The wind was nice on the way out of the harbor, so we immediately hoisted sail and began sailing. It was once again a nice tight reach to the start. The Bounty crossed in front of us. Luckily, the crew had no mutinous thoughts this evening.
There was also a sun dog or something above the mast. Not quite sure what to classify it as. Here is a picture. I would appreciate a comment if someone knows what it is called.
We got to the start and observed that the port end was favored. The race marshal reset the line, but I did not notice any difference. With foul current and port end favored, I was as happy as a pig in shit. I knew we would not have many boats near us at the start and we would be able to gain a big advantage on the boats that started on the boat end. For us, this is the ideal starting situation.
As I watched the first start, I was surprised by the number of boats near the pin. They were a bit late, but in a good position nonetheless. It should be noted that the pin end of the line is the same as the boat end. It is a starting mark. In my post on barging, I realize now that I may have unintentionally given the impression that the starting mark is only the committee boat. I made that mistake since I was trying to make sure people understood that the starting mark is usually the boat AND the mark. The same rules apply.
As my start approached, I stayed to windward of the line which was also up current. This was to make sure a decline in wind would not make me late. I ended up in a good position and had an on-time pin end start. We also had a good lead on the fleet at this point and only two boats started at the pin.
Up the course, we protected the left side. Turns out the right side was favored. I know now that there was more breeze out there, but also more current. Apparently the breeze won because one of the boats that went right made up a lot of ground on the boats that went left. At this point, I doubt I will ever figure out the breeze on the river. The only difference I can talk about is the little bit of east in the wind. I am thinking that some east in a southerly will make the west side a little better.
At the mark, a boat from the fleet ahead had trouble shooting the mark due to the current. They hit the mark. We were able to get through the mess without issue, but the boat right behind us got screwed. It was unfortunate they got screwed, because it threw away some good gains they made upwind and ended their chances of blanketing us downwind. I was happy for our boat, but disappointed in the way this went down. It was unnecessary.
In the rules, it has been a number of years since a boat has been required to re-round a mark. In today's rules, a boat that hits the mark should sail clear of it and do a 360. This will avoid a clusterfuck at the mark. Here are the rules involved:
31 TOUCHING A MARK
While racing, a boat shall not touch a starting mark before starting, a mark that begins, bounds or ends the leg of the course on which she is sailing, or a finishing mark after finishing.
While racing, a boat shall not touch a starting mark before starting, a mark that begins, bounds or ends the leg of the course on which she is sailing, or a finishing mark after finishing.
44.1 Taking a Penalty
A boat may take a Two-Turns Penalty when she may have broken a rule of Part 2 while racing or a One-Turn Penalty when she may have broken rule 31.
A boat may take a Two-Turns Penalty when she may have broken a rule of Part 2 while racing or a One-Turn Penalty when she may have broken rule 31.
44.2 One-Turn and Two-Turns Penalties
After getting well clear of other boats as soon after the incident as possible, a boat takes a One-Turn or Two-Turns Penalty by promptly making the required number of turns in the same direction, each turn including one tack and one gybe.
After getting well clear of other boats as soon after the incident as possible, a boat takes a One-Turn or Two-Turns Penalty by promptly making the required number of turns in the same direction, each turn including one tack and one gybe.
So here is what happens when you hit a mark. First, you break rule 31. Looking at rule 44.1, the penalty for breaking rule 31 is a One-Turn Penalty. 44.2 defines what the penalty entails. Notice that the first part of rule 44.2 instructs the boat taking a penalty to get well clear of other boats. Re-rounding a mark may qualify as a One-Turn Penalty since the boat is doing the 360, but she is not fulfilling the obligation to stay well clear. Everyone would have been better off if the boat that hit the mark sailed away from it and did their turns in a clear area.
Since A Train got caught up in this boat's attempted "One Turn Penalty", A Train may have been fouled. If A Train had to alter course before the boat completed their One Turn Penalty, then the boat would have fouled A Train under rule 21.2.
21.2 A boat taking a penalty shall keep clear of one that is not.
In the end, we got left alone on the downwind leg and finished in a good position. It was nice to have the current behind us since the wind was getting lighter and the current helped end the downwind leg.
We sailed for a little bit after the race and went over to pizza night at Minisceongo Yacht Club. As always, they are great hosts for the HBRA and it is appreciated by all on Jazz. Especially nice for this evening were all the great desserts.
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