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August 2004

The Newsletter of Spinnaker Club, Ringwood

www.spinnakerclub.co.uk

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Protesting

I would like to start a debate about whether sailors at the Club should protest more often.

Please could I emphasise at the start that my concern is not beginners to sailing. Too often those starting sailing give way when they have right of way. I have been very embarrassed when those starting racing have tacked out of my way when I am on port & they are on starboard.

All those who race at the Club want more competitors on the water andexperienced racers allow for those who are inexperienced and give them greater space and time. The Wednesday evening race is a clear example of the most and least experienced racing together with few if any problems.

No, the question I raised above has more to do with those who ought to know better, those who have raced for some time and know the rules, or at least some of them, but do not apply them to themselves. 

For example, a situation where one sailor has called for water, not been given it and a collision results but neither party takes a penalty. Or where there is a clear port and starboard and no one exonerates themselves.

No one enjoys getting involved in a protest - apart from arguing the rights and wrongs it is time-consuming and normally held at the end of racing when everyone wants to go home.

I merely ask the question because if sailors are allowed to get away with breaking the rules without their competitors complaining, will the level of rule observance at the Club decline still further. As Greg Ansell states at the start of every Optimist Team-Racing Championship, 'sailing is a non-contact and self-policing sport'. If you have broken a rule, you ought to do a penalty without being asked to do so. What is the alternative if this does not happen?

Swanage Regatta 2004

Spinnaker pretty much cleaned up at the annual Swanage Regatta that simultaneously forms part of the Laser Southern Grand Prix series.

The 2-day Swanage Regatta is an enjoyable family event, the highlight being grandstand viewing of Saturday’s fireworks display from the host sailing club.

Laser Standard: Peter May 1, Jon Burns 3, Sam Downing 4; Laser Radial 1: Jo Newall-Smith; Fast Handicap 2: Felix Newall-Smith and James Muir (N12).

Jo Newall-Smith

Time juggler

“It’s tough juggling work and sailing commitments,” admits Spinnaker’s John Greenland.

2004 has brought a raft of success for John as helm or tactician. Recently he was part of the winning British Team in the Rolex Commodores Cup, Cowes, against 11 international teams each of 3 boats.

“It was a great event”, says John. “Steering Jerry Otter’s Exabyte 2 was a perfect opportunity to try and make a name for myself as a top yacht helmsman.

 I’ve been steering a couple of other top boats, including Lymington based Chris Little’s Farr 45 Bounder, however, this was the first time I’ve helmed a big boat in such an important regatta.”

John has been sailing for almost 15 years now, first finding his feet in the Optimist and later the 420. Instead of following the Olympic route John opted to spend his first years out of the youth programme learning the ropes of yacht racing.

“I’ve been racing yachts for about three years now,” John explains. “I’ve recently been selected as part of the Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme which has certainly provided me with support in my development.”

“I’ve been asked to stay with the Exabyte 2 programme for the remainder of the year, which I’m definitely going to do,” says John. “Before any of that starts I’ve got a pretty packed summer. I’m heading to Scotland for the RS200 nationals, and then straight down to Falmouth for the start of a 700nm offshore race to Portugal.”

“I’ve got a couple of days back in the office after the Portugal race before I do the 707 nationals for the Royal Thames Yacht Club.”

John works for accountants Ernst & Young and managed to re-schedule his accounting exams to enable him to continue with his busy sailing schedule.