Kiel 2009 | Part 4

From 27 to 32 knots...
It's Friday and we are, save for the bigger boats, not going out.... too much wind.
That gives me the opportunity to write this blogpost.

The Match Race event ended on Wednesday with Semi-Finals and Finals...
Best of five in both. The final was between two Australian boats helmed by Katie Spithill and Nicky Souter.... A real match race fight... going al the way to the fifth and deciding race.

With a penalty in the pre start Nicky went in with a disadvantage but with a small lead in the race... She held that lead throughout the race but was never so far ahead that she could shed her penalty without ending up behind...
That meant we would see some action in the final run... And already at the windward mark she was posed to do the mark trap.. But Katie did not fall for this.. She slowed down already approaching the mark and let Nicky sail away from the mark only two boat lengths behind... With the mainsail at the centre and no kites both boats slowed down. Nicky to get Katie to commit so she could luff and Katie so she would stay behind....
About halfway down the leg Nicky gybed to port and Katie accelerated by throwing up to spinnaker and went to the right on starboard... By the time Nicky could gybe back and luff Katie already was half past her... With a clean roll Katies boat surged ahead.... Nicky wanted to shed her penalty by directly tacking behind, but unfortunately the umpire boat was in the way....
She had to fall off again and had to take her penalty at the finish... Katie had already crossed the line...

A red flag was flying on Nicky's boat... We had to do a hearing en informed the RC that he should leave the marks in case of a re-sail...

In the end that did not happen because of the position the interference occurred would have made it very unlikely that Nicky would have caught up again after she would have been able to take her penalty. Redress granted- there was definitely interference - but the results would stand.

A great way to end this first tournament in the Elliot's!
For full results go to: Woman Match Race Kiel 2009

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Kiel 2009 | part 3

Sorry to not have been reporting earlier.
We've been extremely busy with the match racing. While others stayed in, we went out in the light breeze of the "Kieler bucht" and raced
15 flights on Monday and another 9 on Tuesday. Sunday was the "lightest" day so far with only 7 flights.
The reparcharge and the quarter finals are all done. We sailed for places five and six and for places seven and eight.

All that is left to do are the semi-finals and the finals.
We do those today… on what is called in the jury the "Medal-race day"

With the breeze filling in to around 16 knots we had very good races with real match race fligths and lot's of calls.
Difficult yes, but exciting also and lots of fun. I still am not always happy with my "transitions" but have lot's more confidence in positioning and am more and more able to predict what will happen next.

I was hoping to be able to post this last night, but was called into hearings and spend a couple of hours in an international jury doing protest.

I'll post about the calls asap, but now I already have to go to the morning briefing.
J.

Kiel 2009 | Part 2

Long days indeed!
We spend nine and a bit hours on the water the first day. Two groups of seven boats in a round robin each, with seven flights with three matches equals 14 flights and 42 matches. Actually we did 43 because one race was abandoned by the RC and had to be re sailed.
Out at quarter to ten, in around seven.
I am indeed looking forward to a good night sleep.

The Elliot 6es are very nice boats. Athletic, lots of trim, and very fast accelerating, when there's a little more breeze. The speed difference between 6 and 8 knots is remarkable.
Dinghy sailors would be right at home in these boats.
We saw a lot of matches decided on pure boat speed. You have to let the boat get some speed before you start sheeting in. The apparent wind angle for these kevlar sails is quite important. Combined with a narrow "AC"-like keel the sailors have there hands full.
The ones who figured this out rather sooner then later, were the ones who won there matches.

It's now 23:30, so please forgive me if I make this short. Tomorrow will be another full day.
J.

Kiel 2009 | Part 1

Trough a couple of heavy rain showers, which impeded our speed severely, passing some very staggered but in total very long road works, we arrived in Kiel around half past five. The trip took us five and a quarter hours, with one short stop for a coffee. By driving during the day we at least avoided the congestions round Bremen and Hamburg.
In Kiel everything is the same and also new and different. This will be my fifth Kiel-week, with many familiar faces and some interesting new ones.
We didn't have a long time for greetings since the first Jury meeting was already scheduled for 18:00 hours. But I must tell you that several new people on the jury immediately started telling me they very much enjoyed reading LTW. It was very nice to hear this.
I will endeavour to meet their expectations.

