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Reefing Rule

(147 posts) (38 voices)

Started 1 year ago by Chief
Latest reply from KiwiBird

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SailBirdMike
Member

Zero.... sorta. We extended the existing mast about a week before the start since we wanted more headroom under the boom. We are currently rigging a new mast so we don't have to expain that odd little splice!

SBM.... I wish I had bought a Gopro a few months ago.... it would have been mounted on my Reflex 250 that fun day when I had to dodge the Toyota Celica and ended up sliding across the pavement (many riders are now using dash cams full time for accident documentation). Showing the officer a dashcam view of the guy pulling out in front of me would have been better than giving a statement while standing on one leg at the side of the road, pants off, while the paramedics attended my quickly swelling knee!

Posted 1 year ago #
Chief
Coastal Vagabond

ZeroTheHero is bringing up some issues that perhaps deserve their own thread. The reason is that although we have some extremely impressive cat and tri sailors I am starting to feel that they have pushed beyond the limits I originally intended for WaterTribe. I also feel that beach cats/tris where never designed or intended as expedition oriented boats. When I look back on all the calls to the Coast Guard the vast majority are beach cats.

Is a Hobie 17 designed for long distance camp cruising? Is it designed from the factory for sailing in any weather? Is it designed to paddle when there is no wind? Is it designed to paddle or sail against the wind if you can't use a full sail and are getting blown offshore? I think the answer is no to all of these questions. The same can be said for the Hobie 16, the Hobie Getaway, the Hobie Wave and every other Hobie currently on the market.

The same can be said for all the other beach/racing cats and tris on the market. They are all great boats for the designed purpose, but does that purpose meet the spirit of WaterTribe. I am wrestling with this now.

For the specific question on how many reef points are required for the Hobie 17, I would say that two are the minimum. But you should put in only what you think is prudent. Or don't put in any at this time. At this point I am thinking of imposing a 135 sqft limit on the size of any single sail. Yes, I know this is arbitrary. That is why I have avoided it in the past, but we have reached a critical point, and we are, after all, trying to focus on small boats.

When it comes to spinnakers, a cruising spinnaker or screecher is OK. A racing spinnaker is not. Now I realize that there are many sailors out there way beyond my ability that could safely handle any kind of spinnaker. But for every sailor who can there are 10 who can't but think they can. If we were racing off a beach and had chase boats, I wouldn't think of imposing these limits. But we are unsupported over a 300 mile course in any weather with self proclaimed experts. If you all were in my shoes, you'd do the same.

Posted 1 year ago #
DogPaddler
Member

Chief,

Just to be clear about this. You've seen my schooner rigged kayak tri at the NCC 2010. The main and mizzen are Balogh sails each with 2 reefs. The headsail, a (Balogh 36/30 Expedition) is used in light/mod conditions, and can be doused with it's downhaul line (attached at head) and fed to my cockpit. Does this satisfy your rule?

Brad

Posted 1 year ago #
CleanSlate
Member

Well I now know what I will spend my 20% off coupon from REI on. A waterproof video camera like the Go-Pro Hero 2 camera to document my reefing ability. (I was going to get the camera anyway). One of the things that brought the watertribe to my attention was DogsLife's great videos.

Posted 1 year ago #
ZeroTheHero
Member

Chief, looking for clarification on what the differences in the spinnakers is. The Nomad's is asymetrical, can be launched, handled and doused from the cockpit, and is easy to sale with.

Posted 1 year ago #
lugnut
Member

Chief wrote: If you all were in my shoes, you'd do the same.

