Fueling at this event is a little tricky due to the size of the endeavor.  To purchase fuel for your coach boat, you will need to open an account with Bailey’s Marine Fuel.  Bailey’s is located within the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour at the low level jetty at end of Molfetta Quay.  Bailey’s has 2x ULP and Diesel.

You will need to visit the Bailey’s Office, open an account (take your credit card/s and details of two bank accounts with you), and complete an online induction process. Fuel can then be purchased, using your Bailey’s swipe card, and the fuel cost will be charged to your credit card the next day. To refuel, we have a Fuel Jetty located within Fremantle Sailing Club.

The event organisers have said under no circumstances may coaches refuel in the marina unless at an official fuel berth.

.         The organizers have a procedure of getting a fuel card to use for refuelling team leaders may want to organise it for their nation but that is up to you.

.         The Freemantle sailing club collector pontoon MUST be clear of all coach boats who do not have a pre-arranged agreement with them by the 21st of November if you don’t then you will incur additional storage charges. (for coaches not arriving until after that date please let us know and we  will sort it)

“The need has arisen to make sailing more viewer friendly, or risk being dropped by the IOC from the Olympics. One of the knocks against the current format is it’s hard to follow if a person was to tune in for only the final day. People relate to, the person who won the race… wins, not the multi day cumulative point system we currently use and have accepted as ‘fair’.

Why should we care? The Olympics is not really about sport, it’s about making money by providing entertainment. If a sport is not entertaining, then it will be dropped. Under the current format, sailing is boring to watch, and we (sailors) should be extremely concerned. As much as we are all naturally opposed to change, I have to ask a simple question, would you rather try changing the format, or pack your bags and go home…forever? Once sailing is kicked out of the Olympics, it will be next to impossible to recover.

Theatre Racing is a progression of the current Medal Race format used by ISAF, and aims to make sailing much better for TV viewers and live spectators alike. It is being tried out currently, and the format is under constant development. The course design allows for cameras and spectators to be close the athletes while they compete, and provides close boat-to-boat racing with many interactions. Below I have outlined how it could fit into a World Cup and Olympic event, and described the format I think should be tried for the Theatre race itself.

Theatre Racing: (suggestions for changing the format assuming that you are familiar with the current Theatre style race course) In place of the current Medal Race format, the Theatre style racing would also be a single race event for each class. This would allow for fewer courses to be set and efficient time use much like the current Medal Race system of today. Where it differs is obviously course design, which heavily emphasizes boat handling over strategy, but having left the previous 5 days of racing unchanged, there is still plenty of time for ‘classic’ sailboat racing.

In order to incorporate a ‘winner takes all scenario’ that TV desperately wants, I propose we break the race into a Petit Final and Grand Final system. The top 8 boats after 5 days of racing are broken down into the Petit Final (for 5^th through 8^th), and the Grand Final (for 1^st through 4^th). The results from these ‘Finals’ races are the final standings. While an athlete could potentially go from first to fourth in one race, it is just as likely in the current Medal Race format. At least this system has limited the outcome to 4 place changes, and actually puts more emphasis on the opening series of fleet racing than the current Medal Race system. This format is also a heck of a lot more appealing for TV viewers and broadcasters, as you can tune in for 10-20 minutes and the result you witness is the final result (barring DSQ’s like any other sport). There is no explanation needed for the points system (of the opening series), or how ‘x’ athlete won the Medal Race but still actually finished 10^th.

Theatre style racing – Formatted for 6 day events

ISAF World Cup events where split fleet racing is needed:

-3 days Qualifying (3 races per day: ‘classic’ split fleet racing)

-2 days of Final Series (3 races per day: ‘classic’ gold/silver/bronze fleet racing)

-1 day of Theatre racing for top 8 boats

Olympic Games / Non split fleet events:

-5 days of Opening series (3 races per day: ‘classic’ fleet racing)

-1 day of Theatre racing for top 8″

At Port Tack Charter, our coach boat fleet is expanded to 16 boats.  We have a very competent tow vehicle and will continue to drive the circuit in Europe.  To move a fleet of 16 boats though, it takes a very much scaled up solution:

Above is a fork truck lifting a pair of RIBs into a curtain sider lorry.  Curtain siders are the most common type of truck trailer in Europe and there are competent fleets moving in all directions.  By investing in our cradle system we are able to efficiently supply large quantities of RIBs to any location.  Best of all, it keeps our staff out of their vehicles and leaves most of the driving to the professionals.

The cradle design is a key aspect to the operation.  No only do the cradles need to be stackable, they also must fasten, you can see it’s the top boat that is being lifted here.  As well, they fit perfectly into our flat deck trailer so that any of the cradles are interchangeable and can be moved by our own tow vehicle for shorter trips, changes in plans, or if something goes wrong.

This shot if of the RIBs being loaded for SOF in Hyeres which begins later this week.  Expect to see our fleet across the world cup circuit throughout this summer and beyond.

Sorry everyone that we had to cancel the Palma de Mallorca Test…  The lane ropes weren’t ready yet.

