Right of way on a speed run

I guess that most people will not have read the "colregs" and some may not even be aware of their existence. However everyone should be made aware of Rule 5

Rule 5 requires that "every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision.

Will be a big start in avoiding problems.

I believe that a "Code of Conduct" or "Etiquette" on the speed strip may be appropriate but I don't think that you can apply local rules that contradict the colregs. ie it may be very poor form to have a leasurely cruise in front of a hardcore speedster but the obligation still remains on the overtaking vessel to keep clear, of course sudden manouvers that require the overtaking vessel to take additional evasive actions are not permitted. Apply rule 5 and a bit of common sense and courtesy and collisions should be avoidable.

Hmmm,
yesterday I was on the speed run at Sandy (at 43 knots) and some one in font of me decided it was a good time for a (blind) alpha gybe.......
still doesn't even know I was there.
PLEASE JUST LOOK!
no further comment. ( I was able to bail so he is still alive)

tony

This is probably the most difficult subject to tackle going.

Tony makes a very very important point here, and that is that most incidents or near misses happen because water users fail to be aware of what is going on around them, be it freerider or speedsailor, or any other water user for that matter.

I commute in the car 1500miles a week, the amount of near misses and accidents I see, is quite amazing, mostly due to drivers driving with their heads up their arses.

So water users SAIL SAFE .. DONT SAIL WITH YOUR HEAD UP YOUR ARSE!

I suggest we make a sign and stick where we all can see it.

West Kirby on a busy day can be a real nightmare with many freeriders and speedies all sailing the same stretch of water. The amount of aborted runs I have made due to sailors pulling on to the course to gybe or pull up, without just simply checking over their shoulder to see if the coast is clear, is numerous.

Communication is the answer. Gentle polite words go a lot further than abusive "my wave" type language.

However there are occasions when the loudest of loud shouts is required, common sense prevails here. When to use the hardline approach.


(hmmm.. never really got my head around the terms objectively and subjectively .. but here's a stab .. what I am trying to say is it's better to have a quiet word before incidents happen, objectively speaking, rather than have some one face the music, as a near miss happens, or worse case scenario a crash results - subjectively speaking)

A couple of near misses last year, one at WK and one over in Ireland, where the speedsailor was making fast speed down the course, with total right of way, each situation, another speedie going / trying to get back up wind got in the way, both got a good bollocking verbally - consequently will probably not make that mistake again.

Speedsailors should know better, and should not make fundamental mistakes, in putting others in danger.

So there are situations where both approaches work.

For 2010 at WK, I'll endeavor to inform all freeriders and newbies to WK a few simple guidlines on how to sail safe when the speed course is firing.

Basically along the lines of.

Be aware of whats going on around you .. at all times.
Where the speed course is
The pinch point ( top the speedcourse where we drop in, usually where the freeriders have tea and coffee (jump off and have a chat in water with their mates)

What to do on the speed course
What not to do on the speed course
Walking the wall, back up to the top and holding onto your gear securely, especially when it is up at galeforce and gusty, save it flying out into the path of an approaching speedsailor.

The last thing we want are collisions and injuries and Nanny State paying us a visit, enforcing speed limits on public access waters

Cheers and sail safe but fast!
H

Yep. Today at the pit was a good day. Awareness and respect given to all. Not many weekend airheads.

Here is a fact to mull over: at roughly 40 knots we are covering roughly about 20 meters per second. Does not give much time or distance, even with the best of intentions, to avoid the unexpected maneuver of someone who is not looking around.

You can bleat about the overtaking sailors obligation to give way under some rule or other all you like, but if you are both in hospital it is a moot point.