No, I'd probably do worse. When Wingnut and I helped run the 2009 EC, I did lots of pre-race inspections and was not impressed with a lot of reefing schemes that technically met the rule but would likely be inadequate if things got nasty out on the course. I was impressed by the guy who got away without anyone realizing he couldn't reef at all. He made it past Cape Sable and then thought he was going to die when the winds picked up on his beat to Flamingo and he thought his cat was going to get backflipped as it came over the waves. He pulled out there rathern than chance hitting winds like that again. An EC isn't like an ocean race for keel boats or daysails for small boats; it has the tougher elements of each. The past two ECs have featured winds above 40 knots and sustained winds in the 30-knot range. When you are on your boat in the middle of nowhere with no place to land, your second -- and last reef --is in and conditions are deteriorating, what will you do then? Assuring youself you did the minimum to meet the rules won't be much comfort.

In my five finished and two partial ECs, I've needed the double reef in every one and three times (that I can think of easily, there may be more I can't think of right now) where I needed more than a double reef.

Chief's clarified rules are common sense (unless, of course, he wants me to reef my 12 square foot mizzen).

Lugnut

Posted 1 year ago #
spidennis
Member

So it sounds like chief wants to box rule the boats so that it outlaws all the fast boats that have previously passed all the filter requirements (and not only finished but actually won) but it's also gonna kill any small boat development in the future.

It's his event and he can do what he wants of course but I think it will really put a damper on the amount of entries in the future, and no longer will we be able to look forward to the line up on the starting beach wondering just what kind of strange craft is going to show up next.

Eliminating the Boat Switch Rule for stage 4 of the UFC should also cut down on the amount of fast sailboats that want to enter. In general the amount of entries overall will decline.

It was noted that class 5 multihulls was the fastest growing class, I wonder why? And this year how many monohulls finished? I guess this is not the direction that the wt wants to go in? I'm bewildered by this all. The event is growing as per the "purpose of the watertribe" which is small boat development but perhaps it's now out of control? Like being successful is a problem?

Sure, I can see this going back to kayaks, canoes and small sails but somehow that just doesn't sound like it all that exciting.

Personally I like seeing the entire mix, from pure paddle craft up to whatever X-craft gets developed, it's all great to see, and gauge against. First and Second place in the UFC this year (presently) is what? About as far off to either end of the spectrum as you can be. Where else would you see this happen? Nowhere, that's where. This is growing into a unique event, unlike anything else in the world, and it's still for the normal joe where he can afford this. This isn't a snooty mono hull yacht race where they won't allow multis, this isn't America's Cup where not even Nations can afford to play, this is for the backyard homebuilder and neighborhood adventurer to expand their goals and limits to what s/he could only dream about doing. Here s/he has the chance to do this! ..... and so how's that song go ? (it's an old one) ....... don't fence me in .......

Posted 1 year ago #
Karank
Member

I love this thread. I almost don't agree with anyone.....completely. Chief will do the right thing.

I really don't like rules much that get down to square feet and specific numbers. I like filters and the freedom to make some mistakes. So that the mistakes are mine...not the organizers.

What the rules should attempt to do is require some minimum basic requirements and leave the rest up to the skipper....as must ultimately happen anyway! I would speculate that few skippers sailed the specific boats they were sailing in the 2012 EC in 40+ mph winds before 7 AM that Sat. morning. "Why?" Cause it ain't no fun! That's why!....unless they were/are Watertribe Vets with an older boat.. I won't take the opportunity to mention names here.

So, Chief, make rules that get across the message that you must show up with a safe boat as you have in the past and continue to allow innovation and experience to take place. Tweak what you already have to improve and make more clear what you already know is needed.

I think that the EC has worked very well because this is exactly what has been done in the past. Just do it a little better each year based on experience.

Krank

Posted 1 year ago #
Chief
Coastal Vagabond

First, I would like to address those who have said we should stop talking (arguing) about rules and just watch the heroes that are charging down our coast. Well, it's 04:36 and I'm at my PC hitting the Regenerate button. Am I supposed to sit here and do nothing else for the next several hours? I think it might be OK to multitask.

Here is the way this whole matter could be resolved. I shouldn't have any rule regarding reefing or anything else. People can do what they want and show up with any boat and whatever gear they think they want. No Rules! That would make some of you real happy. I'd be happy too.

