HHSA Racers,
We've been having lots of fun and exciting frostbites, with great sailing, competitive starts, and close roundings. Compared to our normal Wednesdays, we're getting to experience offwind starts, 40 degree wind shifts and oscillations, and 10 boats with PHRF differentials of up to 3 minutes a mile starting in 500' of starting line. Although it's fun having everyone close together, we've had more close calls in at least three of the last four Sundays. We've seen boats tack, jibe, or harden up within 4-5 boatlengths - less than 20 seconds - from contact with another boat.
Please make sure you're aware of your surroundings at all times. Especially double check that no one's nearby before changing course.
We're a great club with the right mix of fun and competition, with room for everyone from classic racer-cruisers, to more modern cruisers, and bigger, faster race boats. We're not a club with members waving the rule book around the course, looking for ways to assert rights at the expense of others, but we do want to make sure we're following them and keeping everyone safe.
From a rules perspective, remember that if you foul someone, it's your obligation to take a penalty whether they protest you or not. If someone fouls you and doesn't realize it, please protest them. Hopefully your protest gives them an opportunity to discuss the situation, realize they committed a foul, and acknowledge and learn from the mistake by taking a turns penalty. "Protest" isn't a dirty word and shouldn't be something we fear. If there are questions about whether there was a violation, a protest hearing or arbitration provides an opportunity for everyone involved to learn what to do differently.
Happy Place is Race Committee this week. We will try ordering up some nice wind and a little less rain.
Cheers,
Mark Burrows
Rear Commodore - Racing
Deck Boss