National Windsurfing C'ship 26 & 27 July 2008 (life-vest must be worn)

[PlaneSailin]

...hoping for a nice 10-18 knots over the weekend...

Will they start the race if there's a storm, or only if it's "natural" wind?

I'm just wondering what would happen if we got another storm like last Sunday!

[Meng]

Due to recent watersports related incidents,

Do note that Life-Vest must be worn during races, PA race may adhere too....

[Mr Angry]

What a stupid rule for windsurfing. I guess that is the end of windsurf racing in Singapore.

No life vests are required for any windsurf race around the world. In some environments a bouyancy aid may be required, but not a life vest as it makes windsurfing dangerous.

All it takes is one person who cant swim to go out and fall off a yacht to spoil it for all.

Over reaction or what

[PlaneSailin]

How do life vests make windsurfing dangerous? 

It seems unecessary to enforce their use, as anybody who has learned to windsurf has already learned to swim, and has definitely had a lot of swimming practice!

But, on the other hand, they make waterstarting less tiring, and in a race there is more chance of being knocked on the head by someone else's gear.  In such a case, having positive bouyancy could make the difference between life and death.

As long as there's nothing obstructing your harness hook, it shouldn't be a problem, should it?

[Mr Angry]

Have you tried windsurfing in a life vest?

A life vest is large, gets in the way and forces you to a head up position in the water. In windsurfing you need to be able to swim to water start, get out from under a rig, release yourself from harness lines if twisted etc etc. A life vest is obstructive as windsurfing is a sport where manoeuvrability in the water is a must.
A buoyancy aid could be used as it gives swimming support. A buoyancy vest is not a life vest.
If you cant swim, you can also drown wearing a buoyancy aid.

It is for the above reasons that you almost never see windsurfers in a life vest, but only a bouyancy vest.

Of course some sailors i could mention have their own built in buoyancy 

If by law you must wear a life vest, stick to canoeing

[PlaneSailin]

Good points, Mr Angry.

Even so, surely we can get away with just wearing a bouyancy vest?  Are the cops gonna pull us over and check the amount of foam we're wearing?

[PlaneSailin]

Great race today.  A big thank you to the organisers.



Just a few questions from a newcomer:


-Where was the first marker?

-Where was the second marker?

-Where was the third marker?

-Where was the fourth marker?

-Of the six (yes, six!) different possible courses given in the Notice Of Race, which one were we following?

-Did I win?

[Meng]

Great race today.  A big thank you to the organisers.



Just a few questions from a newcomer:


-Where was the first marker?

-Where was the second marker?

-Where was the third marker?

-Where was the fourth marker?

-Of the six (yes, six!) different possible courses given in the Notice Of Race, which one were we following?

-Did I win?

it's all in the sailing instructions, once u read it, u will be as fine as the rest.....

[PlaneSailin]

What sailing instructions?  Where?   

Ah, now, going back over the Notice Of Race I see, the bit in Clause 6 where it says "Sailing Instructions" would be posted at the NSC.   

I didn't understand what "Sailing Instructions" meant - of course, you meant instructions on when to give way, how to uphaul, how to sail on a reach, how to tack and gybe? Stuff like that?  No wonder I didn't give it much thought! 

Well, anyway, I was keen to take part in the race, but I didn't realise that I had to seek out further ESSENTIAL INFORMATION beforehand at NSC... I thought I had the main info in the NOR, and besides, it was a fun event, you know, go there and just sail and try to stay ahead of the other guy, I didn't realise you had to be Christopher bl**dy Columbus...I assumed somebody would tell us the important stuff before the race started...people kept saying "Just join in! It'll be fun!"   

...that's an afternoon and 30 dollars down the drain...


Rookie mistake, but I had so little fun that I wont be back tomorrow...GO THAILAND GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Denis Wee]

...people kept saying "Just join in! It'll be fun!" 

