When I used to do loads of regattas many years ago it was always a strong rule that a race committee would never cancel a race because of bad weather as long as they could actually get out to start it. The logic behind this was always said as it is clearly stated that it is the skippers responsibility to decide if the conditions are safe and to ensure he/the crew/boat are adequate to the weather. Should a race committee make a weather based decision it was thought that this would set a precedent and people then might start basing their decisions on the race committee's decisions (e.g. if the race committee says its ok then I'm going ...).
I remember one Cork Week (Ireland) the offshore race weather was horrendous and the race officer made it very clear at the briefing that they were not going to be daft enough to go out to start it and were using a shore based start line - so at least they would be safe. I decided not to enter that race as the 7 crew had not sailed together before and that represented too much risk (particularly for a 24hr plus race). 10 mins after the start 1st boat back with a broken boom, then another with a crew member with a broken arm, etc. Race officer made it clear that they were not making any decisions about the suitability of the weather and reminded the skippers that it was their responsibility to decide whether or not to start.
I did another dingy national championship where only half the fleet went out of of those 40 boats 37 were towed back in and 3 boats finished - again race officer made it very clear to everybody before the race (in the briefing) that he was not making safety decisions and it was the skippers responsibility.
I was thus surprised a couple of weeks ago when a race I was due to compete in was cancelled by the race committee the day before as a F6 was forecast. No justifications like "we cannot provide adequate safety cover" or other reasons - just that the weather was too windy.
Have things changed now and do race committees now make safety decisions. I see the rules etc. still make it the skippers responsibility but do race officers tend to also make decisions (or cover their arses). Do people think that dilutes the responsibility on the skipper who might then think "race officer thinks it's ok so ..."
(Sorry for going on with such a long post).
Ian
(If this should be posted elsewhere, admins please feel free to move it somewhere appropriate and remove this line)
I remember one Cork Week (Ireland) the offshore race weather was horrendous and the race officer made it very clear at the briefing that they were not going to be daft enough to go out to start it and were using a shore based start line - so at least they would be safe. I decided not to enter that race as the 7 crew had not sailed together before and that represented too much risk (particularly for a 24hr plus race). 10 mins after the start 1st boat back with a broken boom, then another with a crew member with a broken arm, etc. Race officer made it clear that they were not making any decisions about the suitability of the weather and reminded the skippers that it was their responsibility to decide whether or not to start.
I did another dingy national championship where only half the fleet went out of of those 40 boats 37 were towed back in and 3 boats finished - again race officer made it very clear to everybody before the race (in the briefing) that he was not making safety decisions and it was the skippers responsibility.
I was thus surprised a couple of weeks ago when a race I was due to compete in was cancelled by the race committee the day before as a F6 was forecast. No justifications like "we cannot provide adequate safety cover" or other reasons - just that the weather was too windy.
Have things changed now and do race committees now make safety decisions. I see the rules etc. still make it the skippers responsibility but do race officers tend to also make decisions (or cover their arses). Do people think that dilutes the responsibility on the skipper who might then think "race officer thinks it's ok so ..."
(Sorry for going on with such a long post).
Ian
(If this should be posted elsewhere, admins please feel free to move it somewhere appropriate and remove this line)