Thursday Twilights - a Safety Reminder

We are well into the festive season and people are bursting to have fun, especially in our club's famed Thursday Twilight Racing!

Following a couple of "interesting" races with incidents and near incidents recently I would like to remind ALL Skippers and Crew of a couple of things to be aware of during these fun evenings:

Please remember:

• These evenings are for FUN - we are not competing for sheep stations here!
• The starting area is quite congested, both at the Start and the Finish
• Many of the crews, (and skippers) are not necessarily at championship racing skills levels and they may not be able to react instantaneously to developing situations,
• The Racing Rules of Sailing apply, and NOR 16.6 and 16.7 in the Sailing Handbook on page 32 applies.
• NOR 16.6 - The Pumphouse Pre-Start area is defined as the area between the start line and the extension of the A-Arm outer walkway (southern marina arm).
• NOR 16.7 - When the Pumphouse Start Line is in operation, no boat shall enter the Pre-Start Area before her Preparatory Signal unless transiting the area under motor.
• Drink driving laws apply, on the water as well as in your car... (Would you drive down Military Road with a beer in your hand, having just consumed a couple at the bar??)
• SAFETY of crews and boats is paramount on these evenings.

So,  the request from the club is….

Be SAFE at all times - put your perceived "rights" aside in favour of caution

DO NOT

• "drink & drive"
• Put your sails up in the Start Area, which is the zone between the Pumphouse start line and D arm 

DO 

• Abide by the Racing Rules of Sailing
• Stay out of the Pre-Start Area until you are actually starting
• Avoid the following behaviours:
  • Pushing people up,
  • Barging into "no go" areas,
  • Performing risky port / starboard crossings
• Reduce the testosterone levels and put aggressive sailing tactics aside in favour of enjoyment and safety of your crew and the boats around you
• Give people room to manoeuvre
• Provide mark room
• Give room at continuing obstructions
• Stay away from the MHYC jetties - they are expensive AND much harder than your boat and crew!
• After you finish, proceed beyond D arm before dropping your sails and
• Be mindful of other finishing boats when returning to the dock (the dockside celebrations can wait for a few minutes!!)

MHYC treasures the fantastic opportunity to sail in daylight saving twilights - let's keep on making it enjoyable and safe for EVERYONE.

Kind regards,

Geoff Charters

Vice Commodore - Racing