Protest kit for Multihulls

NEW: LTW Protest kit for Multihulls

There are quite a few situations where the facts are difficult to find if you cannot picture the setting with the appropriate hull shape. With that in mind and the growing number of catamaran events I have - again in cooperation with the DMTRA- developed a Protest kit for Multihulls.

The first kits already have been ordered and sold, but I still have a few in stock and have ordered more to be produced.

This set has the same properties as the other P-kits, so again with a "cut-out" sail on both sides to change tack and a small but powerful magnet in the centre so you can use them on a magnetic whiteboard.

The Multihull set consists of: 

• three numbered blue boats (1, 2 and 3);
• three numbered yellow boats (1, 2 and 3);
• three numbered green boats (1, 2 and 3);
• three numbered red boats (1, 2 and 3);
• one Race Committee vessel in red, for starting and/or finishing vessels;
• two rubber boats in silver, for umpires and/or wing;
• three marks, in red;
• an arrow indicators in red (wind, current, tide, or whatever);
• all in a sturdy box, with room for more. (the box is padded on the bottom - if you take that out, both the multihull - and the fleet race kit fit inside this one box)

 

The production costs are a little higher than for the Fleetrace kit, because of the additional material. The factory price depends on the square area. Price for a Multihull set is €95,- (including VAT.)

(Since shipping/posting is so varied, that price is exclusive of shipping costs)
But the box fits (even with a padded envelope) in the mailbox, so it shouldn't be that expensive.
Somewhere around € 10,- depending on the weight and distance. Shipping to other continents is more expensive - around € 24,-
Paypal seems to be the easiest and most economical way to pay. transaction cost are about 3.5%to 4%

Just send me an email with your contact information and shipping address, I will quote you a total price and we can work out the details. Please use ltw-regelservice at home dot nl, and I'll get back to you ASAP.

J.

Umpire flags

After many months I'm now ready to offer all Umpires and /or Clubs the opportunity to order there own complete set of Umpire flags!

The flags are made of wind resist-end material and can be attached to wooden and or plastic sticks. All flags are 35 cm x 50 cm. A complete set consists of  two Blue, two Yellow, one Green/White, one Red, one Black and for team racing, one Black/White flag. The flags were developed in cooperation with the Dutch Team & Match Racing Association (DMTRA).

two blue, two yellow, black, red, green/white and black/white

A complete set is yours for € 49,50 (including VAT), that's $US 55,44. International shipping is about € 5,75, depending on the address.
If you want individual flags, the black/white on for instance to complete your own set, the price is
€ 8,- ($US 9,05) per flag.

Please contact me on ltw-regelservice ad home dot nl if you want more information or want to order a set.

LTW Magnetic Protest Kits for Fleet and Match racing

In stock again!

Together with my fellow umpires and board members in the DMTRA we've managed to make a reasonable set of magnetic boats for the use as educational tools and also as models in the protest room. Without any moving parts, but still magnetic so they stick to a white board.

The ones we all use with the movable sails are just a little too expensive and the sails tend to get looser and looser all the time. They are also very hard to "move" on the white-board.

Our set has a "cut out" shape for the sail, just flip the model (it sticks on both sides) if you want to change tack. And the magnets are just a tad thicker than the boats, so you can get them of the board easy.

There are two different sets:

FOR MATCHRACING:

All parts spread out on the box.

The Matchrace set consists of:

• three numbered blue boats (1, 2 and 3);
• three numbered yellow boats (1, 2 and 3);
• two RC-boats in red, for starting and/or finishing vessels;
• two rubber boats in red, for umpire and/or wing;
• four marks, also red;
• two arrow indicators in red (wind, current, tide, or whatever);
• all in a sturdy box, with room for more.

FOR FLEETRACING

We wanted to keep the price as low as possible, but with all the materials and the starting up costs, it has become a little more than we had hoped. Nevertheless it is still a lot less than the traditional magnetic set.

