The International Canoe

I have read somewhere that the proposals for starts at the Worlds will be that IC/DC start together and that AC will start with the B14's . Can some please confirm that this was a wind up and that these worlds are being taken seriously. I am most surprised that any consideration has been given to sharing the race track with another class, this is our worlds. Please advise before I and others commit to shipping , better to know now what is really proposed. Thank goodness I have not entered....yet.

Hi Colin,
Yes, it was a suggestion I proposed a few months ago as one option to support all the classes especially as some did not look like achieving the 6 Nation Worlds Status. No, it is not a definite but just a discussed option to ensure the AC fleet (which at the time looked at being 2-3 boats) had a course that suited them.
One thing that will be happening is combined AC/IC/DC starts/courses in the pre-worlds regatta, which I think could be a lot of fun and interesting especially in these tuning races where we are not racing for sheep stations.

What courses do the AC clan want for the Worlds?

We always sail a windward / leeward course. In the UK experience has shown that 1 additional windward mark is used for the AC's. This is placed about 200 yards to windward of the IC's windward mark. This worked very well at the last IC/DC/AC championships in Scotland.
It also gives us all the chance to view the speed of the different canoe variations on a similar course. without much interference.

Isn't the World Championship course for IC's, as described in the rules, a triangular course?

Windward leewards have been discussed on other posts, on a personal note I find them boring (including sailing Asymmetric boats) but did quite enjoy the p's and q's of Moth Racing. Why would anyone would want to take out the tactics of fine reaching: light guys 2 sail reaching, heavy guys 3 sail reaching - low or high for the mark - close quarters overtaking... Versus getting upwind and then picking the most convenient angle to get downhill again. A little more exciting than that on the water I know, but still more like a drag race showing who can best calculate VMG than a tactical course battle.

Well it's out there, and I have to finalise the SI's soon. Are IC's and DC's interested in Windward Return courses? Speak up now.

Hi
What Colin was refering to was the AC's sailed windward leeward, with a windward mark further on, and the IC/DC sailed with a wing mark, so triangle sausage triangle. By having us all on the same area it gave an intresting insight into the different speeds/ methods/ joys/ problems. I would not like to see another class on the same race area, we all need to see the differance in the three rules to clarify where the class heads next.

Okay, that makes more sense.
I'm all for having all the IC's back on one track - a kind of path to re-unification, but this idea met with some resistance last year when it was discussed (results http://www.internationalcanoe.yachting. ... ?ID=d/7F9y)

So, given the numbers are looking to be lower than the pre-nomination numbers of 50 boats, does this course layout work for people?


With the option of staggering starts if required (conditions, numbers on course, trials in the pre-worlds regatta..). This get's all IC's back on the same course:

yes there is a chance of getting in each others way- but this can happen when things go wrong even if we have seperate courses

The gate keeps the AC's heading upwind on the starboard side of mark #1

We get a good indication of who is faster/slower up and down wind

Spot on Christian. Seems to me that the IC should have their own start as they are competing for the World Championship. DC and AC could share starts or separate staggered - depends on entry numbers. The DC needs to start at least 5 minutes after IC as they will be quicker to the windward mark. Precise delay could be decided following pre worlds regatta experience.

The proposals from Phil are just fine. I intend to sail the pre worlds event in AC mode, BUT depending on wind conditions/ numbers/ course location may end up sailing as an IC. This decision can only be made after arrival. I along with other UK sailors want to see the direct comparison in speed between the 3 canoe modes and this is best achieved on the same race track.