We'll be bringing the "Tybee kit" and yes it will include a GPS.

1) I have never sailed, let alone been to NYC
2) The commerical shipping traffic will pose navigational issues
3) This is an offshore race

I think the rules to exclude GPS's are silly in this type of race. Just my 2cents.

I looked around the site for the SI's but couldn't find them.

What other gear is not allowed? Can we use tackticks? Weather radios? Paddles?

ok, I jump in

Here is the paragraph regarding safety in the current SI's

Safety and Security:
1. Per USCG instructions, you must stay outside the security zone around the Navy pier. The security zone is marked by white buoys that are 500 yards off the pier. There will be a course mark (yellow buoys) at the security zone SE corner which has to be left on port going to the statue, on starboard on the way back.
2. Also, you must not pass within 150 yards of the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island.
3. All participants are required to wear PFDs or lifejackets at all times.
4. Each participant sails at his or her own risk.
5. The race committee will use CH 3 (USA). Any competitor may carry a portable radio, cellular telephone or GPS for emergency use only.
6. We strongly encourage everyone to bring adequate clothing, food and beverages.
7. Bladder packs :One (1) liquid filled bladder or similar device (commonly called a “Camelbak”) with a capacity not exceeding seventy (70) liquid ounces may be worn by each sailing team member for the purpose of liquid consumption.
8. Stay together. It’s easier for the RC to keep an eye on you.
A Few things to keep in mind:
1. Strong currents under the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge may make passing under it difficult. High tide at the Statue is approximately 25 minutes after high tide at Sandy Hook. High tide will be announced at the skippers meeting.
2. Large amounts of floating debris are common especially under the bridge and in upper New York Harbor.
3. All commercial vessels such as large ships, the Staten Island Ferry, Circle Line, and Fishing Charter boats have the RIGHT OF WAY so stay out of their way.
4. They also move much faster than you think!

This said, we have not published them yet (the Si's) because the race.org will revise them before the race.

For navigation, keep in mind that there is a lot of visual references (the hook, west bank, the bridge etc...), so getting lost is very unlikely. Fog could be a problem though, and this is something we will consider when revising the rules.

Jacques
SHBCC Race officer

ok, as long as we're allowed to bring them along for "emergency" use thats cool. I was just worried that we'd be DSQ'd just for having it onboard.

Ok, this will sound like a stupid grammar question, but here goes. Does the "emergency use only" part refer to only the GPS, or all three? I would imagine if you were in a channel crowded with commercial traffic having the radio on monitoring 16 as well as the committee channel is a good safety habit.

"emergency use only"

Applies only for the GPS

Jacques

Thank you for the clarification. Was that the way the rule was 2 years ago? I didn’t remember it that way. Also, why only allow them for emergencies?

Absolutely, the SIs I showed were from last year which themselves were the same than 2004.

Why only for emergencies? because we think that this could give an unfair advantage to some crews (usually already better equipped and experts in racing) and also because of the many visual marks, a clean navigation can be done without it.

Jacques

OK,
I have raced the statue of liberty race 7 or 8 times on a Dart 18, Nacra 5.8, Nacra 6.0 NA, Nacra 6.0 NA with SPI, and on a hobie 16. typicaly the race is upwind-downwind in anywhere from 0-20 knots of breeze. About 1/2 the time a spinnaker is worth it overall.

Navigation is easy most years. You start and sail to the end of the war pier. If you get to close, they run you off with machine guns. Next you sail to the Verisano Bridge which should be visable. Next you sail up the river untill you see the Statue of Liberty. Round it either way. I suggest you go between the statue and land downwind which ever way the wind is blowing. Big wind shadow. don't get too close. Avoid the ferrys. Sail back under the bridge. You should be able to see sandy hook. Sail to it. When you see the war pier, give it a wide birth. YOu will see all the white buoys marking the restricted zone. From there sail to the finish.

Frankly, if you need electronics to sucessfully sail this race, you should not be there. A compass is good in case the fog rolls in and a map is a good idea.

Now if you want to win the thing, that is a whole different ballgame. the keys are current avoidance, the sea breeze and boat speed. If the current is against you under the bridge you need to get to one of the shorelines and work it agressivly,plan on tacking or gibing as the case may be every 8-10 seconds if you have daggerboards. Anchored freighters have huge windshadows don't get stuck behind one.
As far as safety goes, stay out of the way of the freighters. There is a cross current and a narrow channel for them. They are traveling at 15 knots or so the don't get swept into the shallows. They will not stop just to avoid you. They can't. The channel is fairly obvious and there is no reason to be in it most of the time anyway. There is a lot of junk in the water. Most of it is wood and junk that floated down the hudson river.

This is a damn fun race, very hard to win you first time out.

Good Luck
Eric Anderson

Hoo-Yah,

The Texas City Dike Yacht Club will be attending - likely at least three boats - hopefully more.

We're looking forward to combining racing with some questionable renditions of a certain Frank Sinatra standard.

Chris.

PS Excellent job with the video.

just follow Rick Bliss....

Two quick updates about the Statue Race on July 2nd:
1. We just signed up an awesome band for the after-race-party. "Mister Neutron" - the most powerful and dangerous instrumental-rock experience on the East Coast - will be playing for the Statue Race teams on July 2. Check out some tunes on their website.
2. Even more good news. The fee structure for the Statue Race has been published on http://www.statueoflibertyrace.com/ and there are pretty nice discounts for early sign-up.