But then reality sets in and I have to go down the beach and start disqualifying people left and right. I'd look at the beach cats and the ones that didn't decide on their own to modify their rigs would be out. Some would be out because they didn't have adequate safety equipment. Some wouldn't have adequate navigation lights. I bet a whole bunch wouldn't have VHF radios. I'd probably have to DQ at least a dozen or so. My guess is that there would be a small group who would get it right. You probably already know their names because they seem to finish first in their class each year.

The monohull sailors would probably do a bit better. I might have to DQ just a couple.

The kayakers would do OK with just a couple that didn't have radios.

Now bear in mind that I have a no refund policy and that rule isn't going to change. So a couple dozen get DQed and are mighty ticked off. Now I have a riot going on and things get ugly.

So instead I have a very reasonable rule regarding minimum reefing standards and required equipment. But now people show up with the required rigging mods with no understanding of how to reef or when to reef. They come from culture that is counter to expedition-style sailing. So now what? There is no way I can write rules about when to reef. That needs to be learned and the first requirement of learning is wanting to learn. Do these sailors want to learn. Some do. Most don't. They already think they are the best sailors on earth.

So in blowing gale with small craft warnings these sailors leave the beach with full sail. Now what? Instant DQ is what it will be from now on.

It would have been very heartening if all of the beach cat sailors had a positive response to a very modest rule rewording. It wasn't even a real change. All it did was remove some ambiguity on interpretation. And really the only reason for misunderstanding the original rule was due to the culture clash mentioned before.

So, should I hit the dump button or go ahead and publish this? Let me check the mapper first. At 4:50 AM they were doing 5.5 knots. Come to think of it, Mosquito is one of the most innovative boats I've seen in a long time. And I didn't have to tell them to install reefs or use reefs. I guess that means I publish - and the reefing rule stands.

Posted 1 year ago #
ZeroTheHero
Member

I have 0 problems with the reffing rule and intend to arrive with a working system on whatever boat I bring. If you decided I need 3 reefs, Im ok with that too (just need a little advanced warning of course). I was just a little taken with your thoughts on cats and a seeming deire to do away with them. I am even more than ok with a max sail size if you feel it has to come to that. I can make changes and go with the flow.

As an aside there has been a small group talking on sailinganarchy.com about starting their own beach cat race along a similar course without the filters, ie no bridges, and shorter course to Marco. If it ever gets anywhere past just talk this could take some pressure off the EC in the cat and small tri department. This may be good news or not so good news, it's still a little early to tell. I have been in that discussion on SA but have very little desire to do anything with that event. Your event is more appealing to me.

Posted 1 year ago #
SailBirdMike
Member

I certainly consider Clarity to be an expedition style craft, especially after the refitting we did for the 2011 EC and the modifications we are doing for the 2013. With the conservative sail area, low C/E, the additional compartmented storage we are adding, a leeboard, and all the safety we've designed into her (we even have jacklines and offshore harnesses), I wouldn't call her a beach tri (well, except for the fact that we beach her!). I feel much more kinship to the Polynesian sailors of old than I do with Jeff MacInnis and Mike Beedell, the two Canadian Hobie cat sailors who successfully made it through the Northwest Passage on their Hobie 18.

I guess an expedition craft is best designated as such by her skipper, but her skipper has to understand that his craft must fit into whatever rules are placed by whatever organization is coordinating the event they wish to enter.

Otherwise, well, one could always try to retrace the 3 year trek of MacInnis and Beedell, or attempt any solo voyage one wants to do.

For me, I'm quite satisfied with the WaterTribe way!

Posted 1 year ago #
spidennis
Member

Karank wrote:

I love this thread. I almost don't agree with anyone.....completely. Chief will do the right thing.

I really don't like rules much that get down to square feet and specific numbers. I like filters and the freedom to make some mistakes. So that the mistakes are mine...not the organizers.

