The skippers forget they are playing nothing more than a grownups game and their recklessness and risk taking with potential injury to people around is a sad indictment on their commonsense.
I remember as a teenager sailing in a dinghy being nearly run down from time to time by the big boats and skippers who mistakenly thought they were more important than the others on the water including us kids who were annoying to them. Racing does not make one more important than someone else or give them more rights on the water.
We lost at least a couple of races by steering clear of mishaps even though we had right of way. One was a club championship down to one race which was painful. Those big important skippers need to be more careful and remember they're only playing a game I reckon.
Was there any sort of exclusion zone for the spectator boats that they had entered when the inear misses occurred or were there no restrictions on where spectators could go
Regards Don
Had a bit of a Google and it was fairly close as shown in the photo below
it appears that the skipper of the race boat expected the nsw maratime boat (on the starboard bow) to go astern and give them room but they held station instead
The skipper of red and yellow stink pot charter boat has received many profanities from myself over the last few years. He has no regard for anyone nor does he respect ROW on syd harbour. One of the reasons i steer clear of harbour around xmas and especially on weekends. Asshole.
it looks like the same kind of behavior you see in rally car and tour de france where crazy spectators feel important by jumping in front of competitors
Was there any sort of exclusion zone for the spectator boats that they had entered when the inear misses occurred or were there no restrictions on where spectators could go
Regards Don
Don, I don't think there is a spectator exclusion zone for the Solas BB challenge.
I didn't see the Maritime vessel in the top video, the skipper of One&Only is even more of an arsehole than I first thought, who the £@^% do they think they are???
If there was an exclusion zone, looks like the Maritime vessel was marking that boundary.
Its funny to watch, until you think about the blatant disregard for peoples safety & property, should be charged I reckon.
Your right. The skipper of the race boat is an arsehole.
Most likely but where was he supposed to go? Those other boats put themselves in the way.
He had plenty of choices before he got to where he did. The leeward boat kept well clear.
More interested in winning his little competition than the safety of those around him.
Those other boats were in the same place they were before he crossed the start line. They didn't sneak up and jump out in front of him
He had plenty of choices before he got to where he did. The leeward boat kept well clear.
More interested in winning his little competition than the safety of those around him.
Those other boats were in the same place they were before he crossed the start line. They didn't sneak up and jump out in front of him
Crap start that didn't do Scallywag any good, he got owned by Oats who had a pretty average start themselves. Interesting the smaller Beau Geste had a shocker of a start pinching up to even make the pin, but then ticks off Scallywag at the top mark.
Dead rite, it is not because you are racing that you have a special claim on the waters. BUT, BUT< BUT if it was me I thing I would do my best to stay out of the trajectory of the yachts.................. maybe it is just me...................... I think it is called courtesy????
It is all good in another hand to play cat and mouse with another yacht within the rules when yu are racing.
I think that as there was more than one boat in the area they maybe considered that it was ok to be there.
If you found yourself in a place that you didnt expect to be and could not make your intentions extremely clear. Then it is best to do nothing.
It may be courtesy to keep clear but it is very easy to find yourself in a precarious position.
The spectators boat had another vessel crossing astern so he may not of wanted to go there
Your right. The skipper of the race boat is an arsehole.
Most likely but where was he supposed to go? Those other boats put themselves in the way.
I just wouldn't be there
They were almost stationary. The race boat is doing 20 kts or so, you aren't getting out of his way. He was the overtaking vessel, he is the one who shouldn't be there but the racing 'red mist' descended on his eyes and his manhood was at risk if he didn't take the fastest route.
I wonder if the race officials took any action.
Theres all sorts going on in syd harbour especially now. Cruise ships. Big race boats etc. This happens every year. Personally if i find myself out there during a "piccadilly circus " moment i just keep outta the way. Im not a fan of these races- i was invited out by the guys i race with that day. The whole scene doesnt interest me but every year these guys do this spectators and racers. The syd to hobart sees some dangers with sunseekers throwing small boats into the path of bigger boats with their wakes. Why anyone wants to be involved and in that is beyond me. Those race boats were doing about 12 knots btw not 20. As with anything it takes 2 to tango so if anything had of happened both vessels made it happen. Isnt motor supposed to give way to sail anyway?
