Boat Scenario - New situation drawing program

Two weeks ago I was send a new program link by French Umpire Thibaut Gridel. He is currently developing a new situation drawing program for depicting situations on the water. I've been trying his software for a few days and it looks very promising!

Besides keel boats you can use lasers, optimists and even tornado's. Here is a screen shot:

With his animations you can make a very smooth path with the boats. And like with any film, you can stop and go at any moment in the sequence. Thibaut is still working on additional features for this program and would like comments and suggestions. You can download Boat Scenario at http://boats.berlios.de where you can also tell him what you think.

port starboard S2

port - starboard S2-3 closest point


port starboard S3

In the three pictures above, I went from position 2 in a Port-Starboard incident, to the closest point the boats passed each other, to position 3. With the slide function you can find that point very easy.

He still has some ways to go, but I'm very impressed with this smooth animation. I already asked if that can be exported to say a GIF-file, for use in Outlook Power Point presentations.

I will keep you updated on developments and will put a link to his program site in the sidebar. Don't hesitate to experiment and tell Thibaut what you would like added.

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Judging the Olympics |1

We've all followed the highs and lows of the sailors at the Olympic Games in Qingdao. From the spectacular 49er medal race to the clearing of the algae on the waters by local fishermen.

At the Olympics all eyes are focused on the sailors and rightly so. But to make sure that all rules are adhered to, there's a group of International Judges from all over the world who form the Olympic Jury. I send them a questionnaire to ask them about their experience doing that.

In the next couple of weeks I will be posting the answers I received.

The first one who replied was Pat Healy from Annapolis, USA. He has not only been to Olympic Games as a Judge, but in past years also as a coach.

Here are his answers to my questions:

PAT HEALY, IJ (USA):

Q1-- How long where you an International Judge before you were invited to go to an Olympic Event? Perhaps you can tell something about your experiences and what you think is needed to be an International Technical Official?

A1-- 10 yrs - first Olympics as an official (2000), 18 yrs - second Olympics (2008).

During the past four years: 9-Grade 1 Events, 6-World or Continental Championships of Olympic classes, 12-Other Olympic class events with rule 42 and/or Addendum Q. Also, four Olympics as a coach and 32 years as a professional coach.

Q2-- Can you tell us about the differences between any Grade 1 event and the Olympic competition, from a Judges point of view?

A2-- Grade 1 Events are more fun. At the Olympics everyone is under pressure: competitors, coaches, team leaders, technical officials, volunteers and judges. Everyone wants to do a good job but feels the stress. Solving problem takes more time then usual and the first answer is usually no, then you start to negotiate. The Olympic regatta is a big adventure but not a lot of fun.

Q3-- In "normal" International events CAS does not get involved, but it has in the last two Olympics. Does it change the way you do a protest hearing?

A3-- CAS has added 50% to jury work time to ensure every "i" is dotted and "t" crossed. So far the only way a "non-appealable" decision can be overturned by CAS or other sport arbitrator is if the procedures required by the rules are not followed.

Q4-- The Olympic Sailing event is the most filmed and photographed event of all. What is the influence of that on your work?

A4-- For me there is no on-the-water influence. You are so focused on what is happened that you forget that a camera may be looking over your shoulder. Hearings are longer because there is more evidence available.

Q5-- What did you enjoyed the most about the Olympics and what disappointed you?

A5-- Enjoy most - working with some of the most experienced judges in the world. The problems are harder but solutions come easier to this jury.

Enjoy the least - the number of "zero-chance" requests for redress. Although I understand the psychological need for a competitor to leave the Olympics feeling that no stone was left unturned, most of the requests for redress are for claims that the party knows have no chance to succeed.

Q6-- Do you want to do the next Olympic in 2012?

A6-- If asked absolutely, but most likely I will not be asked. There are many fine judges from my country who can do as good or better job than me. Sailing is better off with a large group of judges who have been given the Olympic responsibility and made the effort to do it correctly and wisely.