The Fleetrace set consists of:

• three numbered blue boats (1, 2 and 3);
• three numbered yellow boats (1, 2 and 3);
• three numbered green boats (1, 2 and 3);
• three numbered red boats (1, 2 and 3);
• one RC-boat in red, for starting and/or finishing vessels;
• one rubber boats in red, for umpire and/or wing;
• four marks, also red;
• two arrow indicators in red (wind, current, tide, or whatever);
• all in a sturdy box, with room for more.

Price for a Matchrace set is €48,- and for the Fleetrace set € 64,- (including VAT.)

(Since shipping/posting is so varied, that price is exclusive of shipping costs)
But the box fits (even with a padded envelope) in the mailbox, so it shouldn't be that expensive.
Somewhere around € 6,- depending on the weight.
Paypal seems to be the easiest and most economical way to pay. transaction cost are about 3.5%

In the box; ready for travel

Just send me an email with your wishes and shipping address, I will quote you a total price and we can work out the details. Please use ltw-regelservice at home dot nl, and I'll get back to you ASAP.

J.

Magnetic Boats for on the white-board !

Complete situation clearly visible from across the room

Henry Peronneau (1951-2011)

As appeared on the ISAF Website:

Obituary: Henri Peronneau (FRA)

Henri Peronneau (FRA) has died aged 59

It is with great sadness ISAF reports that Henri Peronneau (FRA) an ISAF International Judge has died after a long battle with illness aged 59.

Henri Peronneau sailed a Nacra 5.7 catamaran. In the early 90's he began taking courses about the race management and judging. He quickly became a national race official and as match racing became increasingly popular where he lived he also became an umpire. Henri's work as an umpire showed him there was a need for better explaining umpire decisions and that he could develop software to help achieve this. As a mathematician, Henri worked on a project to develop such a tool and in 2000 introduced Tactical Sailing Solutions (TSS) to the America's Cup in New Zealand. Since then it has been used all over the world and improved as umpires and uses offered feedback.
In 2006 Henri became an International Judge.
Henri passed away on 9 January 2011. ISAF extends our sincere sympathy and condolences to his wife, two children and two grandchildren.

I also offer my condolences to Henry's family.
Unfortunately we never had the change to meet face to face. I only ever corresponded with him about TSS.
I'm sure we both thought it would happen soon enough......

I'm currently inquiring into what is going to happen with that program and will report back when I know more.

Rule 42 registration Program: JAVA 42

 A guest post by Frank Koornstra:

Dear readers of LTW,

First of all let me introduce myself. I'm Frank Koornstra, a 26 year-old Umpire who occasionaly does some Rule 42 Judging. Every event I'm amazed at how much time the rule 42 administration is taking, so I thought I'd try to make an application that could do this simple but hour devouring task.

Of course I know that there already are a ton of Excel/Access/whatever-kind of apps for this out there, created by the finest Judges in the field. The only thing about these apps is that they're not publicly downloadable (least of the troubles) but mostly that they're not multi-OS (linux, mac, windows, etc) compatible.

Therefore, I've created Java 42, a java application that will give a solution to the rule 42 administration of a regatta. Because it's a Java app it'll run on almost any OS, as long as you have Java installed (and you probably already have). It's a simple standalone (no install needed) application which (1) registers infringements and check them with a list of competitors if needed; (2) exports a notice for competitors; and (3) exports a notice for scoring. You can import the list of competitors from an Excel- or CSV-file.

Below you can find some screenshots of the app in action. If you like it, you can download it at http://java42.sourceforge.net for free.

Also, you can find links there to register bugs that you might encounter or leave a good idea for the next version of the app. I hope you enjoy it and saves you a lot of time to do more fun stuff!

Kind regards,
Frank Koornstra


If you are using this program, Frank would love to get some feedback and suggestions what to improve.

Ready for AC 34 and Extreme Sailing?

NEW KIT!

Are you ready for the future?
This question is for all PC and Jury members. Next year in the room you will be asked about the leeward and windward hull, the turning circle of a cat and - where did you park your umpire boat?

Are you ready for that?

You can be!
You will be ready with this brand new magnetic boat set.

With no less then eight (8!) catamarans, two umpire boats, five marks, a Race Committee boat and wind and current indicators. All packed in a sturdy box for transportation.
The box is big enough to house your regular mono-hull boats as well.

