Sailing News Update - April 2022
Published 14:00 on 11 Apr 2022
The racing season is well underway with the spring series completed and congratulations go to the crews of Arc en Ciel, 2 Farr and Abracadabra who won their respective classes.
The first offshore race of the season went ahead recently along with the first of the Coastal at the weekend. The first of the retired gents was a casualty of the weather but the forecast for the beginning of dayboat evening series looks favourable, if a little light. So, with the season getting into full swing, I thought a couple of reminders about some important matters would be timely….
1. Skippers cannot enter once for a whole series. Each race must be entered separately (Retired gents excepted).
2. Although the wearing lifejackets is only obligatory when code flag Y is flown by the race officer, the sailing committee recommends their proper use at all times when sailing. Crew can go overboard for all sorts of reasons even when conditions are seemingly benign.
3. As a reminder of the safety instructions in thew SIs, each boat shall maintain a radio watch on channel 14 (VTS) when in St. Aubins Bay and in the approaches to St. Helier (the area is shown in the SIs). In addition, a watch must be kept on channel 08 (Race control) prior to the start and immediately following. Thereafter, a watch must be maintained on both Ch. 16 and Ch. 14.
4. PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF OTHER BOATS AND COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC IN THE SMALL ROADS AND IN THE HARBOUR ENTRANCE PARTICULARLY WHEN MANOEVERING PRIOR TO A RACE START. EVEN WHEN RACING, COLREGS APPLY AND YOUR BOAT MUST NOT BE HANDLED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO INCREASE THE CHANCE OF COLLISION WITH OTHER COMMERCIAL OR PLEASURE CRAFT WHICH ARE ENTERING OR LEAVING THE HARBOUR.
5. Please check the race calendar to identify when you have been carded for a race officers duty. If you are unable to fulfil your duty, the expectation is that you will find someone with whom to swap. Alternatively, if you are not confident about the procedures, contact either myself (nickohare1@aol.com) or the club office so that some training can be arranged. In both cases, sooner rather than later.
Plans are progressing for all of the major events this season. I would again like to encourage as many sailors as possible to join in with our Inter-Parish round the island race, sponsored again this year by JE. Of late it has been our biggest club event and is a great opportunity for Club PR and introducing novices to sailing.
Fair winds
Nick OHare
Chair of Sailing Committee