Oxford vs Cambridge University Sailing Match. July 1 st 3rd. Varsity. Strangford Lough Yacht Club

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1 Oxford vs Cambridge University Sailing Match Varsity 2015 July 1 st 3rd Strangford Lough Yacht Club

2 Welcome to the Bottle Green 2015 Oxford vs Cambridge Varsity Team Sailing Match We would like to thank and acknowledge the support of our sponsors the Commodore, Vice Commodore, Secretary, Sailing Committee, John Hagan and members of Strangford Lough Yacht Club and the members of the Sonata Class at SLYC, who have most generously allowed their boats to be used for the event.

3 Friday 3 rd July Varsity hrs 1100hrs Arrive SLYC and ferry to boats Racing SLYC Programme Programme of events Tuesday 30 th June Arrive and transport to accommodation from airports Wednesday 1 st July 1230hrs Briefing SLYC 1845hrs 1930hrs Transport from SLYC to Stormont Hotel Gala Dinner, Stormont Hotel Chinos and jackets 1400hrs 2000hrs Boat familiarisation Dinner hosted by Chris Eames, Lisburn Dress code casual Thursday 2 nd July 0900hrs 1100hrs 2000hrs Arrive SLYC and ferry to boats Racing SLYC BBQ hosted by Robbie Gilmore, Braddock Dress code casual

4 NOTICE OF RACE Oxford v Cambridge Sailing Match Strangford Lough Yacht Club 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd July 2015 Varsity INTRODUCTION 1.1 The event comprises two separate matches between teams representing Oxford and Cambridge Universities. The open match is for three boat teams of nine people for the Yule-Oldham Challenge Cup. The ladies match is for two boat teams of six ladies for the 75TH Anniversary Oxford and Cambridge Sailing Society Salver. 1.2 The races will be sailed in Sonata boats provided by the members of Strangford Lough Yacht Club. Each boat shall be sailed by three people. 1.3 Except as modified by this notice of race or by the Sailing Instructions, the principles of the match shall be governed by the document entitled "Oxford and Cambridge University Sailing Match" which is appended to this Notice of Race. 2. ORGANISING AUTHORITY 2.1 The Organising Authority is Strangford Lough Yacht Club. 3. RULES 3.1 The event will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing including Appendix D, Team Racing Rules. 3.2 The UK Team Racing Association (UKTRA) Standard Team Racing Sailing Instructions will apply. These change some rules in the RRS; they are available on the UKTRA web site ( and at registration. 3.3 Spinnakers and spinnaker poles shall not be used. 3.4 All races will be umpired. 3.5 In accordance with rule 70.5(a) the right of appeal will be denied. 4. SAFETY - PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES 4.1 Each competitor shall provide a personal flotation device to the minimum standard ISO 12402/5 (CE 50 Newtons) which shall be carried on board and, when flag Y is displayed in accordance with rule 40, it shall be worn at all times when afloat. Flag Y may be repeated ashore. This amends the preamble to Part ELIGIBILITY, FEES AND DEPOSITS 5.1 Each university will be liable for the cost of damage to boats, equipment and property up to a maximum of 1000 per incident. A deposit for this amount will be required from each university and before any team may sail. If the Organising Authority decide to make any deduction from the damage deposit, it may require the university to restore the deposit to its original value before continuing racing. Damage attributed to competitors generally or to an unidentified team will be attributed equally between all teams. A team may apply to the protest committee to determine its responsibility for any damage. 6. REGISTRATION and SCHEDULE 6.1 All competitors shall register on arrival at Strangford Lough Yacht Club by signing the required entry form that includes the acknowledgement of risk at paragraph 8 below. 6.2 The boats will be available for practice from 1400 on Wednesday 1st July. Practice shall be supervised by the umpires.