After the first meeting, where a policy discussion about Jury protest was the main topic, we went straight on to a meeting with all the MR competitors - all 21 teams!
And after that the topics were discussed in our first umpire meeting.

To start with the first meeting: The Organisers of Kiel-week wanted to have a more active role of the Jury on the water regarding rule infringements. The SI give the Jury the possibility to show a red flag and blow a whistle when they observe a boat breaking a rule of Part 2. After some discussion we ended up with a clear policy: When we see an infringement where we can clearly identify the boat which broke the rule, we can show the flag and blow our whistle. Depending on any boat protesting or taking penalties, we then can decide if we want to hand in a paper protest.
I'm curious how this is going to work. I'll hope to get back to this issue in the second half of Kiel-week in the International part, after the Match Racing is done.

The new Elliots have been sailing today! Each team had the opportunity to practice. I haven't seen them on the water yet, but asking the teams in the meeting, two things were discussed: - The acceleration of the boat is very fast! And due to a restriction on the helm.. the turning circle is quit big. I'll have to see tomorrow.
I'm certainly going to keep my distance for a couple of matches before I trust myself closer to these new boats.

The plan is to have four MR-umpires who will stay with the event the whole time. And then have others from the Jury - who have umpire skills - rotate in and out every day. I will be with the Elliots until Wednesday.

21 Teams equals three groups of seven, who will do a Round Robin in each group. The first two in each group go through to the quarter finals and all the others will do a repecharge in two groups (seven and eight teams respectively)
With the winners of those RR, we will do another with the final eight boats. Semi finals in a knock out and finals as well, will complete the program. A very full schedule. It will take us long days on the water to do this in five days… Hopefully the weather will cooperate.

I'll tell you how this will develop in coming day's.

Fact Finding Friday |015 Gullwing v Heron

From “The Room” by Brass

Introduction

The aim of this series is to practice judges' skills in writing Facts Found, Conclusions and Rules Applicable, and Decisions as required by rule 65.1. These are not intended to be 'difficult' rules problems: concentrate on the writing skills. You are not expected to 'discuss' the rules or the scenarios, or enter into 'what-if' considerations. I suggest you write against the clock, and include a note of your time taken when you post your answers on LTW, to compare with others.

Hearing and Evidence

You are the scribe for the protest committee of the LTW Yacht Club, which races in Port Liberty Roads. You have received a written protest, decided it is valid, and have heard both parties and witnesses as shown.

Description of Incident

The description of the incident from the protest form is as shown.

Gullwing and Heron are 10m keelboats.

Wind conditions were about 10kts. Sea conditions are slight waves.

Gullwing responded to Flotsam who was shooting the finish mark. In the act of keeping clear of Flotsam, Gullwing collided with Heron, on port tack Gullwing protests Heron for failing to keep clear under rule 10. Contact occurred without damage or injury.

The Hearing

Gullwing's Description of the Incident:

I was steering Gullwing. We were on the starboard tack lay-line for the finish mark, with Flotsam to leeward, overlapped, advanced on us by about half a boat length. Heron had finished clear ahead of both of us.

About 10m from the mark Flotsam luffed moderately hard to shoot the finish mark, and I responded to keep clear. I saw Heron to windward and expected her to gather way and sail clear.

Heron seemed to be in confusion, and did not trim sails and sail away, remaining stalled in the same position.

I continued to keep clear of Flotsam and collided with Heron. There was no damage or injury.

I was unable to change course away from Heron because there was no room between me and Flotsam.

I hailed 'protest' and my crew immediately displayed a red flag.

Heron's Questions to Gullwing

Q. Was Heron clear ahead when she reached the zone?
A. Yes.

Q. For how long was Gullwing on a steady course before she hit Heron?
A. Gullwing was changing course when she hit Heron.

