If you went to the Ida Lewis YC website looking for the results for July 17, you likely got quite a shock. In place of a series of finishes from two interesting races was the following statement from the race committee.
All boats receive DSQ for the evening due to violation of SIs and Coast Guard Event Permit – interfering with commercial traffic.
To borrow a phrase from a current KFC commercial, “I wasn’t expecting that.”
Fleet 50 has had its run-ins with commercial traffic, though it’s been a while since we had a situation like last night, with a barge running through the middle of course. I wholeheartedly agree with Part 22 of the Sailing Instructions (below).
Competitors are reminded that Narragansett Bay is a Restricted Channel. Sailing Vessels do not have the right of way over a vessel under power, which is restricted in her ability to maneuver. Competitors found to have run afoul of commercial vessels before, while, or after racing may be subject to penalty which may include disqualification from that day’s completed races. We play where others work; please respect those who are working and do not impeded their progress in any way.
I also agree with disqualifying anyone who even comes close to interfering with commercial traffic. If you have a rule, it should be enforced. And this behavior could jeopardize Fleet 50’s ability to sail every Thursday night.
However, I don’t think a mass DSQ is the best way to curb this behavior.
Firstly, it’s unfair. We tacked to port not long after crossing the line and headed right. We saw the barge and while we did take one hitch down the bay in the Rose Island Cone, we crossed the channel well astern of the barge. Once we cleared its prop wash we tacked back. We never got within 200 feet of the barge and were never in a position to force it to alter course or slow down. Had the barge continued on its expected course we never would’ve come near it. And the same can be said for most, if not all, of the boats that played the right side of the course.
By the time we got to the windward mark the barge was parked, and had been for a few minutes. The course that took us furthest away from the barge—and yes, kept us going toward the mark—was across its bow on starboard. I guess we could’ve stopped and waited for the barge to resume its path. But that’s a little much. Who knew how long that was going to take. We were always well clear of the barge. However, if that’s still too close for comfort, then what about the 2 or 3 boats that jibed at or near the windward mark and sailed along the Jamestown side of the barge. These boats never crossed the bow of the barge upwind or downwind. How can anyone say they interfered with commercial traffic?
Secondly, what good does a mass disqualification do? A colleague at work pointed out that it gives the fleet a good sound bite for the Coast Guard. “We tossed everyone out.” I guess I can understand that. But it doesn’t teach anyone a lesson. And isn’t that the goal of a punishment, to ensure it doesn’t happen again. No one was really penalized because everyone was tossed.
If the fleet finds itself in the same situation again wouldn’t it be better for boats to think, “Geez, the last time this happened half the fleet was DSQ’d, and half of it wasn’t, so we’d better play it safe, even if it costs us a few boats.” Instead they’ll think there’s strength in numbers. They’ll think, “Get enough boats to cross the barge and then the RC will either throw everyone out or no one. Either way, the conservative route isn’t likely to pay.”
One of the things I understand least about sailing is the occasionally adversarial nature of the relationship between the race committee and the sailors. We’re all out there for the same purpose, to enjoy our time on the water. At times it will get tense, at times some or all of the fleet will need to have its collective hand slapped. But we need to work together as much as we can.
This decision merely serves to broaden the gulf between the sailors and the race committee and does little to ensure this sort of thing won’t happen again in the future.
1 comment:
On barfly we were in a similar situation on the right side with it being fairly easy to pass astern of the tug (except when he slammed on the brakes forcing us to duck a bit futher than we had planned on). I do want to bring attention to Taz who took a HUGE hit to duck the barge instead of passing fairly close in front. He gave up at least 20 boat-lengths to do so moving from the front of the right side fleet to just in front of us (or towards the back). At the windward mark he jibed and took the barg's stern again. I don't know if that was a tactical or a seamanship decision, but he took a HUGE boatlength hit to do the right thing when others took the bow of the barge both upwind and down (including a few of the right side boats).
It is a shame TAZ gets DQ'd having gone out of his way to do the right thing because of the actions of the large pack coming from the left that caused the barge to stop.
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