Cowes 2011 update

[Tony Davis]

Originally Posted by TonyToll

Now you are talking, as we won't be racing past North head we could remove our helmets and use the run up the Solent to cool down!

Exactly!!!!

[Ciao]

Richard & Julie (our safety team for Cowes), have been looking after 1100 Yachts this last 7 days for Cowes Week.

They had to work very late Friday night, due to another yachting incident, in the mean time they have put the safety plan in place to present to the RYA on Monday to ensure the finish as last year.

[Safety]

Originally Posted by robox

I sent an e-mail yesterday to the Chief exec expressing my displeasure at this decision and recieved a reply from John Puddifoot.I suggest that everyone does the same, it may not change anything but at least it will give them a gauge of the level of anger at their decision.
By the way the gist of the response was that the organisers failed to show compliance with the RYA safety requirements.

Rob C
Supporter/Spectator/Photographer of powerboating

You can go back to 2005 and the Trafalgar 200 International Fleet Review.
Parts of the Solent and Spithead were closed to all traffic, supervised by a fleet of volunteer (Ok, they did get a few quid for fuel and a couple of jackets) Marshall Boats. It gave such a feeling of complete control that certain Harbourmasters took to demanding Trafalgar Fleet Review type Marshalling.
The RYA administrative staff have sided with the Harbourmasters concerned, instead of fighting for a common sense approach.

ex - Safety

[Catweazle]

I will send Benny round he will sort them out.
Have to agree with Thunderbolt time these quangos went .

[Navvi]

We are entering a race called Cowes Torquay Cowes.....there is an error in description here!!

My family and friends are visiting Cowes in order to watch, and bring money into the area, what is the point when there is nothing to see? Do they now need to cancel all arrangements in order to re-organise and watch from Hurst Castle? As it is now obviously the Hurst Castle, Torquay, Hurst Castle Race? Are the trophies being altered to reflect this new race?

Sorry, but I am wishing, and was expecting to race to Cowes!!

Surely a powerboat governing body can take over to reflect what the sport wants, and deserves.

[SO Queen]

It is not the Cowes Harbour Master stopping us from racing outside of Cowes so do not blame them.

[Carl]

so who is ?

[Ben]

Just a guess, ABP/Southampton Harbour Master and QHM Portsmouth?

[Top Banana]

Sorry to see the mixup going on over there.

To throw some cold water on the tempers, let me intorduce a new subject..........Is anyone planning on coming over here for the Don Aronow Memorial Around Long Island Race on Sept 24?

I believe we will have the winner back to defend his title and it certainly has generated a bit of interest with the poker run crowds.....They now believe that one does not need an all out special built race boat to have a great time in this event.

271 miles of pure bliss. Sept 24 is one of the best times of year for boating over here (Hurricane season is almost over)

If we can help in any way, please let us know. HORBA has an alliance with Peters & May re the sdhipping of the boats over that will translate to some pretty good rates for you guys.

Anyone who ships their boat over and wants to stay on for Key West race week in November, we have a secure location in Florida for storing the boats and rigs between events. Peters & May said they will ship the boats back to Europe out of Jacksonville, Fla.

[Ciao]

Originally Posted by Top Banana

Sorry to see the mixup going on over there.

Charlie, there are Race Course Issues this year for Cowes. The Organising team are working hard to resolve these with the RYA.

Now, after spending good money to fly over to NY to watch your "Event" last year and only to find 3 boats entered, any chance you can advertise away from this thread?

[Top Banana]

Originally Posted by Ciao

Charlie, there are Race Course Issues this year for Cowes. The Organising team are working hard to resolve these with the RYA.

Now, after spending good money to fly over to NY to watch your "Event" last year and only to find 3 boats entered, any chance you can advertise away from this thread?

No problem, sorry for the intrusion!!!

[Tony Davis]

Originally Posted by Ciao

Richard & Julie (our safety team for Cowes), have been looking after 1100 Yachts this last 7 days for Cowes Week.

They had to work very late Friday night, due to another yachting incident, in the mean time they have put the safety plan in place to present to the RYA on Monday to ensure the finish as last year.

John, Can you please explain why you believed you (as organiser) could get a Cowes start/finish when you presumable knew of the MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Bureau) ruling of "NO more Powerboat Racing in the Solent" which I'm told has been in place for a few years now, and why you believed the RYA would ever allow this to happen and not vigorously uphold that ruling.

If you were not aware of this or advised of it by the Power Boat Manager, did the OOD and or the Chief Safety Officer for Powerboating in the UK know about it or were you all in the dark?

I really do feel that some answers are needed to find out why ALL have been mislead and to ensure this never happens again and Offshore Power Boat Racing is not finished FOREVER!!!!!

