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Vessels & Equipment

Abstract

For the management of a race, the Race Committee has to arrange for several vessels and boats that are suitable for the race area and adequately equipped for the tasks they are meant to perform. To have a fleet of both comfortable vessels able to carry the necessary signals and administration equipment and fast inflatable’s to lay and move marks is desirable. Finally, the type of marks used and the quality of associated devices like lines and weights can have a major influence on competitor’s satisfaction, stress on the course-setting personnel and the success of each racing day.

Contents

4.1 Starting vessel
4.2 Course-setting vessel
4.3 Mark boats
4.4 Rescue boats
4.5 Signal boat
4.6 Jury boat(s)
4.7 Marks

4.1 Starting vessel
The Starting vessel should be of a size sufficient to accommodate the Race Committee personnel in reasonable comfort. Depending on the type of course, it may also act as Finishing vessel. It should be appropriate for the conditions likely to prevail in the course area; it should be maneuverable, visible and clearly identified in accordance with the Sailing Instructions. It should be equipped in accordance with the list in Appendix 2H.

4.2 Course-setting vessel
The Course-setting vessel should be a fast power boat equipped with instruments for determining either speed or distance run, or both, as well as a reliable compass and GPS. Depending on the type of course, once the course has been laid out, the Course-setting vessel may be used as a Lineboat on the pin end of the starting and finishing lines. In most types of course, however, the Race Officer will want to wait as long as possible before finalizing the course, which means that the Course-setting vessel will not be back in the starting area in time to act as Lineboat. A separate Lineboat will usually have to perform this task, especially if more than one race per day is scheduled.

Between starting and finishing, the Course-setting vessel may be used as a patrol boat although its main task is to stand by for alterations to the course in the event of a wind change. This vessel, like the Mark boats, is a source of information to the Race Officer. Its list of required equipment can be found in Appendix 2H.

4.3 Mark boats
Mark boats are desirable for major regattas in open waters, especially when the legs are longer than 1 NM or when visibility is hampered by large waves or poor conditions. They can contribute to the fairness of the racing. Mark boats are ideally keelboats or trailer yachts or any kind of displacement vessel with a tall mast or rig to which an easily identified shape can be hoisted. The best is an equilateral triangular "sail" with sides about 1.5 m, of orange day glow material, set in the rigging at right angles to the wind.

Mark boats should be adequate for the conditions that are likely to apply in the area. While on station, Mark boats are usually in a good position to record mark roundings, which may be of use to the Race Committee or the Protest Committee afterwards. Mark boats can also be used for mark laying or shifting marks following a course change, in which case they may need additional equipment. Appendix 2H contains a list from which the desired equipment can be selected.

4.4 Patrol boats
Patrol boats should be of adequate capability to assist boats in distress under adverse conditions. For dinghies the ratio should ideally be one patrol craft for every ten competitors. In sheltered estuary waters the need may not be so great. On the other hand, a junior fleet may well require a higher proportion. Each craft should be manned by at least two competent persons and equipped as in Appendix 2H. See also this Section, Chapter 2.7.

4.5 Signal boat
For large fleets consideration should be given to using a Signal boat to be stationed on the course side and approximately in the middle of the starting line, and around 100 to 200 metres to windward. When a Signal boat is used this way, all the starting signal equipment listed for the Starting vessel in Appendix 2H will be on the Signal boat.

4.6 Jury boat(s)
Depending upon the formality of the regatta, the traditions of the Class and the requirements of the Organizing Authority, one or more Jury boats may be required. In nearly all match and team racing on-the-water umpires are used to signal infringements and instant penalties. Major international championships usually have an International Jury which may take some responsibility for observing infringements and even lodging protests, especially relating to contact between boats, illegal propulsion, touching of marks, etc.

In this case a number of Jury boats may be required, dependent on the number of Jury members who are supposed to be ‘on the water’ during racing. Experiments are currently also underway with direct judging in small fleets.

The specifications for Jury boats will vary according to the sea conditions and the nature of the racing fleet. For dinghy racing, a fast cabin cruiser may act as mother vessel to two or more inflatables. Jury vessels should always be identified by a Jury flag, which may be the letter "J" or the word "Jury" on a contrasting ground, or Code flag "J". See also this Section, Chapter 2.4.

4.7 Marks Marks should be highly visible against sea or land (bright yellow or rescue orange) and easily towed and handled by the Course-setting vessel. If marks not in use are towed during a race, the Course-setting crew must ensure that competitors do not get confused by moved marks.

The most suitable types are inflatable neoprene cylinders or spheres of a size suitable for the length of course and height of waves. Cylinders of 1.2-1.5 m height and spheres of about 1 m diameter are suitable for most small-boat classes.

Marks used for a change of course should be of a different shape or colour or have some distinguishing mark such as a coloured (or black) band or sleeve which can be slipped over the mark.

Cylindrical marks need a heavy counter-weight to keep them upright and all marks need a counter-weight fixed to the anchor line about 2-3 metres below the surface to keep the line down and away from close rounding boats. A 12 to 25 kg steel weight is best. Steel is more effective than concrete, because in water it weighs some 87% of its weight in air, whereas concrete in water only weighs 55% of its weight in air.

The type of anchor best suited to the locality should be determined. Generally some form of wide fluked grapnel anchor is most satisfactory. Danforth anchors are easily fouled and when well bedded are sometimes difficult to retrieve.

The line should be long enough to prevent the mark dragging in heavy weather but not so long that the mark shifts with variations in wind and tide. Preferably some chain should be used at the anchor end to prevent chafing and improve holding.

In very deep water, marks can be secured with disposable ground tackle consisting of reject or damaged concrete blocks and non-synthetic (bio-degradable) twine which can simply be cut.

Marks for the Kenwood Cup off Hawaii, for example, are laid in some 600 m of water. Two or three concrete blocks are lashed together with cheap line which also provides a leader. Twine is attached to this line. At the surface end the twine is attached to another leader which also has a length of shockcord in parallel with it to prevent shock loadings.

Because the marks sometimes have to be retrieved in very adverse conditions, a small buoy is attached to the counter-weight so that it just reaches the surface. Small buoy, counter-weight and mark are then retrieved in that order and the biodegradable anchor line twine is cut below the leader.