Q7-- Anything else about this Olympics you might want to share with readers of my blog?

A7-- For an aspiring judge, the easiest way is to be considered "good enough" to be considered for the Olympic jury is to (1) have lots of experience judging dinghy events so as to be seen as very knowledgeable on rule 42, and (2) race a dinghy. Selecting judges with recent, racing experience for the Olympic jury is very hard to achieve and will allow you to stand out among those being considered.

Next week Sofia Truchanowicz from Poland, one of the youngest IJ's. This was her first Olympics, but I'm sure it will not be her last....

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Who has to Keep Clear?

Received the following mail on Monday from Gianni Restano, about an interesting conflict in the rules. I have no answer to his query....


Hi Jos,

I'm an Italian umpire, and since a couple of months ago your blog has become a mandatory daily read. Thank you very much for maintaining it!
Yesterday I saw a peculiar situation in a match race that could be interesting for your blog's readers.

Yellow is given two penalties during the pre-start. Blue starts early and is recalled. Blue realizes the recall a bit late, and as a result there is an incident between Blue sailing towards the pre-start side of the starting line (on proper course) and Yellow taking the penalty just after starting, as she is required to do.

The funny thing is that rule 20.1 says that Blue must keep clear of Yellow, whilst rule 20.2, as modified by C2.8, says the opposite. I haven't been able to find any rule, call or case which states the prevalence of either rule on the other. A common sense solution could be to have the two conflicting rules offsetting each other, and to go back to the basic rules (10, 11 and so on), but I am not too happy umpiring using just commons sense. Can you (or your readers) shed some light on this situation? Do you believe it justifies a rapid response call?

BTW: the new rulebook (2009-2012) doesn't solve the issue.

Thank you, hope to meet you somewhere on a rubber duck,
Gianni Restano


Well Gianni, I did some research and could not find a call or case answering this either. But I do know that the rules in part A do not apply. The preamble of section D specifically states that they do not, when rule 20 or 21 applies between two boats. For now, both have to keep clear. I would think the boat taking a penalty has a greater obligation to do so, but I cannot back that up with the rules.

Perhaps one of the LTW readers has a different opinion? If not, it might indeed be worth a Question to the Rapid Response Call WP.

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Once upon a time....the End

Unbelievable!

My "fairy tales" generate more visitors than any Q&A or true story ever can.
After being published in Scuttlebutt 2721 my post 'A Lesson in Umpiring' generated over a 1000 visitors. I should start all my posts with: 'Once upon a time......'

Perhaps I should follow Tillerman's poll and write about: 'Whatever the hell I want' as long as there is at least one magical creature in it. I will ask Mss Esmerelda Wheaterwax to teach me headology or Nanny Ogg how to curse. "Bugger all that, let's curse someone"


Please excuse me, I have to find a frying pan. I just experienced a 'sussurus' and have to look for the Nac Mac Feegle, before they steal all my possessions.... and my mind.

LTW Readers Q&A | 13

Received another rules question about sailing the course, this time from Luigi Cuccotti, IRO from Italy.

In his E-mail he writes: I have a Q&A to submit which I’m sending in the attachment. The facts are true, but in this race I was a competitor, not the chairman of the race committee. Thanks a lot for your kind attention.

His Q:

CHANGING OF THE NEXT LEG OF THE COURSE

Race for Off Shore boats, with marks. Windward-Leeward course.
The Sailing Instructions establish:

1. “The change course will be signaled according to rule 33.”
2. “The boats are obliged to tune in on the official channel VHF 72. The race committee will be listening to boat communications during the race on this channel, and will make radio communications as well, when possible, about the race and, when required, will make changes to sailing instructions under rule 89.2(c) RRS ISAF 2005-2008”

Facts/Conclusions

1. During the second leg (leeward leg) the chairman of the Race Committee said on the radio, on the official channel: “Change next leg, new compass bearing is 125° (the old was 120°) and the length of the leg is 2.2 nautical miles (the old length was 2.0 n.m.).”
2. The Race Committee chairman didn’t announce any changes to sailing instructions.
3. Near the leeward mark there was a race committee boat, she displayed only flag “C” and made sound signals.
4. This boat did not show
   - a board with the new compass bearing or a triangular green flag
   - a board with +
5. Change of the next leg of the course wasn’t made according to rule 33, as established on the sailing instructions.

