Download Waypoints
Download the waypoints for 148 of the Solent's Principal Geographical Points, Navigation Buoys and Racing Marks.
http://www.cowes.co.uk/
Navigation software
Campbell Field Marine has generated a complete database for Expedition Navigation Software containing the updated 2006 racing marks and names.
To download the Marks list for importing directly in to Expedition, please go to
http://www.campbell-field.com/
Check the competition's handicap
Keep tabs on whether you're ahead or behind your main competition with our handy cross checker...
Download the first pdf from here
Download the second pdf from here
Those trusty Race Officers on the Platform have seen many years' worth of racing. Jonty Sherwill asks their advice
John Grandy, Rear Commodore Yachting and Principal Race Officer for the Royal Yacht Squadron, is in charge from
Tuesday to Thursday. A former Daring Class sailor, he has many years experience as a race officer on the Castle platform.
"My advice to competitors is: 'anticipation, anticipation, anticipation' - and have fun! We work very hard to set good courses in all conditions and the progress of each class is monitored as far as possible by a dozen RIBs.
"There are five or six fully manned committee boats ready on standby to head out and shorten course where necessary, so competitors must be ready for this, either by listening on the appropriate frequency or keeping a good look-out for shorten course committee vessels on station at marks."
2005 sees the introduction of a computer screen system to replace the tried and tested 'board and string' method of setting courses, but the unique local knowledge of Ian Lallow as course overseer is definitely staying. "I have been doing this for over five years," he says, "but it's not right to have one course setter dictating things. Different clubs are running the racing each day and people have different ideas, and that's good."
Take extra care at the start. Monitoring the start sequence is a team of observers on the Platform including a line officer with binoculars and voice recorder, plus a similar set-up on the outer distance committee boat.
With a fixed video on the line, a roving video on the Squadron roof, and a mid-line RIB, there is no hiding place.
John Dudley, a Dragon sailor, has been a start line spotter in previous years, but this year his attention is turned to being Chief Race Officer on the White Group finish line. "With lots of boats finishing together it's important that your sail numbers are clear for us to read." It's worth noting that the Sailing Instructions require each competitor to log their own finish time and the boat ahead and behind.
Also on the finish boat team is Mike Casson, a member of Gurnard Sailing Club and part of the Cowes Town Regatta team of local clubs. Since 1987 Mike has been a recorder on the White Group finish with a reputation for perfect accuracy. He says: "It's really important that boats clear the line after finishing, particularly in light airs, otherwise they may get two finish times. Black Group boats sometimes get penalised for passing through the White Group finish line but now there is a separation mark to help prevent this."
Committee Boat starts have been a welcome development in the Black Group, providing a change of scene for a couple of days and shortening the main start line starting sequence. Late risers can easily be caught out by how far they have to motor to reach the start line.
Willie Sanderson from the Royal Corinthian YC is the CRO on the Black Group Committee Vessel: "Competitors should note that we are on a different VHF channel from the Squadron and we will normally announce our position at 0900. This could be as far as Browndown to the east or Champagne Mumm to the west and we may be uptide, so allow enough time to get there."
"More inflatable moveable marks may be used in 2005, and this is to make course setting more flexible."
Get out of jail
How to hold your nerve in the protest room. Jonty Sherwill on penalties and persuasion
There are few busier regattas in the world so 'eyes out' is vital right from the start. Careless infringements may result in you having to take an alternative penalty, so reading the Sailing Instructions and knowing what to do is vital. The SIs specify time penalties, so doing turns will not count or impress your adversary.
If you are the protestor, a clear call of 'Protest' and an immediate red flag flying is imperative. You do not have to lodge the protest and remember that it could go either way under the tutored eyes of the protest committee. Sonia Mayes, an international judge and veteran of 15 Cowes Weeks, says that year after year she hears the same stories in the Regatta Centre: "Of 116 boat v boat protests last year 40 were upheld, 33 dismissed and 123 penalties were taken. My advice to competitors is to accept the one per cent time penalty immediately after an incident so you can enjoy your evening."
Unless you take a penalty or retire from the race, a visit to the protest room may become unavoidable. This can be a daunting experience for first-timers so preparation is vital. Writing down sail numbers at the time of the incident and remembering what tack you were on are fundamentals. On getting ashore make immediate contact with crews of other boats which can be witnesses.
Talk the incident through with your crew to establish a clear sequence of events and write it all down; if you are the protestor this will help you fill out the protest form. The rules are designed to keep boats apart, not to create conflict in the protest room, so the checklist (below) may help you hang on to that hard-fought result.
Hold your nerve in the protest room
- 1 Learn the Rules of Racing; this makes sailing safer and more fun for everyone.
- 2 Make firm decisions at the time of any incident to take a penalty or protest if there was an infringement - fly the appropriate flag immediately.
3 In all cases write down the sail numbers and boat names of those around you at any incident.
4 There is no obligation to fill out a protest form after flying a red flag - but another boat may protest you if they think there was contact and no one has taken a penalty.
5 If you are protested, find out when the protest hearing will be heard - they will not wait for you and without your evidence you are very likely to lose.
6 If you are the protestor, write out a clear and honest account of the sequence of events on the Protest Form - the protest committee will decide which rules apply if you are not sure.
7 Before the protest starts both parties will be given an opportunity to take an increased penalty to
avoid possible disqualification - have your answer ready.
8 Stay calm and friendly - protest committees take a dim view of raised voices and gamesmanship.
9 Only involve witnesses who really understand what happened and will support your case.
10 Shake hands after the decision - you may meet each other later in the beer tent, and probably on the water tomorrow.
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