[Public-List] Fwd: Re: More on the J boats collision

Tue Mar 17 15:56:57 PDT 2020

Wow! 

J8 tacked onto starboard tack. The port tack J should have altered to starboard (or tacked onto starboard as well) to avoid collision. If the port tack J had tacked onto starboard he would have found himself in J 8’s dirty air. Correct decision to remain on port tack BUT he should have bore away a wee little bit to go under J8’s stern.
It would be very cool to see the decision of the protest committee, no doubt there was a protest…
Some relevant racing rules taken from Racing Rules of Sailing: 

SECTION A
RIGHT OF WAY
A boat has right of way over another boat when the other boat is
required to keep clear of her. However, some rules in Sections B, C
and D limit the actions of a right-of-way boat.
10 ON OPPOSITE TACKS
When boats are on opposite tacks, a port-tack boat shall keep clear
of a starboard-tack boat.

SECTION B GENERAL LIMITATIONS 14 AVOIDING CONTACT A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible. However, a right-of-way boat or one entitled to room or mark-room (a) need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear or giving room or mark-room, and (b) shall be exonerated if she breaks this rule and the contact does not cause damage or injury.

We would have to see what the Race Com. decided in this case…

In the International ColRegs, Rule 12, states that a s/v with the wind on the port side, shall keep out of the way of the other (a vessel with the wind on starboard side). In other words; part tack vessels are burdened.

ColReg Rule 17 reminds all of us that “This Rule does not relieve the give-way vessel of her obligation to keep out of the way.” The onus is on all of us to avoid collision, whether we are burdened or not.

We don’t know what the skippers or race committee relied upon, I’m certain there were more rules and a lot of emotion!

We have to keep in mind that this incident happened during a race. Drivers in Formula 1 races do things the rest of us do not do (for the most part) on our daily commutes. 
Olympic cyclists in the velodrome do things we don’t normally do while out for a pleasant summer evening pedal.

Unfortunately, we don’t know what J Class event this was or what the Race Committee decided.
They are still hot boats!

Greg

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: Michael Connolly via Public-List
Sent: March 17, 2020 11:32 AM
To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all
Cc: Michael Connolly
Subject: [Public-List] Fwd: Re: More on the J boats collision

Hello all,
By now most of you have viewed this.  Time to learn from others mistakes.  My take is that both skippers made novice type mistakes.  I wonder if they had seasoned crew on board or a bunch of celebrities. The total chaos on the boat photographing to leeward was out of control.  

I am curious what is your take on this collision?
Michael #133

> ---------- Original Message ----------
>     From: Michael Connolly <crufone at comcast.net>
>     To: John Y Jackson <jackson.jy at gmail.com>, Adrian Vergot <Adrianvergot at hotmail.com>, Clay Hickman <clayhickman at gmail.com>, David Miller <caberry2 at netscape.net>, Earl Beard <earlbeard at gmail.com>, Julie Mincey <julie.mincey at icloud.com>, Mike Daly <md1940 at gmail.com>, Mike Foster <mfoster at suddenlink.net>, Russ Robinson <r.rubarb at gmail.com>, Steve Stroud <Stroud1953 at aol.com>, Pete&Elaine <PETEL2 at suddenlink.net>, Seth Wolpin <wolpin at gmail.com>
>     Date: March 16, 2020 at 9:51 AM
>     Subject: Re: More on the J boats collision
> 
>     John,
>     Thanks for the post. Why did the Starboard boat commence a tack? To avoid a collision you always drive so the boats are as parallel as possible.  If the Starboard boat had headed down her stern would have had a better chance of missing the Port boat.  Always much less damage when the boats bounce off one another beam to beam.
> 
>     I am sorry but this is basic seamanship. The port boat had the main trimmed so that she couldn't fall off fast enough or at all. Major lack of communication going on. 
> 
>     Makes me glad that I am playing around with several thousand dollar boats rather than several million dollar ones. 
> 
>     Cheers,
>     Michael
> 
> 
> 
>         > > On March 16, 2020 at 7:47 AM John Y Jackson <jackson.jy at gmail.com> wrote:
> > 
> >         Here is another link with a bit more information, and a video if the damage to the boat, Topaz, that was hit
> > 
> >         https://megayachtnews.com/2020/03/svea-and-topaz-collide-at-superyacht-challenge-antigua/  
> > 
> >         A few of you who are getting this did not get the original.  Here it is.  Earl was the first of us to find this.
> > 
> > 
> >         https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2020/03/12/video-massive-j-class-collision/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Scuttlebutt%205527%20%20March%2016%202020&utm_content=Scuttlebutt%205527%20%20March%2016%202020+CID_dea217305308971383c4f7d2cf89675e&utm_source=Email%20Newsletter
> >          
> > 
> >          
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >         Stay healthy!
> > 
> >         Smooth Sailing,
> >          
> >         JYJ
> > 
> >         Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.  Ralph Waldo Emerson
> > 
> >     > 
>      
> 

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