Good analysis from all IMHO. Several other points might be made: 1. Blue was coming down the line, mostly parallel to it, on a beam or close reach at high speed--barging. While not against the rules, it is a risky maneuver in any fleet and the barger has very few 'rights' in any close encounter and is often moving too fast too late to change course in a seaman-like manner.
2. The main was apparently never released and in the breeze, it likely was controlling the boat direction, mostly independent of the rudder. I came very close to T-boning the RC boat in a similar situation a few years ago when the main sheet/traveler jammed and my main trimmer only got it freed with about a boat-length to spare. If we hadn't got it free, my 13,500 lb Water Phantom would have gone at least half way into the starboard side of the 41 ft. CS committee boat! That was the last time, for me, of coming down the line at speed. I have also been t-boned by an excellent sailor on a Thompson 30 when their his crew were all on the rail and the helms person could not release the main sheet. His bowsprit plowed into my stern quarter for about a 4" high x 12 inch long hole. His rudder was over-whelmed by the main. 3. In fleets of mixed boats and skipper skill levels, I think most experienced crew/skippers will gladly give up a few seconds at the start to avoid situations like this. I know I do. Charlie Nelson Water Phantom C&C 36XL/kcb cenel...@aol.com -----Original Message----- From: Chuck S <cscheaf...@comcast.net> To: cnc-list <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Sent: Thu, Apr 11, 2013 10:58 pm Subject: Re: Stus-List Race video Good calls Rick, I watched that video three times and the only voice I hear is the tactician who talks fairly calmly and steadily. He several times tells the helm to "come up" or "turn up". She doesn't seem to know what "up" is, turns down at first, (maybe used to a tiller?) and then corrects too late, and the boat doesn't respond. The whole crew looked rather distracted and inexperienced. No one is looking for traffic. That's everyone's job. The Iphone probably has the GPS ap running that shows the start line, speed, VMG, etc. He sees the other boat the whole time. Camelot is to starboard and well ahead when the video starts. She crosses the bow of Blue, and gets leebowed by another boat nearer the line, comes over and instigates the manuever that results in collision. Awful. I blame Blue's helmsman for not keeping tabs on competition, and for not turning up in time when room was available. Chuck Resolute 1990 C&C 34R Atlantic City, NJ From: "Rick Brass" <rickbr...@earthlink.net> To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 10:18:09 PM Subject: Re: Stus-List Race video Actually, if you look at the first minute or so of the video, it appears that Camelot was being driven up by another boat while jockeying for position near the line. In any event, Camelot had right of way. As I watched, I was impressed by how closely the tactician was watching his little orange Iphone – or whatever it was. He should have had his head out of the boat during a start sequence – particularly when they were trying to snake the boat past the committee boat end of the fleet at speed. I know he is probably watching the clock – but when they got to the point that they had no room to luff up and kill time without hitting the committee boat it was time to pay attention to the traffic and not the clock . As Blue approaches Camelot, you can hear someone telling the helmsman to “come up”. Even while he is being told to come up, you can see him playing with the wheel and actually turning down until he is only a foot or so away from Camelot. Even at that point, I suspect that a collision was avoidable. But the helmsman on Camelot seems to have steered away to port quickly – which just swung his stern to starboard and caused the aft half of the boats to collide. So Blue violated rules 12 and then 11, and it is easily arguable that she also violated rule 14, You could argue that Camelot violated Rule 16.1 “When a right of way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.” (Several years ago I was chairman of a Protest Committee who’s ruling after a collision/protest just like this one was overturned by US Sailing because of Rule 16.1) As far as who pays for the damage and injuries, the insurance companies will probably end up splitting the expense. Blue clearly violated ColRegs rule 13A (I don’t suppose you can cite the tactician for ignoring rule 7, but that is probably also a factor). But Camelot violated ColRegs rule 2. So there is shared liability and the insurance companies get to duke it out. Rick Brass From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Chuck S Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 8:55 PM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Race video Racing Rules Of Sailing 2009 - 2012 from USSailing (newer version just came out) Rule 11, Boats on same tack and overlapped; a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat Rule 12, Boats on same tack not overlapped: a boat clear astern shall keep clear of a boat clear ahead. (Both boats were on starboard tack, Blue overtaking and passing Camelot. Camelot hardened up but did not actually luff, so Blue should have kept clear.) Rule 14, A boat should avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible. However, a right-of-way boat. . . need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear or giving room. . . (Camelot was in her rights to turn upwind but should have taken action to avoid contact when it was obvious Blue could not.) Chuck Resolute 1990 C&C 34R Atlantic City, NJ From: "Bob Moriarty" <bobmo...@gmail.com> To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 8:33:09 PM Subject: Re: Stus-List Race video Could someone post a Reader's Digest version of the racing rules that were in play? Bob M Ox 33-1 Jax, FL On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 11:09 PM, Len Mitchell <lmitch...@barrie.ca> wrote: Did anyone see the Blue Video from the Banderas Bay race/crash last month? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8s2cCVEJh4&feature=player_embedded I would love to hear what a hard core race skipper thinks with 20/20 hindsight. Luff and dive? Blue was 5-10 seconds early. This is better than bottom paint and barnacles we still have some snow to melt! Len Mitchell Crazy Legs Midland On. 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