Im not on anyone's side but it seems ridiculous to me that on race day, that these guys do every year the spectators put themselves in the race path.
Theres all sorts going on in syd harbour especially now. Cruise ships. Big race boats etc. This happens every year. Personally if i find myself out there during a "piccadilly circus " moment i just keep outta the way. Im not a fan of these races- i was invited out by the guys i race with that day. The whole scene doesnt interest me but every year these guys do this spectators and racers. The syd to hobart sees some dangers with sunseekers throwing small boats into the path of bigger boats with their wakes. Why anyone wants to be involved and in that is beyond me. Those race boats were doing about 12 knots btw not 20. As with anything it takes 2 to tango.
Agree totally. Except that if that yacht was doing 12 kts I'd be very surprised. Whatever, that sized yacht doing the speed he was doing you aren't getting out of his way in a low powered stink boat.
I would like to know what the race committee thought of it.
On the 1.26 min video of the whole race it shows their speed. Not exactly sure where this was but looks like either taylors or chowder bay. From either youd see these boats coming and be able to move in time but they didnt want to. They wanted to be in the thick of it and thats what they got!
No disrespect btw and merry xmas
Theres no doubt racers do some stupid things. A few weeks ago we nearly crashed near garden island in a race cause our skipper decided he was right. Had another boat not moved and put themselves in danger id say i being on foredeck would have been at least in the water possibly worse. Why? Cause in the racing skippers mind nothing else matters! Crazy.
A few saturdays ago i sailed around cockatoo and to lavender. 2 clubs racing as well. Drummoyne and gfs. I tried my best to keep outta their way. Even heaved to for 1 min to let some boats pass . Initially i was kinda stressed but then i took it as an opportunity to be in control and not collide with anyone. Was sort of fun. Gimmie a weekday or non syd harbour though anyday!
On the 1.26 min video of the whole race it shows their speed. Not exactly sure where this was but looks like either taylors or chowder bay. From either youd see these boats coming and be able to move in time but they didnt want to. They wanted to be in the thick of it and thats what they got!
No disrespect btw and merry xmas
Theres no doubt racers do some stupid things. A few weeks ago we nearly crashed near garden island in a race cause our skipper decided he was right. Had another boat not moved and put themselves in danger id say i being on foredeck would have been at least in the water possibly worse. Why? Cause in the racing skippers mind nothing else matters! Crazy.
A few saturdays ago i sailed around cockatoo and to lavender. 2 clubs racing as well. Drummoyne and gfs. I tried my best to keep outta their way. Even heaved to for 1 min to let some boats pass . Initially i was kinda stressed but then i took it as an opportunity to be in control and not collide with anyone. Was sort of fun. Gimmie a weekday or non syd harbour though anyday!
I know what you mean, although weekends on Pittwater aren't much better and there is often no way to go around them, especially near Avalon Sailing Club (I use to crew there).
I will try to avoid getting in the way of races but if it is unavoidable I will stand on in accordance with ColRegs. I use to give way to boats racing but found I was used by said boat to obstruct his competitor or find myself annoying other vessels.
No such problems off the coast.
Is it just me, or is the wind direction in the computer graphic completely wrong? It has all boats on port tack at the start, when they are all clearly on starboard in the vision.
I hear ya mb. Im pretty much over the busy harbours. Looking forward to a coastal cruise to jervis next weekend. Interesting what you say about the racers using us!!! They can get stuffed i reckon! No more heave tos for them
It was a great race ! if your interested in racing at all . It's a must see the whole vid goes for about an hour and half . Just has everything ,light through to 15 plus ......
Good comentry and great camera angles .
If if I can find it later I will stick a link up ..... But well worth the watch !
Looking at the aerial view of the near miss where it shows an area clear of boats down the centre, i wonder if the spectator boats thought that the maritime boat was marking the edge of the course and that the fleet were not going to go outside of it
Regards Don
Am I missing something here? Power gives way to sail. Why would you place yourself in the path of a boat under sail.