Question:

Has a boat, who does not round the new mark indicated by radio, but rounds the old mark, sailed the course correctly according to rule 28?

 

My A:

No, in my opinion the boat has not sailed the correct course. If you apply the string test, it doesn't pass the new mark on the required side.

The change in the sailing instructions was done orally by radio, but that is permitted because the procedure to do so, is stated in the SI (Rule 89.2(c)). Boats are obliged to listen to CHF-channel 72 and the change was announced. She should have rounded the new mark.

However, in order to disqualify this boat, she must first be protested by someone, be it by the RC or another competitor. A boat may not be disqualified without a hearing for breaking rule 28. If the PC decided that the boat did break that rule, she is then entitled to ask for redress, because she will then be DSQ'd and that is a significant worsening of her score.

The boat might be able to get redress, since one of the requirements of rule 62.1 has been met (requirement a).Not showing the compass bearing or a green triangle and a board with a "plus" sign, as written in rule 33, is an omission by the RC.

But the boat must also show there was "no fault of her own". If this boat has heard the radio transmission, that would be very hard to uphold. Because she chose to ignore that message, there is, at least in part, some fault of her own.

Even if she didn't hear the VHF-radio message, the PC must find out why. If there was no good reason to not listen (and that does not include a broken VHF), part of the fault again lies with the boat.

If she just sailed to the old mark because she wanted to show how "wrong" the RC was doing, she is NOT entitled to redress and the DSQ will stand.

 

What is your opinion?

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ISAF Conference 2008 MADRID

The ISAF Conference in Madrid has started since Thursday and although this year all attention is focused on Olympic equipment issues, there are also numerous other issues on the table.

Not in the least the appointment of all but a few committee members in this post Olympic conference. Every four years the committees get a reshuffle. Some of the members will stay on, others leave and new people are invited to join the different committees and working parties.

I've had a look at the agenda's of the IJ Sub Committee, the IU Sub Committee and the Race Officials Committee.

Interesting to note in the IJSC Agenda are:

10. DEVELOPMENT.

(a) Grouping of IJs; To receive and discuss ROC guidance on the grouping of IJs. This must be something similar as the already in place grouping system for IU. In that system IU's are grouped in three groups, with subgroups in group 2, to make sure that appointments by ISAF of Race Officials to events is done with knowledge of the skills of the individual.
(Group one is most experienced, Group two is 'standard' or new IUs and group three are all ungrouped IUs)

(b) Education of IJs; To discuss proposal for “refresher training” of IJs. I've heard rumors about testing all IJ also every four years, to make sure they are up to par with rules and procedures.

(c) Rule 42 Education Programme.; To receive a report from Bill O’Hara on the Rule 42 workshops held in 2008 and to review the plans for 2009. Maybe a subgroup for rule 42 Judges?

Also on the agenda the IJ manual:

12. INTERNATIONAL JUDGES MANUAL
(a) Updates; To note the updates to the International Judges Manual
(b) New Sections; To discuss the need to include sections on:
- CAS (Court of Arbitration in Sports)
- dealing with minors (more and more an issue in current sports events)
- define the tasks of a protest committee scribe

This last agenda issue I find interesting. Up until now the scribe was a more or less random choice in panels. Anybody could be asked to do it. As if anybody had the necessary skill to do it correctly all the time. Being a good scribe takes practice and advice from experts. You need to learn how to do it. So including it in the manual is in my opinion a given.