5 6.3 A briefing will be held in Strangford Lough Yacht Club at 1800 on Wednesday 1st July. 6.4 Race days are Thursday 2 nd July and Friday 3 rd July. 6.5 The warning signal for the first race will be at 1025 on Thursday 2 nd July. 6.6 The intended duration of each race is around 40 minutes. 6.7 Subject to weather conditions, actual and forecast, no further races in a match will be sailed on Thursday after one team has scored three race wins. 7. RACING AREA 7.1 The racing area will be off Trasnagh Island in Strangford Lough 8. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY Rule 4 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states: The responsibility for a boat s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone. Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that: 8.1 They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event; 8.2 They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore; 8.3 They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions; 8.4 Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate; 8.5 The provision of a race management team, patrol boats if any and other officials and volunteers by the event organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities; 8.6 The provision of patrol boat cover if any is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can practically be provided in the circumstances; 8.7 They are responsible for ensuring that their boat is equipped and seaworthy so as to be able to face extremes of weather; that there is a crew sufficient in number, experience and fitness to withstand such weather; and that the safety equipment is properly maintained, stowed and in date and is familiar to the crew. 9. INSURANCE Strangford Lough Yacht Club undertakes as follows: 9.1 To insure and keep insured the Boat(s) for the period of hire against fire and all usual marine and collision risks to include third party risks to such an extent as is required by law and in addition as ISC shall deem appropriate. A copy of the insurance policy is available for inspection if required. The hirer shall pay uninsured losses or damage. END OF NOTICE OF RACE Oxford and Cambridge University Sailing Match 1 Rules 1.1 The match will be contested every year between teams representing the OUYC and the CUCrC for the Yule-Oldham Challenge Cup and the 75 th Anniversary Oxford and Cambridge Sailing Society Salver. 1.2 The match will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing including Appendix D (Team Racing Rules) and this document. In the event of any discrepancy, this document will prevail. 1.3 Any disputes before the event that cannot be resolved between the captains of the two clubs shall be referred to the flag officers of the Oxford and Cambridge Sailing Society. During the event, disputes shall be settled by umpires, protest committee or race committee as appropriate. 1.4 Any alteration to these rules must be approved by the general committees of the OUYC and CUCrC. 2 Organisation 2.1 The responsibility for organising the match will lie with the captains of Oxford and Cambridge on alternate years. 2.2 The organisers shall appoint a venue and dates for the match If possible, the venue should allow the races to be sailed on open water, and should not be the home venue of a member of either team. If possible, no venue should be chosen more than once within three years Normally the match shall be held over two days, sailed between the Monday and Friday of the second week after the end of full term at Oxford, and the third week after the end of full term at Cambridge. There may be provision for a practice day before the match The venue and date should be appointed before the start of the calendar year of the match. 2.3 The organisers shall appoint a race officer and chief umpire.

6 2.4 The notice of race and sailing instructions for the match shall be made available to the captains of both universities at least a week prior to publication. 2.5 If the captain of the non-organising university has any objection to the appointed venue, dates, race officer, chief umpire, NOR or SIs, they should raise it with the organisers as soon as reasonably practicable. 2.6 The expenses for the organisation of the match shall be shared equally between the OUYC and CUCrC. 3 Format 3.1 There shall be two separate competitions: the open series for the Yule- Oldham Challenge Cup and the ladies' series for the 75th Anniversary Oxford and Cambridge Sailing Society Salver. 3.2 Each series shall consist of the best of seven races; the first team to win four races will be the winner. If there are not sufficient races completed for either team to win four, the series will be decided on the completed races. In this case, if both teams have an equal number of wins, the series will be a draw. 3.3 The boats sailed will be keelboats, crewed by three competitors. Spinnakers shall not be used unless agreed by both captains and the race committee. 3.4 The open series will be contested by three-boat team racing. No competitor shall helm in two consecutive races. 3.5 The ladies' series will be contested by two-boat team racing. 4 Teams 4.1 Each university shall field a team for the open series of nine competitors, and a team for the ladies' series of six competitors, all women. No more than 2 competitors may sail in both series. 4.2 A team member must have been a full-time student in statu pupillari at Oxford or Cambridge University during the academic year immediately preceding the match. The respective universities Blues Committees will determine the number of matches a competitor is eligible to compete in. 4.3 A reserve may compete in place of a team member if eligible under the conditions of the preceding rule, providing that either Both captains agree to the substitution, or The race committee deems that there is good and unforeseeable reason why the original team member is unable to compete.

