The tactician's approach (posted below) to Cruiser / Racer mixed fleets matches mine.
Know our own crew's abilities, be on guard when racing big boats with and against infrequent racers, learn from erratic movements (of competitors). We race Calypso in many C/R type races each season. Calypso's co-owner and I take turns being the starting helmsman. Our typical start plan is to hang back (2nd row) and watch the more aggressive C/R crews push for room at the favored end of the line. Once it is apparent which boat(s) incorrectly anticipated the timing, competition, and set of the current we pick our opening and start. Typically Calypso's able to power through the early starting but slower rated boats allows us to quickly to gain our own lane clear of the crowd. We also endeavor stay out of luffing matches and close quarters mark rounding's with boats/crews that appear to be still learning the ropes. In the fleet that typically shows up for the spring races there are several C/R boats that are very well sailed. We will mix it up more closely with those competitors having confidence it how they will react. When we compete in a the full race fleet we also stay out of close quarters maneuvers owing to our own limitations. Often we have many newbies on board limiting our ability to quickly tack, gybe or otherwise meet the requirements of the race rules and/or good seamanship. When I am playing tactician I am cautious about where I place the boat, what lane we are in (many full race boats out point Calypso), and especially crossing situations under spinnaker. Usually this is sorted out quickly as the newer (most are) and faster boats move out ahead and we pull away from the smaller boats on waterline alone. Martin Calypso 1970 C&C 43 Seattle From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Joel Aronson Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 7:10 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Race video Here is the tactician's post on Sailing Anarchy: I take responsibility on a number of levels here. While we had a bail out plan up to 12 seconds before the start, the other boat came up to below our line after having a WL situation with another boat, and then they laid on a matching course below us, opening the door wide for a boat-end start. My biggest mistake was not learning from his erratic movement with the other boat and not anticipating possible aggravated movement from him later. BBR is definitely a cruisers' regatta and while it is meant to be laid back, there are always folks that know just enough to be dangerous, and they are often pushing to show they're real racers. I've been racing for my entire life and I should know this kind of thing will happen; I should be looking out for erratic drivers, giving my own developing helmsperson extra time and information to deal with the head-to-wind, take-him-to-the-moon type, that are looking to prove a point. I saw the signs of him coming up aggressively, and even though he did not warn us, I should have anticipated it. For those watching the video, remember that it's a fisheye lens on a gimbal; it exaggerates angles depending on where the subject is. When Camelot turns up, we turn up as well, but they turn up a lot faster, luffing their jib in the process, just before first contact. And for others of you who haven't read any of the accounts; NO, you never try to find off a semi truck. My legs were broken when I was knocked off my feet, sliding down the aft deck with my lower legs getting over the rail at just the wrong time. The end of Camelot's hip check squashed them. Rules are there for a reason, and perceptions of time and opportunity change quite a bit with experience. The biggest lesson for me? You must ALWAYS know your own crew and skipper's abilities, and you must always try to stay ahead mentally of your competition - especially when they are carrying kayaks on deck. There are lots of reasons to be 'on guard' when racing big boats with and against infrequent racers...and I should have been far more on my guard. A painful lesson that I hope everyone learns from. On a positive note, imagine how much more time I have to check out Sailing Anarchy now! Thank you all for the many well wishes, and I'm looking forward to seeing many of you at Vallarta YC<http://www.vallartayachtclub.org/> over the next few weeks; first for WesMex and then MexORC. It really is one of the best racing venues anywhere in the worl On Thu, Apr 11, 2013 at 8:31 AM, dwight veinot <dwightvei...@hfx.eastlink.ca<mailto:dwightvei...@hfx.eastlink.ca>> wrote: That is why it might be a good idea that when posting a link in an email the poster give a few words of background so we know what we are opening and what to look for Dwight Veinot C&C 35 MKII, Alianna Head of St. Margaret's Bay, NS -----Original Message----- From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com<mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com>] On Behalf Of David Risch Sent: April 11, 2013 9:05 AM To: Knowles Rich; cnc-list@cnc-list.com<mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Subject: Re: Stus-List Race video Actually the tactician calling time fell in between the boats upon impact and had his legs crushed... David F. Risch (401) 419-4650<tel:%28401%29%20419-4650> cell
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