Advice for Race Committees regarding 2.4 events
This information is for the assistance of Race Committees responsible for running 2.4 events, especially for those unfamiliar with the class. Enquiries should be directed to the Association at the address below.
Course configuration
Courses are usually windward/leeward with a clearance mark which may be deleted from second and subsequent legs. Start and finish lines are the same.
2.4s tend to be at their least stable when reaching, since in strong winds the boom drags in the water. Reaching legs may sometimes be necessary on trapezoid courses when other classes are sailing. In this case, it is preferred if 2.4s sail on the inside course.
Windward/Leeward
Start - A – A2 - B - A – B - Finish
OR Start - A – A2 - B - A – A2 – B - Finish
Wind limits
The class’s Race Management Manual states:
If the average wind speed exceeds 25 knots, the race may be postponed on discretion of the Organising Authority. Wind speed must be recorded at the race area.
The boats are heavily ballasted with 180kg of lead in the keel, and will not capsize. The major danger is of swamping, usually when the electric bilge pump fails. The boats have positive buoyancy. See below for advice on managing swamped boats.
If you are in doubt about the safety of the conditions for 2.4 racing, please check with one of the experienced sailors. The skippers of AUS 1, AUS 24 and AUS 27 would be able to give advice.
Safety
The main problem that may occur with 2.4s that a Race Committee may be unfamiliar with is when boats are swamped in rough conditions. Swamping usually occurs when the manual or electric pump fails (manual pumps are mandatory; electric pumps are optional but about half the sailors have them). Because there is so little freeboard on a 2.4, at a certain point there is so much water in the boat that most waves after that break into the boat.
Experience suggests the following procedure should be carried out by competitors and rescuers:
Before racing, sailors should be reminded that they should have a towing ring or equivalent on their bow. A scoop or similar is advisable in case of pump failure.
The most suitable rescue boats are mid-sized inflatables. Large rigid boats tend to endanger a swamped 2.4 during the retrieval process. Rescue boats should approach a swamped boat from windward.
Rescue boats should carry a small bucket or similar to assist in bailing. A petrol-driven water pump is advisable in large regattas as swamped boats can be quickly pumped out on the water.
Sailors with disabilities
About half the sailors in most fleets are physically disabled, as this is a Paralympic class. Disabilities include paraplegic and quadriplegia, leg or arm amputation, and stroke.
As with the able-bodied contingent, sailing ability varies quite widely, from the very capable to the almost-beginner. Generally speaking, disabled sailors do not have different limitations in terms of coping with wind and water conditions, in comparison with able-bodied sailors of similar sailing ability.
A Race Committee may request sailors when signing on to specify whether or not they are disabled.
All disabled 2.4 sailors are required to wear life vests while sailing.
In a swamping, a paraplegic, quadriplegic or similar will tend to float out of the 2.4 with the rising water, as they have no leg or trunk muscles to hold themselves down against the natural buoyancy of the water. During rescue, disabled sailors should be pulled aboard the rubber rescue boat before towing or pumping-out can be undertaken.
International
2.4mR Association - Australia
Sun Theatre, 8 Ballarat St, Yarraville, Victoria 3013
Tel: +61 3 9362 0339 Fax: +61 3 9362 0338
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~mcleans/aus24metre.htm