7 The last time the Varsity Match was at SLYC John Gilmore This is the second time that SLYC has hosted the Varsity match. The last time was in 1981 men only, the women s match being held separately in dinghies. Back then we were at the height of the Troubles. The IRA hunger strikes were happening; Bobby Sands had been elected to Westminster in April and died in early May. Two weeks later, five British Army soldiers were killed by an IRA roadside bomb. So coming to Northern Ireland was quite a brave move for those who only knew the province by what they saw in the news. It was great sailing and a real new experience for some of the pondy dinghy sailors. The natural order of the era was maintained, with Cambridge winning 4-1. I sense that this year, the bookies will be quoting much tighter odds. Whatever the result, I hope the current teams have as much fun as we did in The Varsity match is a unique event and Strangford Lough is a very special place for sailing. Enjoy. I think that in those dark times SLYC was especially pleased to welcome visitors. And of course, once they crested the last drumlin and Whiterock bay came into view, the sailors felt a million miles away from those awful events. Though not a member of the club then, I had a strong connection to it and the McDowell family from the Oxford side were members. Looking back, I am struck that while nominally I was responsible for organising the event, in practice I cannot remember doing anything a measure of the club s hospitality as well as my own idleness. We sailed in the River class, three up plus an owner s representative. We started from the club battery and sailed around the club marks; self-policing on the water with the protest room as a last resort, though I don t recall the need. Although dinghy team racing was just as much a contact sport back then as it is today, we were all very conscious of needing to switch off the dodgem mentality when sailing these beautiful old yachts. I don t remember too much about the racing but one moment is frozen in my mind s eye. On a reasonably fresh and choppy day we rounded a mark close astern of an Oxford boat, who slowed to try to make us overlap them, while their team mate closed from behind. Naturally I slowed so that the boat behind would overlap me first. But of course, long-keeled 28 foot yachts don t stop as quickly as a Firefly. I can still see the bow of our boat, rising and falling like a meat cleaver, seemingly over the counter of the boat in front. I got away with it and the owners reps recovered. Not to be recommended don t ever forget the trust and generosity of those who allow their yachts to be used for this event.

8 Strangford Lough tides Peter Kennedy Welcome to Strangford Lough. As you can see from the chart, the Lough is a large inlet with access to the Irish Sea via a narrow channel called the Narrows. The rise and fall in the lough is in the order of 3 metres, so that means a lot of water running in and out each day! The current in the Narrows can reach 6-7 knots at a high springs. The tides are obviously a lot weaker than that further up the lough, and in your race area peak at around 1.5 knots in springs. During the event it is closer to springs than neaps, so expect tides of close to 1.5 knots in the deeper water. As you can see from the chart of the race area there will be some differential in tide across the course as the depth varies, with the deeper water to the east, and you will see choppy, more tidal water particularly on either side of The Rig Pladdy. There is however nothing particularly unusual about the tide in the race area; the tide turns earliest towards the shore and will change direction last in the deeper channel. There is a minor local effect with water coming out of the Dorns in the ebb (that is the channels around the smaller islands between Mahee Island and Rainey Island at the north east of the race area), however that is probably only significant within yards of the Dorns and is unlikely to significantly affect the race area. The race area is obviously enclosed and in that respect is more like sailing on a large lake. The surrounding land is quite low and so irritatingly large and unpredicatable shifts are uncommon, however you can expect many smaller irregularly oscillating shifts caused by the land. So it usually makes for a great race area with a combination of shifts and relatively minor tidal differential across the course making it tactically challenging and varied.