49ers are testing a series of progressive racing formats we’re calling ‘Theater Style Racing‘ for now.  The next one is set for a Test on April 21st to be held just ahead of SOF in Hyeres, France.  We’ll use the same format as was proposed for Palma.  Please email me to sign up for a spot.

Fans can follow the action at on our facebook or on Twitter.

Racing will begin at noon on the 21st.  There will be a skippers meeting in the 49er boat park at 10:30 to review the rules.  If numbers allow we’ll do multiple flights.

The format of this test will be ‘First to 10 Points Wins’

Key elements:

• Each race, points are awarded, 3 for First, 2 for Second, 1 for Third
• Once a team hits 10 points, they have won the event.  The event continues until a team wins the Silver and another team wins the Bronze, each by getting 10 points
• 10 boats will be in the fleet.
• In this test, each team will start with 2 points.  If this were to finish a regatta, the team leading through the fleet racing portion would start with 5 points, second would have 3 points, third – 2 points, fourth – 1 point, all others, 0 points.
• Optional – Finishing last makes you loose 1 point.  Last place or all teams with OCS, DSQ, DNS or DNF loose 1 point.  If you fall below 0 points you are eliminated from the event.

Key Benefits:

• Racing decided by fleet racing, not match racing which has been anticlamactic so far.
• Boats have the ability to influence other boats, leading to exciting scenarios during racing.
• 10 boats, instead of 8, so that the action is ‘thicker’
• Multiple ‘final races’ where the excitement should be high as medals would be on the line.
• The winners must do well in a race to ‘win’ their medal

Drawbacks:

• Might take a long time if many teams win races
• The winner of the final race doesn’t necessarily with Gold, though they would need to be in the top 3.

The season is officially under way.  While we still have some coach boats available they are being booked up fast.

For SOF we have 2 coach boats remaining.  Please let us know asap if you wish us to provide a coach boat for you in Hyeres.  We can still make the arrangements but they get more difficult as the regatta gets closer.

We have a full schedule of regattas this year.  We have partnered with the Delta Lloyd regatta in Medemblik, Holland in May.  Port Tack Charter will be supplying a number of support boats for their VIPs and spectators but we still have 3 boats remaining for coaches and sailors.

Finally, Scandia Sail for Gold in Weymouth promisses to be a very busy event.  We have 4 more boats available for that one, but they are going quickly so be sure to get your reservation in early.

PTC will continue to support the sailing community through the rest of the season, right now bookings are wide open so feel free to let us know your plans and I’m sure we can accommodate them.

Clear winds ahead!

2011 brings us a new scope, new challenges, and new plans.  In order to scale up, we’ve developed a custom solution to moving RIBs efficiently around Europe.  Here is the picture of our coach boat logistics system on it’s way to Palma for the Princess Sophia Regatta.

In order to be balance our ambition and the difficulty in moving a whole fleet of RIBs, we are gearing up slowly thought the season.  Tom will be bringing 2 boats to Palma.  Then for SOF we’ll bring our fleet up to 6 boats, there is still one available if people are interested.

Then we get to a critical part of the season.  The Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik, Holland is packed back to back with the Sail For Gold regatta in Weymouth, UK.   There are only 4 days in between the two critical events, which presents a real logistics challenge.  Our new system is designed with this in mind as we will transport 10 boats which will support the Holland Regatta back to the UK in support for Sail for Gold.

In parallel with our European efforts we are in the process of bringing over another 6 boats from China.  4 of the boats are already complete with another 2 currently in construction.  They boats will ship soon and then be prepared in the UK ready for Sail For Gold where we will have our full fleet of 16 boats ready.

Follow along with us on facebook as we work as hard as the sailor in supporting their dreams!  It’s going to be a great season of sailing.

One of my favourite memories of Hyeres was shortly after the two Tornado sailors I was coaching at the time – Oskar Johansson and Kevin Stittle – had just won a race that had pulled them into 1^st place at SOF 2007. “Fantastic job guys!” I said, “Great start, you hooked into the first shift and kept………” – it was at this time that Oskar cut me short and said, “Hurry up with the tow line – we gotta beat these guys into the beach to be first at the hose”. Oskar and Kev went on to win the 2007 event the next day, but it was that moment of humour that best reminds me of Hyeres.

And I suspect Hyeres has been an event of many first successes for you out there as well.

Accessing Hyeres is easy. Coming only a few weeks after the Princess Sophia Regatta in Spain, it’s a short ferry ride and a reasonable day’s drive from one event to the next for most people. For those of you who missed Palma, Hyeres (otherwise known as the SOF – ‘Semaine Olympique Francaise’ or ‘French Olympic Week’) is central enough in Europe to complete a drive in 24hrs. The driving goes up and down through the Pyrenees, but it’s nothing a good tow vehicle can’t handle. And if you’re flying, there are fewer airports closer to a regatta venue than the Toulon/Hyeres (TLN) airport – you can walk from the airport to the regatta venue.