Specially made for easy use on a magnetic board with true to scale mainsail.

Those of you who want this tool kit please contact edmcewan ed googlemail dot com for details on price and postage.
Get them now.
Be ready.

PS: There are also several other multi-hull classes sailing today!

(pillow)Case of the Week (41) – 72; Red Flag

(This is an instalment in a series of blogposts about the ISAF Call book 2009-2012 with amendments for 2010. All calls are official interpretations by the ISAF committees on how the Racing Rules of Sailing should be used or interpreted. The calls are copied from the Call book, only the comments are written by me.)

Case 72

Rule 61.1(a), Protest Requirements: Informing the Protestee

Discussion of the word ‘flag’.

Question
What is the test of whether an object is a flag within the meaning of rule 61.1(a)?

Answer
In the context of rule 61.1(a), a flag is used as a signal to communicate the message ‘I intend to protest.’ Only if the object used as a flag communicates that message, with little or no possibility of causing confusion on the part of those on competing boats, will the object qualify as a flag. A flag must be seen primarily to be a flag.


USSA 1988/277

A red shirt, a red scarf or any fairly decent sized piece of red cloth should be okay, but not a red bailer or a red life jacket.
J.

Bookmarks in the Q&A

ISAF publishes the valid Q&As in a handy booklet. The latest instalment is the October issue .

Many of you use this document exclusive on a laptop when going to an event and will try to find relevant information, when needed by a hearing, by browsing the document. Although the search function in Adobe or other pdf- readers can be utilized to find what you are looking for, there's one feature many of you should consider using.

That feature is called: Bookmarks.


By clicking on that tab on the side, or getting it to display by using the view command, you will be presented with a list of chapters.

By clicking on the + (plus) of - (minus) you can expand or deflate that list. All individual Q&As can be found in that list, neatly categorized in their respective chapters.

The latest Q&As (added in October) are:
Q&A 2010 - 032 
about responding as soon as possible when hailing for room to tack.

and Q&A 2010 - 033 
about the positioning of inner limitation starting marks
.

(pillow)Case of the Week (26) – 89;

(This is an instalment in a series of blogposts about the ISAF Call book 2009-2012 with amendments for 2010. All calls are official interpretations by the ISAF committees on how the Racing Rules of Sailing should be used or interpreted. The calls are copied from the Call book, only the comments are written by me.)

Case 89

Rule 43.1(a), Competitor Clothing and Equipment

A competitor may not wear or otherwise attach to his person a beverage container.

Question
Does rule 43.1(a) permit a competitor to wear or otherwise attach to his person a beverage container while racing


Answer
No. Except on a sailboard, there is no necessity for such a practice, and therefore its primary purpose must be considered to be to increase the competitor’s weight. (Note that rule B2.1(b) modifies rule 43.1(a) for windsurfing competition.


ISAF 1997/1

I could easily imagine that there are several dinghy’s – specially with a one person crew – who’d love to have this rule eased for them. I must be difficult to stow something, in say, a laser…

Tillerman, how do you do that in yours?

J.

Update for Boats Scenario (2010-04)

Thibaut has updated his program: He writes about this release:
Boats 201004 Released!

By boats on Sunday, April 4 2010, 20:42

Hello Everyone!
Time passes, regattas come and so do new versions of Boat Scenario. You will find all you need on the Download page.
This version brings:

• an improved User Interface for a more comfortable input on the scene
• PolyLines for obstructions or any other drawing you would want
• Bubbles are available for any object (boat, mark, point)
• Spinnaker on the keelboat
• and thanks to an even bigger list of translators we now have: Dutch, Danish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portugese, Polish Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish!

We keep the promises as usual:

• The tool is available for Windows, Linux and Mac.
• The old files work with this release and people can read the new files on the old versions (without the display for the new features of course).

Special thanks to the following translators that contributed for the first time to this release:
Jaap de Zeeuw (NED), Zvonko Hočevar (SLO), Anders Lund (DEN), Takaaki Kawata (JPN), Luigi Bertini (ITA), Armando Goularrt (POR), and Sofia Truchanowicz (POL). And thanks also to the usual contributors:: Tom Björkholm, JP Cordonnier, Modesto Fernandez Vasquez.