9 Race Area Chart

10 SAILING THE SONATA Steve Goacher Although simple in concept the Sonata rig requires the genoa and mainsail to operate in a complementary fashion when backstay is applied. Genoa Increasing halyard tension flattens the sail overall and drags the flow forward. Luff sag increases the camber in the sail, particularly in the front. As the luff sags off it moves closer to the leech, so increasing the camber depth. The effect on the upper sections of the sail is increased because the sag is a greater proportion of the width of the sail. Therefore by slackening halyard and allowing luff sag, the genoa can be made generally deeper. Tight halyard and less luff sag will flatten the genoa. Genoa sheet lead position is forward for light wind to power up the genoa by rounding up the leech and back for strong wind to flatten the exit and open the upper leech. The most forward sheeting position in light winds is 370mm forward of aft face at coach roof (extension of sheet extrapolated to deckline). Mainsail The mainsail is flattened by mast bend. Mast bend is regulated by backstay and kicker, the latter acting on the lower section. Backstay also controls genoa luff sag. Kicker has no effect on luff sag. Mainsheet tension will bend the mast slightly, but flattening the genoa will firm up the leech and power up the sail. Mainsheet also straightens luff sag. Upwind Sailing Light winds In very light conditions set main traveller well to windward. Allow kicker to remain slack. Release backstay tension to allow genoa to sag and power up. Set genoa halyard tension to allow small horizontal creases. (Angle of attack of genoa is controlled by halyard tension, by releasing too much the entry will flatten and make it very difficult to keep in the groove to windward). The Sonata benefits from sailing free and fast upwind in the light. Set the genoa between 150mm and 250mm off the spreader according to wave size. Set the genoa cars in the forward position (370mm forward of aft face of the coachroof). Set outhaul hard on. As breeze increases, genoa luff sag tends also to increase. As the crew start to come up to windward, it is necessary to control genoa luff sag by mainsheet tension. The main traveller is lowered towards the centre and sheet tension is increased. Boom is held close to centreline. The mainsail is sheeted to give an even stall throughout its height. Leech tell tales should flow partially. As breeze increases more and more mainsheet tension is needed to control genoa luff sag. This will have a tendency to stall the upper main. At this point the backstay tension is gradually increased. This supports the genoa but also opens the upper leech, returning to an even mainsail stall condition. Kicker should not be applied until the boat is well powered up with everyone on the rail. Genoa is sheeted to beween 50-75mm from spreaders. Upwind Sailing Medium Conditions With the crew all up on the windward deck it pays to move genoa cars back one notch. You should apply kicker and ease mainsheet when the weather helm starts to brake the boat. Backstay tension is increased. Genoa halyard tension is increased. Leave small horizontal creases in genoa luff when less than overpowered but pull up for smooth luff above this point. This has the effect of flattening the genoa, particularly the head. The kicker and backstay are used to keep the boat on its feet upwind, leave the traveller in the centre. Avoid sailing with heavy weather helm, either feather up or de power so that helm remains manageable. Upwind Sailing Overpowered Conditions Using firm kicker, centre main traveller and harden backstay in gusts. Upwind Sailing No 2 Genoa The sheet lead position for the No 2 genoa is 1300mm mm in front of back of coachroof. Move one hole aft as breeze increases. Care should be taken not to over sheet the No 2 at the lower end of its range as this will kill boatspeed. With reduced headsail overlap the mainsail traveller can be completely dropped in the gusts. In the lighter end of the wind range centre the traveller and kicker sheet mainsail. Heavy backstay is required to control luff sag. At this point the luff curve of the mainsail will become inadequate to cope with mast bend and girts will appear out of the clew. Use heavy mainsheet to make the lower leech stand up and drop main traveller to regulate power. We tend to crack the outhaul by about 12mm when using the No 2 to help the main leech stand up. In very strong breeze the traveller then takes on the major power controlling role. The No 2 can be sheeted with the leech as far outboard as 50mm or so outside the spreaders.

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