JAM (Jib And Main) Cruising is a special kind of cruising where you try and cruise faster than the other participating boats (however, we definitely do NOT race)! All participants are obliged to have fun. Water Pistols and Super Soakers are optional.
When do JAMs happen?
Usually Cruising JAM sails are conducted on the second Sunday of each month, starting around 13:30. Usually, there will be a short briefing in the Sailor's Bar at 12:00, to help familiarise newcomers with the rules and more importantly, to enable prospective crew members to meet up with skippers looking for (extra) crew. If you'd like to know more, contact one of the committee members.
How does JAM work?
The Short Version
Everyone meets in the bar for a briefing at 12:00 midday. Cruisers without boats for the day can join up with Cruisers who have boats, for extra fun and help.
A designated Rabbit Boat creates a "Rabbit Start" and then sails the JAM course. All participating yachts chase after the Rabbit Boat. When the fastest yacht rounds the second-last mark, all yachts, wherever they are, immediately retrace the course they've sailed so far and bolt for the finish line. The first yacht home gets bragging rights and maybe a coloured bit of cloth.
The Long, Illustrated Version
| Start Position: |
Adjacent to FSC mark 'L'
(32° 03.800'S, 115° 43.500'E) |
| Start Time: |
13:30 |
| Start Procedure: |
Rabbit Start |
| Communications: |
From Rabbit Yacht on VHF 77 |
| Rabbit Yacht: |
Announced at 12:00 Briefing |
Rabbit Start Procedure:
- At about 1:25pm, the Rabbit Yacht will commence the start procedure by sailing "Head-to-wind" at or about Mark “L”.
- At or about Mark “L” the Rabbit Yacht will "fall off" “head-to-wind” at approx 1.28pm with an announcement on Ch77 saying “Start Procedure Commencing”.
- The Rabbit Yacht will sail on a starboard reach for 1 minute, then gybe onto a port reach retracing previous course until the Rabbit Yacht passes Mark “L”.
- At Mark “L” (approximately 1:30pm) the Rabbit Yacht will harden up onto close hauled on Port Tack. As the Rabbit Yacht passes Mark “L” all other yachts must start on Starboard Tack by passing and leaving the stern of the Rabbit Yacht. NOTE: during this procedure the Rabbit Yacht has RIGHT OF WAY.
- When all (or most) yachts have passed the Rabbit Yacht's stern the Rabbit Yacht will to go onto a Starboard Tack.
- Only after the Rabbit Yacht has thus tacked can other yachts choose to change tacks and sail towards FSC Mark "F”
Course:
| START AT |
FSC MARK |
L |
|
|
| |
FSC MARK |
F |
starboard |
1.00nm |
| |
FSC MARK |
N |
port |
1.60nm |
| |
FSC MARK |
S |
port |
1.20nm |
| |
FSC MARK |
N |
starboard |
1.20nm |
| |
FSC MARK |
F |
port |
1.60nm |
FINISH AT |
FSC MARK |
L |
starboard |
1.00nm |
| |
|
|
|
7.6nm maximum |
Sailing the Course:
When the leading yacht rounds FSC Mark “S”, that yacht must broadcast on CH77 that "Lead yacht has rounded Mark S". All yachts can immediately retrace their course towards the finish line. The finish is at FSC Mark “L”. The aim is that all yachts should finish at the same time.
| FSC Mark L |
32°03.800’ S |
115°43.500’ E |
| FSC Mark F |
32°04.850’ S |
115°43.600’ E |
| FSC Mark N |
32°04.000’ S |
115°42.600’ E |
| FSC Mark S |
32°05.127’ S |
115°41.789’ E |
Aim:
to have fun while observing all the collision regulations!
