tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522701856181722751.post5444692015785277315..comments2023-09-19T08:57:32.980-04:00Comments on Apparent Wind: Communication with the Race CommitteeAnniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511782748972147582noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522701856181722751.post-45356275659780986942010-07-22T22:10:01.451-04:002010-07-22T22:10:01.451-04:00And some race committees may use "Read your S...And some race committees may use "Read your SI's" as a cover for "We're afraid if we answer your questions that we'll lose our focus and forget the start sequence or forget where we were going to have the mark buoys put or, worst of all, not give the PRO time to finish his morning coffee."Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13417115374524861438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522701856181722751.post-64898086320242964962010-07-22T08:54:12.043-04:002010-07-22T08:54:12.043-04:00Pat, I think you are right in saying that many RCs...Pat, I think you are right in saying that many RCs avoid answering questions for fear they may give out wrong information and then have some sailor file a request for redress against them (for sailing the wrong course for example.) I have never understood this though. If the PRO of all people doesn't know exactly what the course is then he/she shouldn't be doing that job.<br /><br />I think some RCs also worry about Rule 41 which forbids a sailor from receiving "outside help." But there is a specific exception in Rule 41 for help in the form if information freely available to other boats, which surely includes anything that is specified in the SIs?Tillermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00639738519386820997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522701856181722751.post-13408661836743198752010-07-19T21:21:18.663-04:002010-07-19T21:21:18.663-04:00as a newbie to sailing, I would find that very fru...as a newbie to sailing, I would find that very frustrating. I can pretty much guarantee that I wouldn't think to bring the race course layouts with me, and I would have thought that is what the committee was for (helping out with ???, that is).my2fishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14457239434851029876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522701856181722751.post-51268240973508512032010-07-19T19:45:03.580-04:002010-07-19T19:45:03.580-04:00I can also understand the RC point of view that no...I can also understand the RC point of view that no only is there a danger of re-interpreting the rules or course, but there's also a danger of giving help to some boats but not others. Probably a lot of RC people have been yelled at in the past. <br /><br />And it's hard to imagine anything more disconcerting than a purple-faced fat old guy yelling belligerently and threatening to give himself a heart attack. <br /><br />One hopes that, if the NORs and SI's are written well and not to confusing, and mark layers do their job on the course, then the racers will take responsibility for their part.Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13417115374524861438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522701856181722751.post-50505593655622262042010-07-17T18:51:39.007-04:002010-07-17T18:51:39.007-04:00Carol Anne - Once in a while I coach a kid with a ...Carol Anne - Once in a while I coach a kid with a special ed. plan, but most of my teen age sailors act like they have ADD anyway. No use fighting it. We all have lots of things going on, and it's easy to miss what turns out to be important instructions. I just try to have more fun with it than frustration.<br />Doc - I frequently serve as RC - 4-6 regattas a year, 12 head to head high school team race meets, and a few other days at the local club. Sometimes I get a few questions, but then the word spreads about whatever was confusing and then everybody understands. I would much rather explain things (even if it got aggravating) than see an event marred buy confusion that I could have avoided.<br /><br />At our local regatta today, I saw an out of town a kid with SIs in a plastic bag. I was impressed, but while he was trying to get them out of the bag, I just explained the course to him. It seemed easier, and hopefully he will come back and sail with us again.yarghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01062966513084638375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522701856181722751.post-57779679913998318912010-07-17T11:40:22.801-04:002010-07-17T11:40:22.801-04:00I'm totally old-school on this. Why should a s...I'm totally old-school on this. Why should a sailor who has the foresighted ziploc bag preparation have his advantage neutralized by people asking the RC for help and directions on the water? If you have served as RC, you would know that if you answer one question, 20 more will follow.Doc Häagen-Dazshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522701856181722751.post-80681334078688041162010-07-16T02:29:17.882-04:002010-07-16T02:29:17.882-04:00"Read the Sailing Instructions" may even..."Read the Sailing Instructions" may even run counter to the Americans with Disabilities Act. As an instructor at a community college, I have students with learning (and other) disabilities. For some of them, reading is a struggle. To comply with the ADA, the college has a department of Special Services that analyzes the needs of each student and issues a confidential memo to the student's instructors as to what sort of additional assistance the student needs. And yes, many of them need assistance in the form of tape recordings or other aural means.<br /><br />Any RC who instructed an individual with this type of disability to "Read the SIs" would be violating the ADA.<br /><br />Of course, even if you're not worrying about the ADA, it's just plain nice to give sailors clarification.Carol Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07201269435839112134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522701856181722751.post-61195882227319450672010-07-15T17:48:29.572-04:002010-07-15T17:48:29.572-04:001. You forgot to mention that you won the regatta ...1. You forgot to mention that you won the regatta in spite of the unhelpfulness of the RC. Congratulations!<br /><br />2. When I went to a US Sailing Race Management Course a few years ago, the general advice was that the RC should be helpful to the sailors and answer questions when asked. This "refer to the SIs" shit is very old school and not at all the recommended best practice these days as I understand it.<br /><br />3. When faced with a variety of complicated courses in the SIs I do sometimes put the relevant page in a ziploc bag and duct tape it to my deck.<br /><br />Congrats again. See you Saturday I hope.Tillermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00639738519386820997noreply@blogger.com