[Carl]

good luck getting an answer,seems to me anyone involved with ctc is swarn to secretcey

[Ciao]

Originally Posted by Tony Davis

John, Can you please explain why you believed you (as organiser) could get a Cowes start/finish when you presumable knew of the MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Bureau) ruling of "NO more Powerboat Racing in the Solent" which I'm told has been in place for a few years now, and why you believed the RYA would ever allow this to happen and not vigorously uphold that ruling.

If you were not aware of this or advised of it by the Power Boat Manager, did the OOD and or the Chief Safety Officer for Powerboating in the UK know about it or were you all in the dark?

I really do feel that some answers are needed to find out why ALL have been mislead and to ensure this never happens again and Offshore Power Boat Racing is not finished FOREVER!!!!!

Tony,

I can answer all of the above questions. Can you please give me a while, to collate my thoughts, put them down in writing and reply to you on this thread.

Thanks

J

[Ciao]

1) Can you please explain why you believed you (as organiser) could get a Cowes start/finish when you presumable knew of the MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Bureau) ruling of "NO more Powerboat Racing in the Solent" which I'm told has been in place for a few years now, and why you believed the RYA would ever allow this to happen and not vigorously uphold that ruling.

I was never informed by the RYA that there was a “MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Bureau) ruling of "NO more Powerboat Racing in the Solent". I informed the RYA that the BPRC were looking to put on a Cowes start in January. The organising team then worked towards that goal, including meetings with Cowes Harbour Master etc.

2) If you were not aware of this or advised of it by the Power Boat Manager, did the OOD and or the Chief Safety Officer for Power boating in the UK know about it or were you all in the dark?

As my reply to Q1) we were not advised back in January, and I am not sure the Cowes OOD & Safety Officer would have wasted their valuable time in pursuit of a folly.

3) I really do feel that some answers are needed to find out why ALL have been misled and to ensure this never happens again and Offshore Power Boat Racing is not finished FOREVER!!!!!

I agree, and can only apologise from the Organising Team of the Cowes Event for not giving the spectators, families, friends and competitors the race they rightly deserve.

[Mike Lloyd]

[QUOTE=Tony Davis;207145]John, Can you please explain why you believed you (as organiser) could get a Cowes start/finish when you presumable knew of the MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Bureau) ruling of "NO more Powerboat Racing in the Solent" which I'm told has been in place for a few years now, and why you believed the RYA would ever allow this to happen and not vigorously uphold that ruling.
QUOTE]

That's a new one on me as well. Neither the Southampton Harbour Master nor the Cowes Harbour Master has ever mentioned that there was such a MAIB ruling. Where did you hear about that from Tony? And why would the MAIB say that about powerboat racing, why doesn't it apply to yacht racing with the new tri hulls tacking up and down the solent at around 40knots and they can't stop quickly as powerboats can.

And where does the Solent start and finish? The CTC race has, since 2009, been allowed to start at Gurnard and end at Gurnard. Also the P1 boats raced in the Solent in 2007 over a tight course!

Something isn't right here!
ML.
.

[Scand]

When did MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Bureau) rule: "No more Powerboat Racing in the Solent"? Did anyone else know about this? I cant find any details about the ban on their website: www.maib.gov.uk

I thought their job was to investigate accidents and advice on the probable cause? Do they the power to ban the sport from a certain area? Normally they investigate an accident and then advice to what to cause was, and give recommendations how to prevent accidents in the future.

[Tony Davis]

Originally Posted by Scand

When did MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Bureau) rule: "No more Powerboat Racing in the Solent"? Did anyone else know about this? I cant find any details about the ban on their website: www.maib.gov.uk

I thought their job was to investigate accidents and advice on the probable cause? Do they the power to ban the sport from a certain area? Normally they investigate an accident and then advice to what to cause was, and give recommendations how to prevent accidents in the future.

Originally Posted by Tony Davis

J which I'm told has been in place for a few years now,

I was only repeating what I'd been told, I wasn't actually saying it was fact, which is why I was asking the question(s).

I also thought the MAIB had no teeth, and as you say investigate accidents and report on them, so perhaps "no powerboat racing in the Solent" is one of their recommendations of how to prevent accidents in the future!! lol

[Ciao]

Originally Posted by Tony Davis

I was only repeating what I'd been told,

Done Well.

[Ciao]

These Racing Instructions have today been approved by the Royal Yachting Association. However, for the benefit of our competitors and spectators, we are still working with the RYA regarding the possibility of bringing the finish line closer to Cowes.

http://cowes2011.co.uk/forms/cowes2011.pdf