I have no firsthand experience with “virtual marks” in my racing history. But one of the best features of sailboat racing is mark roundings, especially when competition is close and there are tactical decisions that would allow one boat to gain places over another. How in the world are you going to determine a 3 boat length circle around a “virtual mark”? Why would anyone need room at the mark if there was no actual mark to either hit or avoid?
And if there’s such a reliance on the accuracy of GPS for mark roundings, why not take it a step further and draw a virtual line a the start that can be varied as the wind shifts? Doesn’t everyone have America’s Cup grade electronic telemetry on their 40 year old C&Cs? Edd, if the drop marks you discuss are so easy to move or get stolen to often, why not simply use government marks as race marks and set the start line accordingly? Surely the RC can manage to drop a single mark to set the angle of a start line… Chuck Gilchrest S/V Half Magic 1983 35 Landfall Padanaram, MA From: CnC-List <cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com> On Behalf Of Matt Wolford via CnC-List Sent: Friday, March 6, 2020 9:17 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: wolf...@erie.net Subject: Re: Stus-List Racing Marks Question -- Not C&C Related I recall being in a race a number of years ago in which the mark was missing. The owner of the lead boat claimed the boat did a “navigational rounding” – which it may have done – but everyone was so skeptical that the race was abandoned. As long as you have a fleet of Corinthian sailors and everyone agrees ahead of time, I suppose you can do whatever the fleet decides. That said, don’t be surprised if you get some disgruntlement in practice. From: CnC-List <cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com <mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com> > On Behalf Of Edd Schillay via CnC-List Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2020 5:13 PM To: Edd Schillay via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com <mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > Cc: Edd Schillay <e...@schillay.com <mailto:e...@schillay.com> > Subject: Stus-List Racing Marks Question -- Not C&C Related Listers, As you all know, this past summer, I relocated my home, office and the Enterprise from City Island to the Suncoast of Florida — and I’m getting involved in the race management over here, which has been terribly lazy. One of the big issues we face is lack of resources. Marks are dropped in the water a day or two in advance of a regatta and then are either cut loose, vandalized or have broken free by the time a race is actually run. And there is no chase boat usually available to either drop a new mark or put up an M flag to act as one. Someone brought up the idea of a virtual mark in case a mark is missing, which is a new concept to me. I was thinking of language in the SIs that say something along the lines of “If a mark is missing or has moved more than 300 feet from its stated latitude/longitude position, and the race committee is unable to replace it, then the mark shall be the stated latitude/longitude position.” Basically, the thought is, especially since this happens now and again, not to have to cancel a regatta because a mark has disappeared. Has anyone ever used “virtual marks”? Does anyone object to the practice? If so, why? Appreciate anyone’s input. Even Risch’s. All the best, Edd Edd M. Schillay Captain of the Starship Enterprise C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B Venice Yacht Club | Venice Island, FL <http://enterpriseb.blogspot.com/> Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log
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