It is a real pleasure to see all of you contribute to the success of this tool.
Enjoy sailing!

I've fiddled around with the new features and again Thibaut has not disappointed me. This is an improvement. Specially the way boats are set in the track, makes it easier to get a proper scenario the first time.

I've returned from Hamburg. And hope to have some special footage for you soon. For some of the matches I was able to use a small camera fixed to my hat. After I've edited for the 'call' bits, you'll be able to see racing from an umpire point of view. Stay tuned!

iPhone app: Racing Rules of Sailing

The Racing Rules of Sailing 1.0 | Score: NR | Price: $5.99
Release Date : Feb 27 , 2010

The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) is proud to present the official iPhone application for The Racing Rules of Sailing for 2009-2012 Including the US SAILING Prescriptions.

The Racing Rules of Sailing app is for you if you are an avid sailor looking for instant access to the official rules and signals.

With this application you will be prepared to answer any rules or signal questions that arise.
Features :

• The only rules app approved by US SAILING Every rule, appendix and definition available at the touch of a finger
• Simple navigation
• Images and descriptions of all the signal flags
• Convenient word, numeric and phrase search function
• Bookmarking feature for your most referenced to rules and definitions US SAILING is the national governing body for sailing in the United States.

ISAF is the governing body for the rules of sailing in other jurisdictions.

Please contact the appropriate governing body in your jurisdiction with questions regarding the Rules of Sailing.


From: The Racing Rules of Sailing 1.0 for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad | iPhoneapps360.net (bekijken via Google Sidewiki)


Update 10-03-2010
Received an Email from Brass about this app:

Dear Jos, I just saw this on SA:
It was pointed out to me by a friend last night that the US Sailing Rules app has some incorrect definitions under 'postponements': AP over A and AP over N the defs are wrong. The app is great how it hyperlinks words to other pages. My bro wants his $5.99 back. I'll buy it when it gets fixed.

If you want to go to the forum: Go here
I wonder what on earth the Americans think AP over N means?
Regards, Brass

Can anybody tell me what the app says AP over A and AP over N means?

Tactical Sailing Solutions | Update V 2.6D available

Version 2.6D is available !(January 8, 2010)

• New animation with continuous move of boats
• New welcome panel to help creating or opening a diagram
• Bug fix: Incorrect spinnaker with manual trimming and boat by the lee
• Search panel improvement
• Setup panel location improvement 

>> download now





If anybody wants to comment on the improvements, please tell us.

Tactical Sailing Situations Update 2.6B

Henri has updated TSS. You can find the latest release here: Version 2.6B.

Latest additions (including from earlier releases in 2009):

• Bug fix: Error while saving a diagram as a picture
• Bug fix: Error while clicking on 'Cancel' on an empty commentges are:

• Nicer drawings
• Undo facilities
• Gate area
• Multiple diagrams can be opened simultaneously in one execution
• A new installer (compatible Windows 64 bits)

• Bug Fix: Error while deleting an object

• Bug Fix: 'Access violation' popup when deleting a balloon or a comment

• Bug fix: Wrong 'Rigth Of Way' boat when rule 13 applies

• Default circle radius around marks and obstruction is 3 boat lengths
• Support of PNG image format.

I've been busy with work and have not posted in a long time. Hope to improve. J.

Ladies Only 2009 Hamburg part 2

To all sports-fans of MR,

With the round robins done and even a great part of the quarter finals, we have had another very productive day on the water. It was cold but it stayed dry. We have rotated twice between umpires also again and now we are full circle.

I've tried to teach some of the national umpires to anticipate what the boats could be doing next and then find a position were they could best see the rule-infringement - if that occurred. It is not only helping them, but it also keeps me sharp to predict what will happen next. In a little more breeze these streamlines can move very fast, so you need to be very quick.

