This contest will be twice round a triangular course. Crew will row the upwind leg before sailing the other two side of the triangle. The event tests the ability of the crews to transfer efficiently from oar to sail and vice versa. C
ourse
Three large buoys will mark the triangular course. Boats round the marks as shown in the diagram and cross the finish line from the direction of the last mark (diagram shows a starboard course). A green flag will signify a starboard course (all marks to be left to starboard) or a red flag will signify a port course (all marks to be left to port).
Special Rules
Masts may remain stepped on any leg.
The mizzen sail may be set at any time.
Legs 1 and 4 of the race must be rowed and all others
must be sailed.
Sails and oars may only be used together when changing from sails to oars or oars to sails within two boat lengths of the mark.
Sailing Rules, Rowing Rules and Atlantic Challenge rules will apply
Start
The Start will be a ‘One Minute Start’ as described on page 10.
A starting lane will be allotted to each gig. (Sequence on the start line will be drawn by lot)
Scoring
Two heats will be run and they will be non-scoring. The first three boats in each heat will progress to the final. A run-off will take place between the rest, prior to the final, to decide places 7-12. The final will determine positions 1-6.
Penalties
1 minute for touching a turning mark.
3 minutes for failure to observe racing rules and AC sailing rules
No score points if buoys are not rounded.
A boat handling contest around buoys without the use of a rudder.
Course
A slalom course will be set out in two lanes. The green buoys shall be left to starboard and the red buoys to port.
T
wo yellow buoys are placed opposite to the starting line, where they, together with the last buoy, indicate the turning gate. The gigs must row through the gate, then reverse and back up blow the horn hanging from a buoy. All buoys must be rounded correctly.
Start
The start will be a ‘One Minute Start’ as described on page 10.
Special Rules
Boats that start early must return to the pre-
start side of the starting line to restart.
The rudder must be removed for this event
and the gigs steered under rowing oars alone.
National flags must be flown.
No steering oar is permitted.
Scoring
This is a timed event. Teams will be ranked and points awarded by position.
Penalties
1 minute for starting early by less than 10 seconds
Restart if the start line is crossed early by more than 10 seconds.
1 minute for each marker buoy touched or if the oars pass over a marker buoy.
1 minute penalty for a bell not rung.
1 minute penalty for each buoy missed.
1 minute penalty for not passing clear through the gate in the turning area.
Note: For this event it is not mandatory to carry masts and sails in the gig.
This is a speed race around a course as illustrated. The windward leg will test the crews’ windward sailing and tacking ability.
C ourse
Three large buoys will mark the triangular course. The course will include two reaching legs and a windward leg. The race will be twice around the course. Boats round the marks as shown in the diagram (diagram shows a starboard course). A green flag will signify a starboard course (all marks to be left to starboard) or a red flag will signify a port course (all marks to be left to port).
Special Rules
Before the 5 minute signal oars may be used to maneuver the gig.
Sailing Rules and Atlantic Challenge rules will apply.
The use of a tacking oar is permitted.
Start
The start will be a 10-minute timed start as described on page 10.
Scoring
Two heats will be run and they will be non-scoring. The first three boats in each heat will progress to the final. A run-off will take place prior to the final to decide places 7-12. The final will determine positions 1-6.
Penalties
1 minute for starting early by less than 10 seconds.
3 minutes for starting early by more than 10 seconds.
1 minute for touching a turning mark.
3 minutes for failure to observe racing rules and AC rules.
Disqualification if a buoy is not rounded.
Disqualification for ‘at fault’ boat involved in a collision; penalties, if any, at the discretion of the Events Committee, for the ‘stand on’ boat.
This event involves transferring an important passenger from the pier to a vessel, re-enacting one of the historic functions of the gigs. The event is judged on style and efficiency.
Course
When signaled, the gigs shall pass individually through the starting gate and make for the public landing to receive a passenger. Once the passenger has embarked, the gig will pass between the bulkhead and a buoy for a “review” turn. The gig will then row to a vessel, where the passenger will disembark. The gig will then depart the vessel without the passenger, turn about and exit the course.
Special Rules
The gigs will be scored for their performance at all times between the start and the ‘marking complete’ area.
Sails and spars may be left ashore.
There will be two gigs on the marking course at any one time.
This is a contest of skill, and crews will be judged on their rowing technique and style, gig-maneuvering and handling skills, coxswain/crew interaction and discipline, and passenger treatment. Although innovation and national flavour are encouraged in this event, some standard appropriate techniques are suggested in this booklet.
Two jurors will judge the event from each of the stations – the pickup/disembark station and the ship station. One juror will be responsible for judging the timings.
Life jackets need not be worn but one for each crew member, plus a spare, must be carried in the boat.
Start
The start will be from a starting gate under the instruction of the Event Jurors.
Scoring
Crews will be evaluated under the following headings:
Crew Attire (1 point)
Similar Attire 1 point
No attempt at similar attire 0 points
Passenger Treatment (1 point)
Courtesy shown 1 point
No attempt to be courteous 0 points
Coxswains Instructions (4 points)
Delivered in a clear and distinct voice 1 point
Authority evident in instructions 1 point
Clear and explicit orders 2 points.
Docking Technique (6 points)
Clean, controlled approach 2 points
Appropriate use of boathook/line/fender 2 points
Clean, controlled departure 2 points
Rowing Technique (6 points)
Rowing in unison 2 points
Speed (not too slow, not too fast, efficient delivery)
2 points
Failure to complete the course within the allotted time will result in no award of 4 points and a deduction of one point per minute over the time thereafter.
Crewmembers will demonstrate their ropework abilities by knowing the function and method of tying a selection of knots, whippings and splices.