The IU Sub Committee agenda has also a few interesting items:

In 10 DEVELOPMENT the IUSC will discuss the progress in: Support to Ungrouped and Group 2 IUs; To receive a report from Kirk Brown on the progress of the mentor project offered to ungrouped IUs and Group 2 IUs.

I've been part of that program for a couple of months, but haven't been able to get much out of it - part due to the fact I haven't been at an event with my mentor, part because I have not taken the time to discuss issues with him. It is not always easy to put in writing .... Also because there's no program, no syllabus, no specific goals other than the ones you formulate yourself and not much guidance from ISAF. For both me and the mentor.

In the ROC agenda this item drew my attention:

13. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST; (a) Guidelines for the assessments
To discuss the draft guidelines to assess conflicts of interest.

Perhaps you've glanced at RRS 63.4? The new rule is:

63.4 Interested Party.
A member of a protest committee who is an interested party shall not take any further part in the hearing but may appear as a witness.
Protest committee members must declare any possible self-interest as soon as they are aware of it. A party to the hearing who believes a member of the protest committee is an interested party shall object as soon as possible.
(my emphasis)

An issue which has certainly been put in the spotlight by this year's FARR 40 protest in the World Championship.

In all three committee meetings the appointment and re-appointment of Race Officials will be discussed:
- To consider the lists of nominations for appointment as International Judge, International Umpire, International Race Officer and International Measurer.

I'm due next year for my IJ-status, so no nail biting for me this year. But I wish those who are up the best of luck!

If you want to read the full Agendas here are the links:

International Judges Sub-Committee Agenda, meeting today,
International Umpires Sub-Committee Agenda, meeting also today,
Race Officials Committee Agenda. meeting on Monday November 10th.

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A Lesson in Umpiring

or - Never Flinch in giving a Penalty -

As told to me by an experienced umpire, about what he learned in younger days....

Once upon a time there was a friendly umpire at a nice event. He was enjoying the sailing and had a great time flying his flags.

Because he was in such a good mood, he showed the green and white flag with extra zest and enthusiasm. But if needed, he blew his whistle also extra loud for a blue or yellow penalty if he thought it was an "extra" deserving penalty.

In Flight five, Match two, the two opponents were not very even. Yellow had clearly been doing this a lot longer than Blue and in the second downwind leg had almost an 80% lead.

Our happy umpire was a good hundred meters away from the windward mark, when he saw the boom of the Blue trailing boat, hit the orange Mark.
~Lets give them a break~ he thought, ~they are so far behind, I will pretend I didn't see it, and not penalize them~

Five seconds later the halyard of the spinnaker on the Yellow boat broke with a loud snap and the spinnaker dropped in the water. The boat all but stopped. The crew immediately went to work to clear up the mess.

Blue sailed on and halved the distance.

Yellow - still a good 40 meters away from the finish - struggled to get the wet spi out from under the bow.

Blue found a little extra wind and came closer and closer.

Yellow still moved agonizingly slow.

Our happy Umpire started to worry a bit and he motored closer.

Blue was only ten meters behind Yellow when they finally cleared the spinnaker out of the water and picked up a little more speed.

In the meantime Blue, flying a beautiful red kite themselves, sailed to leeward of Yellow and created an overlap. Our umpire's hart sank when the Race Committee showed a blue flag when the boats crossed the finish line.

The difference was only one meter, the race officer told our umpire after the Match. With a served penalty, Yellow would have had time to finish first...

Happy no longer, our umpire tried to console himself with a promise:
Never will I not give a penalty out of pity or happiness. Hitting a Mark equals a flag. No exceptions.....

The End.

"My marriage is like a fairy tale"
"Every time I come home, there's that Witch sitting on the couch"

www.rizla.nl

Ladies Only | 3

On Sunday 2nd of November we had the final day of the Ladies Only in Hamburg on lake Alster. Together with a couple of 'die-harts' who went sailing on - what we in the Netherlands would call - a "watercold" Sunday, we sailed semi finals and place finals for all the spots.