I've had only one comment on yesterday's questions, so I'll let those stand.
As for answer two of the anonymous commenter: How can you justify penalizing a boat for hitting a mark that is not beginning or ending a leg of the course? Which rule did the boat break?

Photos from last years edition

Tonight we are going on a night-cruise with a boat through Hamburg - not with a bus like last year. With diner under the clear moonlit sky..... If I wasn't to old, I would almost start feeling romantic. I'll will however, have a glass of red with my meal...

Until tomorrow (hopefully)
J.

PS. Chief, the flags are definitely too small!

Update for Boats Scenario (2009-10)

News from Thibaut: The new version of Boats Scenario is released:
Go to Boats 200910 Released for download;

Hello Everyone!
After some longer time than usual a new version of Boat Scenario knocks at the door. This version brings:

• Toggle for Path display
• Flags on boats
• Bubbles to input text
• and thanks to our contributors translations for Spanish, German, Swedish and French.

The tool is available for Windows, Linux and Mac as usual.
Furthermore, you may still use your old files with this release and people can read the new files on the old versions (without the display for the new features of course).
If you think that Boat Scenario may benefit from a translation in your language, please do not hesitate to follow the procedure described in another post.

Special thanks to the following people that contributed to this release:
Tom Björkholm, JP Cordonnier, Georg Ehling, Luizo Ferrandiz, Modesto Fernandez Vasquez, and Lisandro Perez Meyer.

Enjoy sailing!

.

RRS as an iPhone application

You can now get the RRS as an application on your iPhone. The RYA has developed the
"RYA Racing Rules iPhone application"
Racing Rules is a quick reference tool for the Racing Rules of Sailing, a mobile application equivalent to the very popular RYA Handy Guide. The text for the Rules Dispute Best Practice from the RYA is also included. Fully referenced against the ISAF Racing Rules.
Go to: RYA Racing Rules

I don't have an iPhone, so someone who has will have to comment on it's usefulness. But I thought it worth mentioning. I'm still in Almeria for the final day in the iSharesCup. More on that later.

Wedstrijdcomité materiaal en boten te koop!

Kreeg onderstaande mail van de wedstrijdcommisaris van Blauwe Hand Comité.

Beste Jos,
Jij komt nogal eens ergens bij organiserende verenigingen, daarom het volgende;
Ons comité aan het Beulakerwijde krijgt het steeds moeilijker met bemensing, het lijkt ons het beste de wedstrijdmaterialen op te doeken.

Wij willen verkopen en alles is in bijzonder goede staat.

boten:

• Skiff Carolina 4.80 mtr. / 25 pk bb. handzame boot om merktekens uit te leggen. Robuuste en onderhoudsvrije boot met trailer.
• Rubberboot YAM 4.80 mtr / 30 pk. bb. schadevrije. Robuuste boot met jockeyseat, stuurstand. schadevrij met trailer.

De beide boten zijn kompleet ingericht met vlaggensets enz. dus inzetbaar op elke positie in het wedstrijdveld.

wedstrijdmaterialen:

• 5x baan merktekens -geel- elk 1.20 mtr. rond in doorsnee. Dit zijn drie zeeankerboeien, robuust onderhoudsvrij en opblaasbaar, dus klein in de winterberging
• 2x plastimo (150cm hoog). kompleet met kettingen en blokken. enz.
• (alu)stokboeien (startlijn bijvoorbeeld)
• portofoons
• drie vlaggensets kompleet (50x70cm) in koffers,
• megafoon
• enz.
• enz.

Enfin, elk comite kan zomaar kompletteren of geheel nieuw inrichten.

Weet jij een club die interesse zou hebben? Of jij mag het ook aanbieden en je mag best wat verdienen. Indien nodig heb ik van alles digitale fotos
Groet,
Gerrit Kuper.


Als je belangstelling hebt of jouw vereniging zoekt nog reserve materiaal, stuur dan een mailtje naar het blog mailadres, dan geef ik je het mailadres van Gerrit.

Boats 200904 Released

News from Thibaut:

Wednesday, April 22 2009, 18:18
Hello Everyone!

