everyone how great you and Paul are. I have never met either of you in person but I am friends with Paul on Face Book. Last year he would pound his chest telling everyone how great you guys are. I never said anything about it. I figured in time he might figure out that bragging about how great you are is not the way to win friends or influence people.
Have you guys ever heard of Stan Honey? or Paul Cayard? Did you ever hear them say how great they are? No those guys have class unlike you two.
Did you ever hear Greg Nelsen say how great he is? No, and he is probably the all time leading winner in the SSS. When you really are good you don’t have to keep telling everybody that you are, people just know it.
I thought ok Paul is young and full of inthusiasm. His skipper must be level headed and know not to brag about his successes. Well I was wrong you as full of your self as anyone I’ve ever come across in the sailing world.
If you knew me you would know that I hate safety rules. They have effected me over the years with the SSS but I understand why they are there and if I want to play, I play by the rules that those in charge put in place.

As far as the SSS being succesfull. I think participation has grown every year since 1997 when I started with them. So don’t tell us how to do it. You would be the last person to tell anyone how to get people to come out and play. You are just a big conceded bully.

I hope you are successful in getting the lifeline rule changed and I hope you have a great season. Most of all I hope you learn to act you age and stop insulting every other sailor and thereby pissing everybody off. But that’s what you like to do, isn’t it?

By the way “I’m calling you out” Big Bully!

Whoopass
01-13-2012, 09:42 PM
Phil, maybe we should have a beer. At my club, on me, of course.
707/338.0559

Phil MacFarlane
01-13-2012, 09:56 PM
Thanks Richard that would be great. I don't get up that way much but next time I do I give you a call. Same goes for you if you find yourself on the Peninsula. Although I dont have a club so it will be on SAV or at the hanger.:)

Whoopass
01-13-2012, 11:31 PM
Ames? That would be cool. It's too easy to get way past the original point with the threads, and into what really are nothing more than pissing contests.

I'd really be happy to talk face to face.

Regards,
Richard

Eyrie
01-14-2012, 04:24 PM
Danger - I bow down in complete awe and admiration. You are one of the wises creatures (besides my dog) that I know.
-Trouble