The Challenge
The 2004 Ropework will be in two parts, the first will be in the form of ‘continuous test’ of the knots and hitches as described in the document ‘Ropework 2004’. The second part will be land-based test of whippings, splices and seizings and will take place immediately after another Event.
The continuous test will take place when the crews are in the gigs following an event, at any time during the Contest. Crewmembers will be asked, at random, to tie the most appropriate knot or hitch for a particular purpose. Marks will be awarded on the choice of the most appropriate knot, its execution, and the speed with it is executed.
Scoring
The land-based test will be on 2 splices, 2 whippings and 1 seizing.
6 points maximum awarded for correct execution.
2 points for neatness
2 points for completion within the allotted time.
The continuous test of five knots or hitches will be scored as follows:-
2 points for correct choice of knot.
4 points for correct execution within the maximum allowed time of 40 seconds.
2 points for neatness.
2 points for correct execution within 15 seconds.
Each team will be invited to execute the same number of knots, etc. and any one team member (crew of thirteen) will only have to tie one knot or do one piece of rope work
Knots
Reef knot Reef knot slippery hitched (half bow)
Figure of eight Bowline
Halyard slip hitch clove hitch
Round turn and two half hitches sack knot
Half hitch Anchor hitch with seizing
Sheet bend Double sheet bend
Rolling hitch Spar hitch
The Splices
Short splice
Eye splice
Whippings
Sailmaker’s whipping
Sailmaker’s whipping made with palm and needle.
Seizing
Racking Seizing
The gigs will navigate a course while rowing. Instructions will test knowledge of the use of the magnetic compass, including the determination of compass error, and variation, steering a compass course, speed, time and distance calculations, plotting, latitude and longitude, depths and tides; measurement and calculation of depth and determination and application of tidal information.
All the above are described in the resource manual.
Equipment
Contestants should provide the following items of their own:-
(a) Time piece with second hand or equivalent.
(b) Soft pencil.
(c) Eraser.
(d) Dividers.
(e) Calculator (non programmable) This is optional but almost essential in
order to save time and tears on arithmetic!
(f) Hand bearing compass.
(g) Note pad.
(h) Parallel rule or plotter.
(i) A lead line for measuring the depth of water to the nearest 0.1 m. It is suggested that marks at two or three metre intervals will be adequate so long as it is possible to estimate the readings with reasonable accuracy. The lead line should be not less than 10 metres. Gigs may prefer to make them longer than this for subsequent use ‘‘at home’’
Notes
One task that will be set concerns the calculation of the depth of water at the time that the depth is measured, rather than at Low Tide as mentioned in the resource Manual. This involves interpolating time and height using the tide tables.
Speed Table for Navigation Event
The exercise of measuring the time taken for a floating object to travel from the bow of the gig to the stern may be used to determine the gig’s speed. This table applies to any vessel of 38 feet in length.
Time in Seconds Speed in Knots
2 11.4
3 7.8
4 5.7
5 4.6
6 3.8
7 3.3
8 2.8
9 2.5
10 2.3
11 2.0
12 1.9
15 1.5
20 1.1
Intermediate speeds may be determined by interpolation.
S peed Graph
A graph of Speed/Time will be provided so that speed may be read directly off the graph.
Practical Challenge
A test of problem solving, teamwork and leadership. The principle of this event is to test initiative and the actual challenge will not be disclosed until the start of the event.
This event features pairs of boats competing together and emphasizes cooperation between two gigs.
Course
The pairing of boats will be based on seeding from the rowing heats. Boat A will tow boat B under oars to windward from the starting line until both gigs have crossed the windward line between two buoys. After both boats have crossed the line, the towline will be released and the boats turned about (oars are permitted). The towline is now to be reconnected, with boat B now towing boat A under sail to a downwind pair of buoys. Upon crossing the line between the buoys the boats will turn (oars again permitted), leaving the towline connected, boat B changes from sail to oar and tows boat A upwind to the upwind buoys. Upon crossing the line to windward between the two buoys, the boats will release the towline and turn about (oars are permitted). The towline is now to be reconnected, with boat A towing boat B under sail to the downwind pair of buoys which now becomes the finishing line. The finish will be recorded when the lead boat (sailing) crosses the finish line. The towline may not be slacked as the lead boat approaches the finish line.
In other words:
Boats are paired, A and B
Leg 1 Rowing upwind: A tows B.
Leg 2 Sailing downwind: B tows A.
Leg 3 Rowing upwind: B tows A.
Leg 4 Sailing downwind: A tows B.
Start
The start will be a ‘One Minute Start’. Both gigs in each pair will line up with their bows on the starting line and all oars out. The towline may not yet be connected between the boats. The one-minute signal will be given when all boats are ready. At the start signal, the towed gig will ship her oars, while the towing gig will row ahead into position to tow. The towline will be connected between the boats, and the tow will begin.
Special Rules
On the upwind leg between the starting line and the upwind line, the towed gig may have no oars out, but must steer. On the downwind leg between the two lines the towed boat must not use oars or sails, but must steer. The towline must not be slacked or disconnected as a pair of boats approaches the finish line.
Penalties
2 minutes if any part of a team’s boat or gear crosses into another team’s lane
Disqualification if, while any part of a team’s boat or gear crosses into another team’s lane, that team’s gear or boat fouls the gear or boat of the team into whose lane they have crossed.
Disqualification while being towed if any crew member stands or uses an items to assist in the speed of the boat.
2 minutes if oars are out on the towed boat between the starting and upwind line, or if oars are out on either boat on the downwind leg between the upwind line and the finish line.
2 minutes if the boats in a pair (or their gear) make physical contact with each other, with the exception of the towline.
1 minute for teams starting early by less than 20 seconds.
Teams starting more than 20 seconds early must return and re-start (oars may be used) or be disqualified.
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