After another two month period a new version of Boat Scenario has arrived. This version brings:

• Tabbed view to have multiple scenarios open
• Trimmable sail angle
• optional Laylines drawing
• Printing support including PDF generation of the formatted call
• Overlap lines
• Animated GIF export
• a rib series (umpire pressure)
• contextual menu input from the scene
• recent files list and last session tabs restore

This tool is available for Windows, Linux and Mac as usual, and will let you create the same Scenarios on all those platforms.

The product is provided under the Open Source GPL licence.

Magic!. I've been playing with it during my Lunch Break. Do Yellow and Blue have contact or not?
Downloadpage

Links on Monday: Boats and VOR Request for Redress

Just to let you know I've returned from Denmark yesterday - were I attended Spring Cup 2009, a match race event in Middelfart - very late. I've tried to catch up with mails this evening and just have time to write a short blog post before looking for my pillow....

Thibaut send me a short mail and announced on his website developments with his diagram program "Boats": He writes: A small teaser so that you know what's cooking for next version of Boat Scenario. Next version already has:

• Tabbed view to have multiple scenarios open
• Trimmable sail angle
• optional laylines drawing
• Printing support including PDF generation of the formatted call
• Overlap lines
• and the Export of an Animated GIF

Looks very cool and the GIF is certainly very good for presentations.

Next: Tefefonica Blue seeks redress
From the official noticeboard:
Request for Redress
Boat Requesting Redress: Telefonica Azul ESP 12
Represented by: Bouwe Bekking

Telefonica Azul claims that the Race Committee and/or Organising Authority made an improper action or omission by locating the start line and 2nd passing mark of the course (mark d) in an area where at least 1 uncharted shallow area existed.
Telefonica Azul hit one such uncharted shallows that was 0.23 nm from the start mark (and 2nd passing mark) of the course, prior to the start of Leg 5. Furthermore, the Race Committee and/or Organising Authority failed to supply a port with adequate depth to allow Telefonica Azul back into the harbour. This resulted in a 3 hour delay in getting back to the marina to begin
repairs resulting from the grounding. Delays due to the grounding and the delay in returning to port resulted in Telefonica Azul starting leg 5 approximately 19 hours after the start signal.
This delay had direct impact on Telefonica Azul’s position at the New Zealand scoring gate and at the finish.
Signed: Bouwe Bekking, 29 March 2009

Remember rule 62.1? A request for redress shall be based on a claim or possibility that
- a boats score in a race has been made significantly worse,
- through NO fault of her own
- by an improper action or omission of the race committee or organizing authority

The jury will need to find answer to each of these conditions before it can award redress;
Was the 19 hours loss significantly to have influence in the scoring? Or were there perhaps other contributing factors?
If the shallow water was uncharted, how can the sailors expect that the RC could know about that? Is it the responsibility of the RC to send out a sounding-chart mapping boat of the start area? Is this an omission, for which the PC can be blamed?
Should the OA have provided harbour access with sufficient depth for returning boats ? Could that be seen as an omission?
Is hitting something under water something the sailors could have avoided? Was it close to shore and could logically be deducted that something might be there - even only a reasonable assumption?

If all these questions lead to a redress: what should that be?
For instance if the Jury award redress for 19 hours. The delta between Green Dragon (28/03/09 18:15:40) and Telefonica Blue (29/03/09 03:55:00) is 9 hours 39 minutes and 20 seconds. That would make TB 4th instead of 5th!

I'll keep you updated or you can look for news on the VOR-site.

Protest Diagram Kit | v2.0

Angelo Buscemi send me an Email with an updated version of his Protest Diagram Kit. It's a word document with pre drawn boats, marks, zones and sunder, which can be used to create diagrams on protest situations. I've posted about his efforts in this post: Forms (2)

In his mail he writes: No major changes – I just added a three boat length zone and updated the instructions for those who use Microsoft Word 2007.

Angelo gives permission to freely use and distribute this file, in conjunction with volunteer efforts to support and promote sailing and sail boat racing. Thanks Angelo.

Here's the download link: Protest Diagram Kit v2.docx
And a Word 97-2003 version: Protest Diagram Kit v2.doc