"Bart" wrote in message
oups.com...

Maxprop wrote:

Isn't it contingent upon the race committee to cancel a race when such
conditions are present? I've never raced Solings, but Snipes, Thistles,
Lightnings, Ensigns, Lasers, and MC Scows all have bylaws which give race
committees the option of canceling if conditions exist which could
endanger
crew or severely damage equipment. I believe sinking qualifies as
severely-damaged equipment.

I realize people travel from all over the world to such events, but I'd
tend
to believe life and limb are more important than inconveniencing a group
of
sailors who've traveled long distances.

Max

I think it might be a wise move to install reefing gear on a racing
boat, in classes that don't normally have them, such that they can
maitnain control. I wonder if such equipment is prohibited by class
rules.

Frankly I've never seen reefing gear on a racing dinghy. I can't really say
if it is prohibited, but I suspect it wouldn't be well-accepted among
racers. Sailing a Snipe, for example, in high wind is relative easy. One
just eases the main sufficiently to carry a monstrous luff back to the
battens. "Sailing on the battens" is common in winds over 12kts. in such
small class boats, and it doesn't slow the boat a bit. Rather it keeps the
boat on its feet. Downwind is another matter. It takes an agile
skipper/crew to be able to compensate for gusts which tend to drive the
main, mastfirst, into the water. Finn sailors get very good at such
maneuvers.

Max