Please everybody, be patient. As I type Max is finalizing the course for May 12. You're gonna love it. It has all the excitement of an offshore race and none of the fear or loathing. Bridges, buoys, ferries and tankers. These things take time. Can't just set up a fly by night course for members of the SSS. So please, don't enter fake data. Remember, I know who you are and where you live. I know that your children are with a babysitter in your absence. I don't want to give the Coast Guard a phone number for you that will turn out to be a muffler shop. Or worse.
Wow, I may have to come down river for this one - the marketing alone is impressive. I wonder where Max is getting the ferries and tankers - sounds like AAMCO . . .
I'm uplifted to read the tone of posts about supporting Max and SSS plans to run an inside course on the 12th, to re-schedule the Farallons for September, and especially Paul and BobJ's well stated comments. I've seen the offshore break out there and know it is sometimes safe to pass inside the break zone, and sometimes not. Unless conditions are really lousy I'll cruise to the Farallons on the 12th, not to make any statement about current events, but because I want more singlehanded experience before SHTP, and time is short. But I emphasize, I'll go only if conditions permit -- seamanship and safety first, and I understand clearly that SSS has cancelled the sanctioned event.
Cliff Shaw
Rainbow
I had been planning on sailing the SHF Race as part of my SHTP training. A Bay race just will not do. My plan was to use this race to test boat modifications, my physical conditioning and just because I like off-shore sailing. I have no need to protest nor challenge the Coast Guard. They are my allies. I respect them and the work they do. On May 12th I plan to sail out and round the rock pile and practice. Hell, I have a lot of fast boats and good sailors that I have to "run" with in the SHTP (you know who you are). You didn't think this was going to be easy did you?
George
TAZ!!
Last edited by glythcott; 05-01-2012 at 11:56 PM.
Might I make a suggestion? For anyone needing training for SHT that might be going offshore, chose middle farallones or north of fanny shoal just for some real world input? Or perhaps if there is more than one boat that needs training, you could test various methods of standoff distances. We've recently learned/been reminded that there is a 300 ft standoff from the farallones and a 1000 ft for boats over 5 knots. Since we don't have the ability to run different courses as a function of speed/rating it would seem 1000 ft is the minimum standoff legally. http://www.pressure-drop.us/forums/s...ll=1#post23319
Its also suggested that 500 yards might be easier to implement and OYRA seems to have moved in that direction.
http://www.pressure-drop.us/forums/s...ll=1#post23338
What do you think, experiment with some new ideas?
Thanks!
Hey Paul,
I totally respect your point of view. But I would argue that an organized race is different than sailing outside the parameters of an event. The race makes all kinds of rules that you have to follow. Safety gear, checking in and out, number of folks you have on board. We also have several restricted zones already defined for either homeland security or safety reasons. For instance we could remove the requirement to go outside Anita Rock Buoy and let people make their own decisions about whether or not to take that risk. Same with Colorado Reef Buoy on the way to HMB.
The Volvo Ocean Race and others make artificial gates to get the racers out of ice zones in the Southern Ocean. These skippers have a lot more ocean experience than you and I are likely to ever have and they would take the risk to stay in southern latitudes if race organizers didn't make northerly gates for them to go around.
So personally I don't have a problem with a race organization finding ways to help keep races safer. Even if it takes some of the judgement away from me. If I want to go practice rounding the Farallones more closely there is no reason I can't do that on my own time.
Does it mean it will always be safe? Of course not. Will it in general make it safer? I think so.
Respectfully,
Tony B.
I won't be sailing this weekend. I am right in the middle of preparing for my qualifier and making good progress, so looking at the big picture, I need to take the weekend and continue working on my boat.
Have fun and be safe out there guys! (and girls)