Report 3 from Olympics PRO, Charley Cook:
Copyright Eastern Yacht Club 2012. For use of EYC members. Not for publication.
July 30
After my 4th meeting of the morning, I had a chance to go to the OBS compound for good coffee and a chance to look at some video from the day before.
One of the Star finishes from the 29th was covered on live TV. The finish between GBR and BRA was as close as it gets. We played it over and over in slow motion, and from all camera angles (two helicopters and at least 3 other cameras). The ISAF-appointed Race Officer didn’t have that luxury, but it was clear he and his team got it right. It was really cool to be in the control room and see all that goes into the production of live coverage.
Racing today was great. We had four race management teams running races, and one team running practice races. We completed all races on schedule. Wind was 15 to 20 knots with some 15 to 20 degree oscillations. Officials aren’t permitted to report on the results or how competitors did in the races. But, you can find good coverage on the ISAF web site (link below).
On the outermost course, I had a chance to see and speak to a group of Royal Marines in a small (10 meters) gun boat. There was a rather large mounted gun of some sort on the bow. Definitely not a boat to argue with. The Royal Marines have been great. Well skilled, and trained. But, they can show a sense of humor at times.
July 31
Meetings, meetings, meetings and meetings. 0630 – On-line, check 5 different weather models (custom to racing area); 0700 – breakfast meeting with Jury Chair; 0745 – private weather briefing; 0800 – meeting with Technical Delegates concerning daily race plan; 0820 – meeting with Race Officers; 0840 – meeting with Field of Play team, (Marshalls, Rescue and Patrol); 0900 – meeting with Team Leaders; and 0945 – meeting with operators of live TV camera boats. I thought I was here to be on the water. J
I finally hit the water in time for the start of racing. But, there’s always the phone and radio to keep me on a short leash.
Today we’re running races on 4 course areas. Only the 470 Men and 470 Women will not be racing. They start with a practice race tomorrow.
Sailing was fantastic. The breeze held at around 220 at 16 to 18 knots. Oscillations were relatively minor. I’m sure I’m going to jinx this, but we’re still on schedule.
I’m not permitted by IOC rules to report on the racing. With the exception of the Laser Radial, where the leader has posted four straight bullets, the competition is incredibly tight. Please look at the ISAF web site for results, mark rounding information and other details. The URL is: http://www.sailing.org/olympics/london2012/home.php
Back on shore, and off to meetings: weather briefing, meet with marshal boat team, debriefs with race officers and planning meeting for tomorrow’s program.
A Word About Scoring
Scoring is a multi-layered, redundant process. All race boats have GPS tracking units. GPS tracking units are installed on all marks and the poles for starting and finishing lines. As boats round a mark, or finish, that data is uploaded to the results system. At the finish, an Omega volunteer uses what we call the “Enigma Machine (remember your WWI history) to enter results on a touch pad. Another Omega volunteer pushes a button as each boat finishes. The GPS tracking is very useful. But, we don’t rely on it. If boats cross the line at different angles, the finishing order will vary. The tracker is on the boat (usually neat the base of the mast. If a boom, mast tip or sail is the first piece of equipment to cross the line, the GPS tracker is unreliable. Also, there is a margin of error. I think it’s +/- ½ meter.
So, we use “Eyes Version 1.0” to make the final decision. I’m blessed to work with some really competent race officers who can handle that pressure. The boats are all really close in speed. For example, after racing 75 minutes, the entire Star fleet within 2 minutes of each other.
Some Colleagues
Meet (left to right) Christophe Gaumont (FRA), Maria Torrijo (ESP) and Sulis Papantoniou (GRE). They are the ISAF-appointed Race Officers for 470s (Christophe). Women’s Match Racing (Maria) and 49ers (Sulis). Each of them was an ISAF-appointed mark boat team leader at the Olympics in 2008. Christophe is a full-time race officials instructor for the French sailing federation. Maria is a full-time professional race officer on the Med-Cup, Farr 40 and RC 44 circuits. Sulis was a physical education teacher in Greece, but recently started work as the Sailing Director for a very active club in Australia (he has dual passports).
Christophe, Maria and Sulis have volunteered to help Eastern during the 2013 Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship.
Copyright Eastern Yacht Club 2012. For use of EYC members. Not for publication.