One of the teams was a last minute replacement for a team that couldn't attend. They eventually sailed for places 5 and 6 and managed to win! Tania, Venita, Laura H. and Laura S., you did very well for a first time team!

Also one of the reasons I mention them, is that as an umpire you come to expect some of the maneuvers boats are going to make. You have to anticipate to be able to be on the correct place to see the rules issues. With new teams that is sometimes a challenge. So the lesson I learned was to keep a greater distance with inexperienced crews. But I'm sure this particular team will be able to learn to do the right moves very fast, if they keep the learning curve up.

The club organizing the event also had a youth regatta the previous day and the young sailor winning the local Opti event, was a very keen student of the rules. He asked permission to join us on the umpire boat, forgoing the price giving. The next day he was back and I had the pleasure to tell him something about umpiring. So on the final day, Oscar, 13 years old, struggling with his first words in English, joined us for a couple of matches.

He still has a good deal to learn but I was impressed by his knowledge and dedication.

And, yes, that is Oscar standing behind me and Stephan in the umpire boat.

I think that particularly this club is doing a very good job teaching young sailors the joy of sailing in all its forms and shapes. The Alster Acts for instance, which will be closed in a fortnight with the 12th event this year, are giving new match racers the chance to learn.

The fact that they manage to do a good job is clearly visible in the winner of the event Team Halbrock, who are members of HSC.

With Silke Hahlbrock as helm and Marion Rommel, Maren Hahlbrock and Nele-Marie Bock as crew, they beat last years winners Team Lethinen from Finland in the finals with two against one. Congratulations!

I've put all the photos on Flickr. You can have a look by clicking on Ladies Only MR 2008 at my account.

Standard Documents for Match Racing 2009-2012

On the ISAF Website two standard documents have been published for Match Racing under the new rules 2009-2012.
Following the publication of the 2009-2012 edition of The Racing Rules of Sailing, the standard Notice of Race and standard Sailing Instructions should be used for all Match Racing events starting after 1 January 2009.

The concept of the standard Notice of Race (NoR) and standard Sailing Instructions (SIs) is that all the well known options have been included to give each event organizer a reasonable degree of freedom. Having selected a particular option the actual NoR and SIs used will remain 'standard' and therefore be well tested and easily recognizable by all involved. As many options have been included the standard may appear to be long. However, when the options that are not required and the comments column are deleted, the length of the SIs for each event is more reasonable.

If your event finds that it needs other options, or that an amendment to the standard is required, please send a proposal to the ISAF for consideration for the next version.

Please remember to read these standards in conjunction with Appendix C - Match Racing Rules. The Standard NoR and SIs should be used together. Duplication of NoR and SI has been used in order that the SIs are complete for each event.

As usual, your comments and suggestions for improving this standard are always welcome.

On a personal note I think that standardization of NOR and SI are a must in Sailing. Nobody wants to study eleven pages before going on the water. Necessary information should be always at the same place in the document and always in a logical order.
These files make it easy to comply.

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CLASSIC BOAT SHOW 2008

NEWSLETTER CLASSIC BOAT SHOW 2008
From Maritime Heritage to Spirit of Tradition

Classic Boat Show 2008 holds course
Maritime Heritage steers safely through global crisis

While the financial crisis has knocked the wind out of the global market, Thedo Fruithof is calmly finalising the arrangements for the Classic Boat Show from his humble abode in Andijk. Later this week the enormous exhibition hall on the Gependam will be constructed and will host 130 exhibitors and 65 ships during three full days of maritime pleasure from 7 – 9 November 2008.
“This Show is different from all the previous ones,” says the proud MC Fruithof, “For example, the steamer towboat the Rosalie (1873) and the restored Rhine barge Helena (1875) are unique examples of the riveting tradition that can now be applied in polyester."