Of course it's fun, Andrew!  You've learnt what a NOR is, that you should read the Sailing Instructions, what marks are.  Soon you will find out what a trapezoid course is, inner loop, outer loop, warning signal, preparatory signal and a whole host of exciting new things.  It beats the monotony of waiting for the wind to pick up so you can do planing "runs" going up and down.  Get back into the race and enjoy yourself! 

[m3l]

What sailing instructions?  Where?   

Ah, now, going back over the Notice Of Race I see, the bit in Clause 6 where it says "Sailing Instructions" would be posted at the NSC.   

I didn't understand what "Sailing Instructions" meant - of course, you meant instructions on when to give way, how to uphaul, how to sail on a reach, how to tack and gybe? Stuff like that?  No wonder I didn't give it much thought! 

Well, anyway, I was keen to take part in the race, but I didn't realise that I had to seek out further ESSENTIAL INFORMATION beforehand at NSC... I thought I had the main info in the NOR, and besides, it was a fun event, you know, go there and just sail and try to stay ahead of the other guy, I didn't realise you had to be Christopher bl**dy Columbus...I assumed somebody would tell us the important stuff before the race started...people kept saying "Just join in! It'll be fun!"   

...that's an afternoon and 30 dollars down the drain...


Rookie mistake, but I had so little fun that I wont be back tomorrow...GO THAILAND GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well.. It took me awhile to realize what was a trapezoid course.. Then came the inner loop outer loop story.. Then the class flag and the rest of the racing essential.. Simply.. If you dont know where the marks are.. Just play follow the rabbit for the 1st race then im pretty sure you should know what to do for th rest of the races right? Lol..

[Meng]

What sailing instructions?  Where?   

Ah, now, going back over the Notice Of Race I see, the bit in Clause 6 where it says "Sailing Instructions" would be posted at the NSC.   

I didn't understand what "Sailing Instructions" meant - of course, you meant instructions on when to give way, how to uphaul, how to sail on a reach, how to tack and gybe? Stuff like that?  No wonder I didn't give it much thought! 

Well, anyway, I was keen to take part in the race, but I didn't realise that I had to seek out further ESSENTIAL INFORMATION beforehand at NSC... I thought I had the main info in the NOR, and besides, it was a fun event, you know, go there and just sail and try to stay ahead of the other guy, I didn't realise you had to be Christopher bl**dy Columbus...I assumed somebody would tell us the important stuff before the race started...people kept saying "Just join in! It'll be fun!"   

...that's an afternoon and 30 dollars down the drain...


Rookie mistake, but I had so little fun that I wont be back tomorrow...GO THAILAND GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

u sounded just like my good friend, Kit.
too bad he's busy with work otherwise u will have good pal to moan over the race and NOR.

anyway, there's always "try again".
remembering my 1st virgin race, not only i finished last, I was overlapped, rescued by boat and the moon had just started its shift.

[PlaneSailin]

Well.. It took me awhile to realize what was a trapezoid course.. Then came the inner loop outer loop story.. Then the class flag and the rest of the racing essential.. Simply.. If you dont know where the marks are.. Just play follow the rabbit for the 1st race then im pretty sure you should know what to do for th rest of the races right? Lol..

That was basically my game plan - to follow the others - but they all started tacking in different directions, and I couldn't tell where they were trying to go.  Then after some of them made it around the first mark it got really confusing! 

I counted at least 6 bouys out there, big ones, small ones, orange ones, yellow ones, plus the blue one which I later learned was the finish line, and there was a boat with an orange bouy on board as well.  Was that boat part of the course? 

I still have a headache!!!!!!!!   

[P.J.]

Is a good effort that you actually see and count all the buoys. Yes there are 2 yellow, 2 orange, one blue , one orange and the boat with some flags. I will pass you the NOR this weekend and hope you will put all the puzzles together.

I think the PA race should be simpler if you doing Slalom, Can check with Chai in advance since he is the OD .

[PlaneSailin]

Thanks for your patient advice. 
   

I'll try again at the PA race; I'm a glutton for punishment, and besides, I want the t-shirt.

 
Unless there's a storm, in which case I'll probably abandon the race to do my own thing.