Protest Committee's Questions to Gullwing

Q. How far towards the wind did you alter course?
A. About 25 degrees above close hauled, but not as high as head to wind.

Q. Did you do any penalty turns in respect of the incident?
A. No.

Heron's Description of the Incident

Heron had finished about 30m ahead of Flotsam and Gullwing, and I tacked immediately I had crossed the line to get clear of the finish pin which Flotsam and Gullwing were aiming for.

In the tack my weather sheet jammed, my jib did not cross the boat, and I stalled and lost way with the headsail aback.

I saw Gullwing changing course towards me but I was unable to avoid her.

In any case I reached the zone clear ahead and Gullwing was required to give me room.

Gullwing's Questions to Heron

Q. Were you sailing towards the mark or away from the mark?
A. Away from the mark.

Q. How far from the mark were you when contact occurred?
A. About a boat length.

Protest Committee Questions to Heron

Q. Did you hail Gullwing to claim mark-room?
A. No.

Q. Was there any injury or damage?
A. No.

Q. Did you do any penalty turns in respect of the incident?
A. No.

Gullwing's witness evidence

I was the skipper of Flotsam.

We were just below the starboard tack lay-line for the finish mark, with Gullwing to windward, overlapped, with us advanced by about half a boat length. Heron had finished clear ahead of both of us.

About 10m from the mark I luffed to shoot the finish mark, and Gullwing responded and just kept clear.

I then heard sounds like contact between two boats, glanced to windward and saw Heron close to windward of Gullwing.

I then heard a hail of 'Protest'.

Protest Committee Questions to Gullwing's witness

Q. How far did you clear the finish mark by?
A. I just cleared it, not more than half a metre.

Q. How far was Gullwing from you when you cleared the mark?
A. About 1 metre or less.

Gullwing Summing Up

Gullwing was on starboard, Heron was on port. Heron did not keep clear.

Heron lost her right to mark-room when she passed head to wind.

Heron should be disqualified.

It was not reasonably possible for Gullwing to avoid contact with Heron.

Heron's Summing Up

Heron was entitled to mark-room which Gullwing failed to give.

Gullwing hit Heron while changing course and should also be disqualified under rule 16.

Protest Committee's Assessment of the Evidence

Your fellow protest committee members agree that the evidence given, and the diagram in the written protest is reasonably consistent.

Problem

Write Facts Found, Conclusions and Rules Applicable and the Decision for this protest.
Please post your effort on LTW, for us all to share and learn. Don't be shy.

Flog the Blog Day (19)

This new FTBD seems like a good moment to pick up again. I’ve not posted for a couple of weeks due to some physical discomfort. I had a severe head cold and an infection to my sinuses and needed to take some antibiotic to cure it.
And it was also after the Delta Lloyd Regatta, were I was not altogether satisfied with my own performance. I can make excuses that this infection was already starting, but that does not negate the fact that I was not happy with myself afterwards. Together with some unresolved issues and doubts, this resulted in me shutting the blog down for a couple of days.

I want to thank everybody who send me mails of encouragement and support. It was very hart warming to receive a note from you. Thank you all!

Back on Deck?

I’m off to do the Kiel-week tomorrow. Traveling by car we (Another IJ from my town is traveling with me) hope to arrive Friday afternoon. I’m part of the Umpire team, so I will be chasing the new Elliot 6 in the Woman’s Match Race competition. I'm curious how this will go. Our first Jury/umpire meeting is Friday 18:00 hours. If I can, I will update you on developments from the Olympic Centre in Schilksee. I hope to have a better event.

As always, please don’t hesitate to send me your comments and notes on the blog. I’ll will try to answer all mails, although it might take some time.

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Regular programming will resume

Dear Blogreaders,
Please be patient with me a few days longer. I've had some issues (mentally and physically) to resolve, but hope to resume "regular" programming shortly.

I'll leave you with a quote from R. Heinlein:
" The two highest achievements of the human mind are the twin concepts of “loyalty” and “duty.” Whenever these twin concepts fall into disrepute – get out of there fast! You may possible save yourself, but it is too late to save that society. It is doomed. "

J.