Once you arrive, there are several accommodation options which you need to pre-book because they fill up fast with the large number of sailors and support staff in town. The large Maeva hotel complex is a popular choice, as is the bungalow complex a short distance to the east of the harbour.  There are a number of other smaller boutique hotels in small communities on either side of the harbour although these generally are a bit further and require a bicycle or car. The town of Hyeres itself is another option, though separated from the venue by a small 10 minute drive or bike. Renting a vacation home is also possible with a bit of homework and is appropriate for longer stays. For those not familiar with hotels on the continent, it should be noted that a room for 2-4 is actually a bachelor apartment suitable for 1-2 people…a good rule of thumb for anyone serious about getting rest for sailing performance is ‘divide by half’.

It should also be noted that despite the organizers providing free wireless service, internet connectivity is poor in Hyeres. Two local hotels provide a service for customers, as does the bungalow complex.

Do you like the panoramic mountain scenery, the potential for big wave big wind sailing, or big healthy fleet sizes? If you do, you’re going to love Hyeres – it’s a GREAT place to sail! A good amount of the time sunny conditions promote late sea breezes that trend right in the afternoon. The big breezes tend to come offshore. The Mistral whistles down from the mountains, out the harbour and into the bay, getting flatter and puffier as you sail upwind towards the shore. One year we got a couple of days of some fantastic big rolling waves and 25kts from the Northeast (to the right of the harbour). OK, last year was pretty light, but you can’t fault SOF for the volcanic eruption in Iceland, can you? Whatever conditions you do get, you can be assured you will get fair and organized racing from the SOF race team – some of the best people on the circuit.

Off the water, Hyeres has lots to offer as well. The area is well set up for road biking and there are plenty of beaches around. The local Go Kart track is top notch and popular with the sailors. France’s reputation of good food is also well deserved, both at the port, with its numerous cafes and restaurants around the boardwalk, and in town. And if you’re into wine, there are 16 vineyards in the region. The town itself dates back to the fourth century BCE and there is plenty to explore from the castle to the archaeological site. If you’re willing to stick around for an extra day, the annual Hyeres International Fashion and Photography Festival begins the day after the regatta ends. A day trip East up the coast will lead you to the famous Mediterranean towns of St. Tropez, Cannes, Nice and Monaco.

A short word of warning for visitors to Hyeres: There’s a good deal of theft that occurs on the coast between Barcelona and Hyeres and I’ve been told the criminals target the sailors each year. I myself was robbed – the thieves were kind enough to leave my passport, but inexplicably stole my toothbrush. Hyeres therefore is an event where you should leave all valuables at home and never leave anything in your car in sight of passers-by.

Hyeres is a favourite of many sailors on the circuit, and as mentioned previously is often the first event where people have had their first regatta successes. Whether you go for the racing, or to support a racer, Hyeres is a great call.

Good luck at the 2011 SOF!

Rob Fox

Olympic Class Coach

Props to all the sailors willing and able to brave the conditions out there!  Racking up those 10,000 hours to become an expert…

@IsabellaFor2012 has been at or near the top of the Canadian Laser Radial scene now for over five years and is coming into form just at the right part of the quadrennial.  Her development has been guided by the coaches and trainers from RVYC, Al Clark, and Tine Moberg.  When she was in her mid teens and putting up good results there was lots of pressure for her to do an extensive international circuit.  Instead she’s been guided to stay closer to home and work mostly in North America and training off the end dock in Vancouver.  Isabella is an easy person to cheer for and we at Port Tack Charter solute her for her work ethic and dedication.  If it’s a cold and rainy day in Vancouver but there’s someone on the water training, you can bet it’s her.

As her racing progresses and strength builds she’s increasingly becoming a force in international regattas.  Most recently she was top Canadian in 16th overall at the Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta.

The format of this test will be ‘First to 10 Points Wins’

Key elements:

• Each race, points are awarded, 3 for First, 2 for Second, 1 for Third
• Once a team hits 10 points, they have won the event.  The event continues until a team wins the Silver and another team wins the Bronze, each by getting 10 points
• 10 boats will be in the fleet.
• In this test, each team will start with 2 points.  If this were to finish a regatta, the team leading through the fleet racing portion would start with 5 points, second would have 3 points, third – 2 points, fourth – 1 point, all others, 0 points.
• Optional – Finishing last makes you loose 1 point.  Last place or all teams with OCS, DSQ, DNS or DNF loose 1 point.  If you fall below 0 points you are eliminated from the event.

Key Benefits:

• Racing decided by fleet racing, not match racing which has been anticlamactic so far.
• Boats have the ability to influence other boats, leading to exciting scenarios during racing.
• 10 boats, instead of 8, so that the action is ‘thicker’
• Multiple ‘final races’ where the excitement should be high as medals would be on the line.
• The winners must do well in a race to ‘win’ their medal

Drawbacks:

• Might take a long time if many teams win races
• The winner of the final race doesn’t necessarily with Gold, though they would need to be in the top 3.

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