What the rules should attempt to do is require some minimum basic requirements and leave the rest up to the skipper....as must ultimately happen anyway! I would speculate that few skippers sailed the specific boats they were sailing in the 2012 EC in 40+ mph winds before 7 AM that Sat. morning. "Why?" Cause it ain't no fun! That's why!....unless they were/are Watertribe Vets with an older boat.. I won't take the opportunity to mention names here.

So, Chief, make rules that get across the message that you must show up with a safe boat as you have in the past and continue to allow innovation and experience to take place. Tweak what you already have to improve and make more clear what you already know is needed.

I think that the EC has worked very well because this is exactly what has been done in the past. Just do it a little better each year based on experience.

Krank

Krank, you always got words of wisdom for us!

..... and I think you nailed it, at least for me, it's the filters put in place that molds the boats and that's what drew me in. You figure out a way to do then get it done. All of my adventures are that way and I don't do any kind of one class racing really, unless you consider the Adirondack Canoe Class as such. I am in a class of other solo pack canoes, but it's a mass wave start so it doesn't really matter who's who. Still it's the course that draws me in, not a class or box rules. This isn't an offshore race, it's not a flat water race, it's not a whitewater race, nor a river race, each one of them has their own conditions and molds each boat. the EC is a lot like my home waters, offshore, bays and shallow waters, if I want to sail around here (south padre island, texas) I have to work around the same "filters". what I build for here I build for the EC, nice!

As for the cats, sure they need modification, what boat doesn't to some extent. Even specially built expedition canoes are modified for their particular adventure.

yeah, sure, you need gear and a few rules but not to exclude any one type of boat. The boat must adapt to the course. Yeah, the reefing rule might have to be in place for those too bold to listen though.

Just as a side note, the GT300, an offshore race of beach cats along the texas coast has a rule where you must have a head sail! They also have a bunch of other rules that keep me from being in it, but it is fun to watch anyway.

Posted 1 year ago #
ThisTripIsNecessary
Member

I take no offense at the effort to make things safer/saner especially since Watertribe exists within an insurance world and a litigious American environment. That being said, the reefing rule will have other interesting effects.

At the 2011 Chief ran by and suggested we reef sails as it was a small craft advisory morning. He suggested to me twice, in fact. No problem, I'm glad some one is the voice of reason. But in my case, though inexperienced in EC, I am very experienced in my boat and similar conditions at home. I had rigged up with slightly smaller sail area than usual (54 foot standing lug, 20 foot mizzen = 74 feet set as very low center-of-effort combination). I did this to try to do this race conservatively so that I would indeed test myself and my boat in this new situation safely. And I AM one of those people who sails in SCA's (though not in 40 knots I confess!) to test me and the boat. I have the youtubes to prove it :-)

Thus I knew my outrigger could easily handle the SCA conditions of the morning of 2011 (in fact, better than in my typical sailing back home due to those huge inflatable amas from Watertribe). I even carried a 37 foot standing lug bundled up on its spars to raise quickly on the main mast after dropping the 54 footer (probably quicker than tying in reefs, and a mizzen is designed for riding safely during such a procedure) in the event of a real blow. And my main mast had a spare halyard pre-rigged. When I did not opt to reef that day, it was not out of disrespect or bravado.

Under the reefing rule, I would have been forced to reef far under my needs given the conservative sail plan. If the wind is unfavorable, a lugsail makes a crappy sail to get to windward (possibly a safety issue, as could be an immediate un-reefing and re-hauling for some rigs as eager people satisfy the reefing rule and shake it out as they clear the sand-bar filter :-) Well I just don't know what to make of this. I want to say: let a fool/over-confident person capsize at the start -- better sooner than later. Or the sail area of the boat on the beach, if conservative, might be allowed to go as-is -- but that enteres into design judgments. I am a liberal, but this starts looking like 'big government' to chill even a liberal! :-) <----- Smiley face reminder! No one take offense, please. -- Wade

Posted 1 year ago #
MicroTom
Key Master

First off, thank you to Chief for watching over us and continuing to put on these events. Its a lot of work and your efforts are appreciated.

