hi guys, yes the rules.
I guess there is a short and long answer.
short answer is, it depends on the conditions and we make a call at briefing and confirm out on the course.
the long answer........
the event gets permits for a couple of the runs up at burrum. we have the main run, the northern run and the northern side of the main run. depending on conditions that gives us a fairly good selection of angles to sail.
typically what happens is we address the run and direction during briefing based on bom forecasts and current conditions. depending on which side is favoured we will run either port tack courses or starboard tack courses. we have a series of flags on the bank to indicate which direction has right of way and a flag to signal course closure/opening.
we also hold briefings on the bank as needed to deal with traffic requirements and changing conditions.
the course gets opened after we've gotten all of the support craft out on the bank and put up the flags. from there I assess the wind direction in real-time and make the final call on the course location and direction. I usually try to position the barge around the middle of the course and out of the way. depending on how the skipper is feeling and the tides we try and push the barge up into the washouts.
in a good wind direction there is 3-4km of blasting right beside the bank. now because the bank is an arc we tend to also get a short bear away at the end of the course people are starting their run from. as the start is an upwind run onto the main straight before the bearaway starts. in the past we have had a handful of people hugging the bank back upwind against the flow to try and get this small bearaway.
this year hugging the bank back to the start of the course (if the wind direction permits) will see people being clamped down on. 3 strike and you are off the course for the day. the thing to remember is that no one has ever that I am aware of posted their fastest speeds going against the flow.
so what we try to achieve is a situation where people coming down the bank have right of way close to the sand and those going back upwind provide plenty of room. this year I also intend to place a buoy at the top of the course to give those starting their run some extra space.
what is very important is that people attend briefing. otherwise they have no idea what is going on out on the water and cause frustrations for everyone. as organisers we keep well up to date with the weather and give everyone as much information as possible including a notice board at speed hq.
the notice of race will be getting posted online in the next week but as far as on the water rules go that is pretty much it. I make a concerted effort to stay out of the way of everyone sailing so other than at the bbq and at briefing and the end of the day you won't really notice my input. the management committee tries hard to shape the event for the conditions so everyone gets input into the running of the event. we often put the feelers out during the event and remain flexible with the timetable to get the most out of every day.
last year we had so much sailing that people were starting to cross fingers for a rest day.
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