Upgraded web site
For regular visitors to the web site this is old news, but the Classic Boat Show 2008 offers many new features. The web site provides easy access to all the companies and organizations that you can meet at the Show. The site features a photo gallery of most of the boats that are on display during the Show in Enkhuizen, with full details. The site offers a comprehensive international trade catalogue, but also local information on where to stay and dine, as well as the current weather report. Enjoy the great variety of exhibits as well as the film program, lectures, and meetings and bring your kids to the children’s program. Please do visit the web site for all the attractions and updates to this year’s Classic Boat Show and Maritime Heritage www.klassieke-schepen.nl
For example…
Symposium: New Rules and Regulations for Inland Shipping
A symposium is organised by the Federatie van Oude Nederlandse Vaartuigen (Federation of old Dutch Vessels) about new European and Dutch rules and regulations for inland shipping. The Saturday symposium is open to skippers, ship owners and members of conservation organisations and will meet on the MS Terra Nova.

New York and Henry Hudson 400
In 1609, under the auspices of the Dutch East India Company, Captain Hudson set sail out of Amsterdam on the Half Moon in search of a passage to China. Instead, he discovered the best natural harbour in the world and the island of Manhattan. Shortly after this discovery, New Amsterdam was founded and gradually developed into the world’s capital city, known as New York. Dutch settlers brought with them a deep tradition of enlightenment, tolerance, and acumen which became a hallmark of its new-world colony. The early settlement of New Amsterdam with its multiethnic, dynamic inhabitants mirrors the diverse, cosmopolitan culture for which New York City is revered throughout the world. With a celebration of these noteworthy beginnings, Henry Hudson 400 plans to reinforce the deep ties between these two cultures. In 2009, Henry Hudson 400 will commemorate the legendary voyage with two three-day festivals in both Amsterdam and in New York. A transatlantic sailing race for the larger vessels will connect both cities; about 35 smaller vessels such as botters, tjalks and skûtsjes, will be transported across the ocean in a cargo ship. The Henry Hudson 400 Foundation presents its plans at the Classic Boat Show. www.henryhudson400.com

Sailing is my vocation
The Dutch interest group for professional sailing (BBZ) presents an introductory day on Saturday, November 8th, for people who are interested in working in chartering and yacht building. Various stands provide information, lectures are planned as well as a job market. To get a feel of these professions you can sign on for a journey on the two-master barge Helena that sails from Rotterdam to Enkhuizen and back (see www.rivierzeilen.nl for details).

100 year old Hengst
The mussel-fishing barge Jan Korneel was restored to its original state by the Tolerant Foundation in the Belgian town of Rupelmonde. This authentic oak fishing boat, dating back to 1908, is one of eight remaining originals of its kind, of which thousands sailed the river Schelde only a century ago. The restoration took two years and was supervised by the craftsman Cees Droste. The 100 year old Hengst Jan Korneel was re-launched on September 14th and can be admired at the Classic Boat Show.

Finally
“Enkhuizen is THE place to see all types of historic vessels of any length during this comprehensive and compact boat show. The exhibit is concentrated in one large exhibition hall, bigger than last year”, says organizer Thedo Fruithof, “This historic town, which was once a main harbour of the East-India Company’s fleet, provides a contemporary background. Visitors travelling by train or bus arrive on the spot with the show right next door to the station; and visitors arriving by car can enjoy a wonderful ferry crossing along the historic vessels on show.”

BEURS KLASSIEKE SCHEPEN
ENKHUIZEN
7-9 November 2008
Daily 10:00-18:00 hrs
Fairground next to the NS-Railway Station, Enkhuizen
FREE parking and ferry transport, follow directions on site
Entrance fee: € 10

We look forward to seeing you at Classic Boat Show 2008,
With kind regards,
Thedo Fruithof and Wim de Bruin