My thoughts on this are:

I support:

1. Requiring two reefs in the rules is a good idea.

2. Requiring boats to start reefed regardless of the wind conditions is also a good idea. It lets you verify that they have a working system prior to launching. It is also no big deal to shake the reef(s) out once you have launched.

3. Making provisions to the rules to keep Watertribe events restricted to small boats as you see fit. This is a difficult subject and will result in some people becoming upset with you personally but you need to draw a line somewhere. Its just human nature, you will never get rid of all of the critics but most of all the majority will be understanding and supportive of fair and consistent rules. As a leader you will have to make a decsion on this subject and deliver it in a way that a majority of Watertribers will support you.

I am not in favor of:

1. Restrictions on spinnakers. I don't agree with the arument that because some people can't no one should. Also, I am not sure how you would define the difference between a racing and crusing spinnaker but any limitation would adversely impact my enjoyment of the Everglades Challenge. Some of my best memories of the 2011 EC are flying a 300 sq ft spinnaker for about 100 miles over two days. I hope you will consider leaving out any spinnaker restrictions.

2. A size limitation on main or mizzen that doesn't support #3 above. I also think that the current Watertribe filters; the beach launch w/out assistance, the fixed bridge, shallow water of Chokoloskee are sufficient.

3. Requirement for roller reefing head sail.

4. Requiring Youtube videos to prove one can reef properly. Instead consider #2 above.

Posted 1 year ago #
wildblue
Member

MicroTom

Your suggestions and recommendations are very well thought out and sound. Starting from the beach with a reef in place so as to be visually verified is an excellent idea.

Thank you

Posted 1 year ago #
Karank
Member

At first, I did not like the reefed start..... But, that simple rule will prove that the boat and the skipper are capable of reefing and if the wind conditions require more sail.....Then, prove that the skipper can shake it out quickly...right there in front of God and everybody. A brilliant filter. It will require a couple of minutes...but in the scope of things, nothing.

Posted 1 year ago #
KiwiBird
Member

Just checking: are we now calling Chief, 'God'?

Posted 1 year ago #
Sturgeonbait
Member

Small "g"

Posted 1 year ago #
Patowatomie
Member

Reefing is good for any boat. Starting reefed or even double reefed sounds like an easy way to verify that it works without watching endless youtube videos of the process. Limiting the sail area seems arbitrary though. Your class record holders in both 4 and 5 would not be able to run at all if this was put in place. Why 135 square feet? For most cats, that would eliminate them right away. SOS' tri wouldn't be able to run. Randy's tri couldn't likely run. Having the ability to reef in a real way seems prudent. Knowing when to reef seems prudent. Mandating a specific sail area for all the diferent boats of varying stiffness under sail seems arbitrary though. To use the SOS tri again for an example, it had both a rollerfurling headsail (not reefing though I would think) and a roller furling spin. His main though equipped with reef points, is likely larger than 135 squares. However, his craft is stiff and able to handle more sail area than a Daysailor II. Should his light air performance be punished? His heavy air performance right down to bare poles should be dealt with by mandating a reefing rule. Perhaps reef 1 is cutting sail area by 25%, and reef 2 by 50? Set the numbers with some reason why though. Having a conversation with Graham over at B& B might hammer down the #'s with a reason rather than something arbitrary. I just know that Lugnut's boat is way diferent than SOS' and shouldn't be treated the same.

No offense intended, just some food for thought.

Dan

Posted 1 year ago #
Karank
Member

No! Chief is off the beach shaking out his reefing with the rest of the little people. God is checking off to see who can/will survive the event. This is a JOKE. "Reefer Madness" will make a good movie.

