Nov 2012 Issue - the Aberdeen Boat Club

Cruiser Racing
ABC Holds
Pursuit Race
A
pursuit race is conducted by
giving all boats their own start
times related to their handicap,
so that – theoretically – all boats will
finish at the same time. They won’t,
of course, so the order of the boats’
finishing gives the results directly, as it
does for one-design boat races.
Calculating the start times is an
exercise in the inexact science of
converting time-on-time basis handicaps to
time-on-distance. This requires inputs on
current handicap (for these races we use
the latest HKPN), course length and wind
conditions (to give an estimation of how
close to hull speed can be achieved) and a
typical hull speed for a rated boat.
For those not so familiar with the
abbreviation of HKPN, it is the Hong Kong
Performance Number – a performancebased
handicap administered by the Hong
Kong Sailing Federation (HKSF). You can
learn more via the HKSF website, under
“Cruiser Sailing”.
Perfect Weather for Course 15
For this ABC Pursuit Race on Sunday
the 7th of October, the calculation
was commenced after Friday’s
consultation of the weather forecast
and consequent choice of course.
The weather forecast was perfect for
Course 15, to Shek O Rock, a nominal
15.5 nm course, adding a little extra
allowance for the tacking legs, etc.
The conditions were true to predictions
with a Force 4-5 easterly wind at the start,
with some minor reefing required by some.
The first leg was a tight beat on port
all the way to Castle Rock. First starter
The Farr Side was passed before Bluff
by HanaFe steaming through like a
pocket battleship. Starboard tack past
Beaufort across to Hok Tsui, leaving
Cape d’Aguilar to port, then a close
reach on starboard tack to Shek O Rock.
Another close reach back to d’Aguilar
when Redeye, helmed by the intrepid
Paul Leese, also passed The Farr Side in
his pursuit of HanaFe. It appeared that
Zephyr started a bit late and was unable
to catch the others.
The first three boats all raised
asymmetricals after Cape d’Aguilar on the
downwind leg to Chesterman buoy despite
crew levels of only two, three and five! On
that return leg, the wind backed from E to
NE, ensuring that no boat was able to carry
a kite to the Deep Water Bay finish. The
wind change caught out Redeye who had
gone too far south and was unable to close
the deficit on HanaFe, losing by a solitary
minute after nearly three hours.
Pursuit Race Results
1 st HanaFe
2 nd Redeye
3 rd The Farr Side
4 th Zephyr
P.11