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I am starting a thread to get input from racers who did OYRA races in 2013 (skippers and crew) to get a feel for what we did right and what we can do better.
A look back at 2013
We finally had an actual skippers meeting in 2013 and it was well attended, we'll have one in 2014 as well.
Jibeset became our tool of choice for collecting boat and crew information. Most of the regulars figured out how to deal with it but a few new comers struggled. Ray Irvine (the guy behind Jibeset) made several changes to make managing crew information easier for repeat racers.
We clearly got lucky on the weather. We avoided the extremes of too much wind and generally to little wind, although some of us did not have enough patience or time on a Sunday returning from Drakes Bay to let the wind finally fill in. Other than DB Sunday, most of the boats finished most of the races.
I think the new simplified gear list was a plus. It made it easier for new boats to comply and boats that already did OYRA saw only a few changes.
Gear inspections were new for 2013 and for the most part things went smoothly and most boats passed. We have some work to do to make sure boats don't get inspected multiple times, and that more boats get the opportunity to pass an inspection.
We started earlier working with Half Moon Bay on the post race festivities. There was no wedding this year and I think the party was a good one. According to some dinner was 'just OK' so we'll work on having more options for next year.
The Americas Cup chased us off our usual start/finish line and we had to endure the painful starts and finishes at Corinthian YC. It sounds like we may have the problem again in a few years, but for other than Drakes Bay most of the starts will move back to the city front for the foreseeable future.
Drakes Bay a little later in the year gave us a good race and a peaceful anchorage, at least in terms of the conditions. I think the flare shoot was a great success and plan to schedule one for next year.
That's what I've got for 2013. Please let us know what you saw as successes or failures so we can plan 2014 accordingly. We had many boats sign up but not do very many races. I realize there are lots of reasons for that, but if there is something we can do to help fix it please speak up.
A look forward to 2014
I think 2014 will be similar to 2013 in terms of planning. The schedule is taking shape and we have roughly a race a month starting in mid April and ending the first week in October. The official schedule will be out in November once all the other pieces are in place.
Ray from Jibeset is continuing to work on streamlining the crew list process for repeat racers.
One complaint from 2013 turned into a suggestion. It was said that the Southern Cross race was a parade with just a reach to reach course. We are going to try something different in 2014 on the courses. In the past have given the RC flexibility on course length so they can give us a race we can finish based on conditions. Now for some races we will give them flexibility on where they send us as well so they can give us the best possible race. For example instead of only going to the Southern Approach buoy we'll give the RC the choice of the Southern Approach, the Western Approach or Northern Approach buoys on the same day. Lightship, Farallones, HMB and DB will not change.
Even though US Sailing is getting closer on a national simplified gear list we are going to stick with the NCORC list for at least 2014. There may be some very minor wording changes to the NCORC list but there should be no new requirements other than those already scheduled to take effect in 2014.
One of the new items for 2014 is that your fixed radio has to be properly configured for DSC. If your radio is less than a decade old it probably already has DSC, but it needs a GPS input to know where you are and you need to get a MMSI # to identify yourself. Both of these are relatively simple. The hard part is for all of us to learn how to use the DSC functions in our radios. Your handheld needs to be DSC also so for most of us that means a new unit. Start your Christmas list now.
OK, that's a starter list for 2014. Now we need you to add to it.
If you want to comment but not do it publicly you can send me a private message or if you don't do forums simply email me at andy.newell@sbcglobal.net.
A look back at 2013
We finally had an actual skippers meeting in 2013 and it was well attended, we'll have one in 2014 as well.
Jibeset became our tool of choice for collecting boat and crew information. Most of the regulars figured out how to deal with it but a few new comers struggled. Ray Irvine (the guy behind Jibeset) made several changes to make managing crew information easier for repeat racers.
We clearly got lucky on the weather. We avoided the extremes of too much wind and generally to little wind, although some of us did not have enough patience or time on a Sunday returning from Drakes Bay to let the wind finally fill in. Other than DB Sunday, most of the boats finished most of the races.
I think the new simplified gear list was a plus. It made it easier for new boats to comply and boats that already did OYRA saw only a few changes.
Gear inspections were new for 2013 and for the most part things went smoothly and most boats passed. We have some work to do to make sure boats don't get inspected multiple times, and that more boats get the opportunity to pass an inspection.
We started earlier working with Half Moon Bay on the post race festivities. There was no wedding this year and I think the party was a good one. According to some dinner was 'just OK' so we'll work on having more options for next year.
The Americas Cup chased us off our usual start/finish line and we had to endure the painful starts and finishes at Corinthian YC. It sounds like we may have the problem again in a few years, but for other than Drakes Bay most of the starts will move back to the city front for the foreseeable future.
Drakes Bay a little later in the year gave us a good race and a peaceful anchorage, at least in terms of the conditions. I think the flare shoot was a great success and plan to schedule one for next year.
That's what I've got for 2013. Please let us know what you saw as successes or failures so we can plan 2014 accordingly. We had many boats sign up but not do very many races. I realize there are lots of reasons for that, but if there is something we can do to help fix it please speak up.
A look forward to 2014
I think 2014 will be similar to 2013 in terms of planning. The schedule is taking shape and we have roughly a race a month starting in mid April and ending the first week in October. The official schedule will be out in November once all the other pieces are in place.
Ray from Jibeset is continuing to work on streamlining the crew list process for repeat racers.
One complaint from 2013 turned into a suggestion. It was said that the Southern Cross race was a parade with just a reach to reach course. We are going to try something different in 2014 on the courses. In the past have given the RC flexibility on course length so they can give us a race we can finish based on conditions. Now for some races we will give them flexibility on where they send us as well so they can give us the best possible race. For example instead of only going to the Southern Approach buoy we'll give the RC the choice of the Southern Approach, the Western Approach or Northern Approach buoys on the same day. Lightship, Farallones, HMB and DB will not change.
Even though US Sailing is getting closer on a national simplified gear list we are going to stick with the NCORC list for at least 2014. There may be some very minor wording changes to the NCORC list but there should be no new requirements other than those already scheduled to take effect in 2014.
One of the new items for 2014 is that your fixed radio has to be properly configured for DSC. If your radio is less than a decade old it probably already has DSC, but it needs a GPS input to know where you are and you need to get a MMSI # to identify yourself. Both of these are relatively simple. The hard part is for all of us to learn how to use the DSC functions in our radios. Your handheld needs to be DSC also so for most of us that means a new unit. Start your Christmas list now.
OK, that's a starter list for 2014. Now we need you to add to it.
If you want to comment but not do it publicly you can send me a private message or if you don't do forums simply email me at andy.newell@sbcglobal.net.
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