Posted 1 year ago #
SailBirdMike
Member

Did I miss a post where we would be REQUIRED to leave the beach with a reefed sail, no matter what the conditions? That could prove to be difficult or hazardous to certain boats in Classes 4 and 5. If there is a fair amount of seas but not too much wind, pretty much any multihull is going to want to accelerate away from shore as fast as possible, which can't be done with a reefed sail. Also, most multihulls develop a LOT of leeway until some hull speed is established, so safe steerage could be an issue too. I'm not one to cry foul easily, but I'd suggest this be given a bit more thought before it's imposed out of hand.

Posted 1 year ago #
CleanSlate
Member

I like Karank's suggestion to view the reefed rule as part of the launching filter. I would be fine with a rule to have your boat in its most reefed position up at the high-tide line. Then drag your boat to the water, float it, paddle/peddle/sail away from the beach, and only then shake out any reefs as appropriate for the wind conditions. [Edit, sailBirdMike has a good point for multihulls that can't be easily paddled].

I would prefer only a simple spinnaker rule that spinnakers must be able to launched and doused from the cockpit without the need to go forward and messing around with poles or manually attaching or detaching tacks or clews out of the safety of the cockpit in rolling seas.

Posted 1 year ago #
mistermoon
Member

I posted this in a separate thread. Since this one seems to be the one with legs I'll repost it here:

I think lugnut raised a good point here regarding putting the reefing on the inspection checklist. It needs to be there and the skippers need to be able demonstrate how they will reef if there's doubt about whether or not something will work or if the inspector isn't sure the skipper knows what he's doing.

I was witness to one of the situations at the start this year that prompted this whole string. Chief stopped a boat from leaving the beach because they the didn't have a reef tied in their main nor was there any gear apparent that would allow them to do so. The came back and started working on it. What I saw them do didn't look right to me and left some doubt they knew what they were doing. Had this been noticed at inspection, they could have demonstrated their technique then and there and any deficiencies noted and corrected.

I think Chief's original point was that we weren't doing a good job enforcing the rules already in place and he wanted to make sure that no one left the beach unprepared. I really think putting the requirement on the checklist and requiring that competitors demonstrate their ability to reef during inspection if there is any uncertainty their system is adequate. That simple procedural adjustment would have dealt with most of the problems noted at the start.

Posted 1 year ago #
mistermoon
Member

deleted dupe post.

Posted 1 year ago #
Sirtackalot
Member

I just saw this thread and thought I would add my two sense worth. First off, I was one of the guys Chief was yelling at to put in reef lines as we had just entered the water. ( I knew reef points were required but was surprised and shocked why he wanted me to reef before i could leave). While Chief was right in that I did not have reef lines in, my out haul works for reefing and I had a line ready to to run through my tack if reefing was needed. The reef holes in the body of the sail did not have reef lines in at that point. A simple line through to bunch up the loose footed main takes care of that in seconds. I did not explain all this to chief as he was was going to DQ me if I did not put in reef lines. So we tied in a few lines and got away from the beach only to shake out the reef and get going. From 24 years of offshore sailing in a number of craft ( 18' -56') I knew that in those winds conditions, and from previous practice on this boat, my 18' Sailbird with a 14' beam was more than able to handle the condition we launched in. I have Youtube to back that up. Even when we sailed off shore that morning we were never out of control or felt like we were over powered. Mine is a heavy trimaran with a number of renforcements to make sure it was strong enough for what ever got thrown our way. So what is the answer(s)? My suggestions:

1. Two reef points is excellent. I was already planning on doing this after seeing what happened on Sunday

2. Many roller furling systems to not handle roller reefing in strong winds. I think either a roller furling or a headsail that can be dropped with a downhaul from the cockpit ( I did and used it ). Just don't think that roller furling and roller reefing are the same.

3. Setting limits for sail area size is wrong. Next year we may all be drifting offshore for days because of light winds and undersized sails. Leave the sail area alone, just require #1 and #2

4. Spinnakkers, reachers schreachers are fun and great for speed. if you don't know how to use one stay out of the race. Its the same as someone trying to kayak for 300 miles with no training, this is not the time to train.