Fact Finding Friday |014 Driftwood v Elver

From “The Room” by Brass

Introduction

The aim of this series is to practice judges' skills in writing Facts Found, Conclusions and Rules Applicable, and Decisions as required by rule 65.1. These are not intended to be 'difficult' rules problems: concentrate on the writing skills. You are not expected to 'discuss' the rules or the scenarios, or enter into 'what-if' considerations. I suggest you write against the clock, and include a note of your time taken when you post your answers on LTW, to compare with others.

Hearing and Evidence

You are the scribe for the protest committee of the LTW Yacht Club, which races in Port Liberty Roads. You have received a written protest, and have heard both parties and witnesses as shown.

Protest Form

The protest form is as shown.

The Hearing

Elver having been given proper notice by the Race Committee, did not attend the hearing.

Driftwood's Description of the Incident

I was steering Driftwood. I observed that Elver did not round the Liberty Point Mark as required by the Sailing Instructions.
When we next came within hail, I hailed 'Protest, you did not round the Point Liberty Mark'.
Elver gave no response.

Protest Committee's Questions to Driftwood

Q. Did you display a red flag?
A. No. I do not own a red flag..

Protest Committee's Assessment of the Evidence

Your fellow protest committee members agree that this should be a really easy protest to write up and suggest that you can do it in record time, but remind you that protestors can be really sensitive in cases like this, so don't make any mistakes..

Problem

Write Facts Found, Conclusions and Rules Applicable and the Decision for this protest.

Please post your effort on LTW, for us all to share and learn. Don't be shy.

Blogging into the corners

I've copied an article from the latest Umpire Newsletter and printed it here. It's written by John Stanley:

Whose Game is it?

There was an interesting observation on one ofthe many blog sites that seem to be springing up these days. It reads
"Already today, we have two worlds: one of yacht racers (often with their own local interpretations) and one of rules scientists. And they are growing apart fast."

This comment was made more towards fleet racing, but it also applies to match racing to some extent. Last year we had several submissions to the Rapid Response panel, which were
highly technical, and in at least one case, probably impossible scenario. All these submissions were rejected for various reasons but they do illustrate the above comment. It is also interesting that these calls were submitted in the last year of the rules cycle and sought to change something that the majority had been happy with for the previous three years.
As umpires, we are there to Umpire, i.e. make decisions, and mostly only when asked, on what we see on the water, and to apply the rules. Is it really our job to dream up highly technical scenarios that not only complicate the game, but in many cases also confuse our fellow umpires?
Most umpires will, at least at times, come into the category of 'rules scientists' but we must be careful to make sure that we remain close to the sailors (our customers) and ensure that we umpire the game that they want to play.

On the same website a couple of scenarios have been posted recently. Both are interesting from a rules point of view but I believe the chances of seeing either manoeuvre at a match race event will vary between Buckley's and never.
I wonder why we spend our time dreaming up these cases. Of course we have a responsibility to respond to competitor's queries and to develop the rules to make them easier to umpire, and hopefully, one day, easier to understand for the all too small number of people who come to watch what we do.

Whilst it is important that we do not stifle discussion on 'hypotheticals', as this can lead to discovering flaws in the rules that can then be fixed, I think we need to be careful that we do this in a way that is not going to be disruptive to the way the game is currently being played.
We must not forget that this is a competitor's game, without them we will not have a game to play and it is important we do not allow the two games to drift apart.

John Standley



While I can understand John's argument, I do feel there should be a few places on the net where we can freely explore the "obscure" corners of the rules. I don't know if he specifically mend LTW, but if he did I have no regrets.
The new rules have more influence on the "game" then previously thought. And we do need to talk about how to read and interpret them. For instance, I don't think Mark-Room is fully explored yet.

We are just beginning to work with the new cycle and until now every event I've been too, a discussion has been held about them. If the rules do not reflect what the sailors play out on the water, how can we change them so that they do. If we ignore the "corners" and do not shine a light on them, how can we be sure that the dust that settles there, will not suffocate us in the long run.

What is your opinion?