Robbie and Hunter seem to be really on the pace now - 10th place 'round the second windward mark in Race 6. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

New video posted, too.

weeeeet. (you know, if you leave the 's' off that, it's confusing).

R&H move up again to 8th for the final weather mark of race 6! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Finished in 9th - strong finish and continues the trend.

Kewl!!! Like you said JW...continues the trend. Robbie has to be pleased that his position has improved with every race!! It will be good to see the final postings for today's races later to see how our other two US teams are doing. Hopefully Ollie got his mast put back up!! Man, I wish I was there!!!

Is it just me, or do there seem to be a lot of Port/Starboard collisions being reported for this regatta?

I've never sailed in a regatta this large, but Stephen just said over on SA that they were involved in P/S collision, and it seems that there have been a couple. With what Wouter said about some teams just "playing chicken" do you think that this is what results?

I do not believe sailors do this on purpose. It just takes two boats who take their eyes off the course for 10-20 seconds (or whatever time interval), and a boat can appear to come out of nowhere. Or tiredness with some risk taking/poor judgement.

Whatever you said, regardless of the reason, it is pretty scary. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Wasn't there a thread about this same use of tactics last year. If memory serves, there was a Tiger that crash jibed at the finish because a port boat wouldn't back down. Seems to be becoming a prevalent tactic. Almost expected and anticipated.

Imagine 80 high speed cats on a very lumpy course. That's a LOT of traffic. Maybe 80 is too many?

2005 Tiger Worlds, Race 5 - Greg Thomas and Jacques Bernier swerve to avoid a port tacker (Mischa Heemskerk) and capsize just upwind of the finish line. They right the boat and manage to get an 11 (their second worst finish). Port tacker does his circle and finishes.

G&J protest (unable to get redress because no damage occurred) and have them thrown out (but they use this race as their throwout).

G&J would probably have gotten 2nd or 3rd in the event, but instead they end up 5th.

Tiger Worlds 2005 Santa Barbara, 87 Boats

A little bit of chicken played in a P/S with spins up. Pretty well documented event.

12ish kts. Two top five boats coming downwind, to finish, opposite tacks. Port holds out long enough that the only way the S could avoid a collision was to head up, resulting in a flip. P does 360 goes on to finish top 15. S rights boat finishes in the 10-15 range, falls out of top 3.

Most agree that it was a planned move on P's part.

Matt,
you beat me by one minute <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />!!!!!

Go GBR. We're still ahead of the USA teams and should stay there (fingers crossed)

I hate to say it but the next time this situation happens G&J (or you) just have to try to sail that port tack boat in halve and put the skipper into the hospital. Then there is "some damage" to report and you can get a redress awarded by the whigs that keeps seats warm in the protest committee. Then as an extra benefit you just KNOW that this port tack skipper will NEVER EVER pull that trick on you again.

I guess more then a few sailors have discovered that this is the way "competitive" racing is done these days (in addition to the usual shouting, cursing and general intimidation) and ISAF, as always, is busy wasting breath on some female sailor found to be sail rowing.

Personally I'm all in favour of the rule where any foul will automatically lead to a DSQ for that race. No circles or what ever. Just ask 20 bucks more for the competitors and have 2 umpire boats on the race course or whatever. The the boat that fouled can try to correct the decision in the protest room instead of having the crew that was fouled try to get compensated. Why should the task of getting justice be put on the crew that did nothing wrong instead of the crew that did ?

We, probably have to wait for another 50 years for the ISAF whigs get around to this little problem. Currently the ISAF racing rules favour the crews that make fouls.

Wouter

Seems to me that if I were the starboard boat, when I got to the beach I might just find the port boat skipper and give him a choice.... I can take it out of your boat or I can take it out of you....your choice!

That's what I call "self policing" and "beach justice". Then again I've played hockey for years...Ha

Wouter, welcome to Rule 14:

so taking out the P boat's rudders and claiming that you didn't have enough reaction time wouldn't pass muster?

You have Brits in 4th and 5th.
Don't you know that there is always a SPITFIRE sailor up there <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Rules of the road are avoid a collision at all cost. I think Wouter has something here. I was in a collision a couple of years back with a port boat at the line, I suffered substantial damage, he did no circles, didn't retire from the race and was crowned the King of the 16 fleet at that regatta. I see he is registered again for that same event and wish I still had the Fox so I could really pierce his butt.