5. Youtube videos? I see it as a waste of time. Theres no way of knowing if its the same crew on the boat or that they didn't just get a course in how to do it 5 minutes before. Or that it takes 20 attempts to get a you tube video to prove you can do something. Just because you can tie a reef, does not make one a sailor.

So that my 2 cents worth. Hope to see everyone one the beach next year.

Roy

Posted 1 year ago #
ZeroTheHero
Member

Just got off the phone with Doyle Sails RI (where I worked once upon a time). They are going to pu in 2 reef points, possibly a third, I will get back to them on that. They are thinking it will be a webbing loop sewn onto the sail with reinforcing patches. The plan is that this does not really change the sail much for day to day use but come windy days and practice and then EC I will shackle a micro block or the like to the loop. Excellent friction reduction, low weight and highly functional. There will be lines rigged blocks add to the boom, topping lift etc. I am still going ahead with this for the H17 even if I don't use the boat. Nothing learned is ever wasted. If I switch boats there will be added cost but the experience will pay for that.

Posted 1 year ago #
DogPaddler
Member

I would agree with SailBirdMike's comments about shaking out reefs and dangers right off the beach just to prove you can do it. Picture onshore winds, shallow water, waves, boats clustered at the start, and drifting back towards sand bars and whatever. Then your rudder grounds out and breaks, while you're demonstrating your reefing ability.

Those in favor of this idea demonstrating off the beach or launching off the beach in light winds double reefed might want to reconsider. I'd rather do this during the inspection if necessary.

Posted 1 year ago #
Chief
Coastal Vagabond
I have just revamped the revamped rules to take into account all the excellent feedback obtained from the Tribe regarding the new wording of the reefing rule. Look at the Boat Classes page under the Read This menu item to see the current wording.

The changes to reefing are as follows:
- Took out the size limit on sails. 135 sqft was way too small.
- Took out the restriction on spinnakers. The wording still says that a cruising spinnaker is allowed, but it no longer says a racing spinnaker is not allowed. I figure that you all can decide which is which for your boat.
- The reefing rule does not apply to any sails less than or equal to 12 sqft. Of course, you still have to be able to douse it and so on.
- Head sails can use roller reefing, roller furling, or dousing as long as it can all be done from the cockpit.
I also corrected some wording about not allowing beach cats and tris. What was intended is that beach cats and tris that had not been modified to meet the reefing rules would not be allowed.

I also corrected some wording about class 6. We are no longer supporting electric motors in class 6. However, the 6-person outrigger canoes are still supported in class 6.
Posted 1 year ago #
ZeroTheHero
Member

Thank you Chief! I assure you what ever I show up in will be prepared to the max! Ordered my Spot today too!

Posted 1 year ago #
Chief
Coastal Vagabond

I am not going to enforce the idea to have reefing demoed via a YouTube video. Instead I believe that we can handle this during inspection. The first thing to look for is correctly installed and ready to go reef points. The problems I observed during the launch of EC2012 could of and should have been caught at inspection. I will be speaking with the inspector about this.

If the boat has proper reef points the first step is passed. Then the inspector can ask if they have ever used one or both reefs. If the answer is yes, then they would pass. If the answer is no, the captain and crew would be asked to install the reefs while on the beach. Any problems at this stage would result in a DQ.

The final test is whether they have enough sailing sense to install reefs on the beach when there is a small craft advisory or warning.

This will require a bit more time at inspection, but I hope it will be sufficient. I will carefully go over the reefing criteria with a select group of inspectors so everyone is on the same page.

Also, I would like to ask current WaterTribers in class 3, 4, and 5 to post some videos and stories on how and when to reef. We can all make this a priority so that new WaterTribers in these classes can pickup on the serious need to perhaps change their sailing habits for an expedition-style adventure race.

Posted 1 year ago #

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