PHOTO BOAT OPERATIONS ACWS VENICE 2012
PHOTO BOAT INSTRUCTIONS The Venice venue is in two parts, one with a racing area outside Lido Island and the other is inside in the main channel. The outside area will be worked in the same way as other venues whilst the inside will have some challenges. Moving around the inside area is going to be difficult as most access ways around the course area will be taken up with spectator viewing areas. Diagrams are attached to indicate where these areas are and caution should be exercised if transiting through these channels. The narrow corridor along the piles on the western side is an emergency access for the authorities to make use of and the western side is for the small commercial ferries that will continue to operate throughout the racing. For Boats starting by viewing the Start For Fleet Racing Photo Boats will be able to take UP position 10 minutes prior to start time. For Match Racing Photo Boats shall not take their position until the Race Yachts have entered the Start Box. Until the entry the Photo Boats shall remain two hundred metres (200m) to windward of the Signal Boat.
After the Start the Photo Boats can make their way to view the windward mark rounding after the first three legs. DO NOT attempt to get to this position to see the end of the first leg as the race yachts will only take approx 1 min 30 secs to reach there after the Start. On the inside course after watching the start the Race yachts will go to Mark 1 and return to pass the windward mark before heading downwind to the leeward gate. The position to view that rounding is to sit to windward by 75 m.
On the outside course after viewing the windward mark rounding and the race yachts are all on their way to the leeward gate the Photo Boats are free to take up a position to view the finish if it is back at the start line area. On the inside course the finishes will be at the leeward end of the course area near St. Marks Square. Photo Boats can move down to the leeward end after the windward rounding and be in position at the finish while the race yachts are doing their windward leeward.
For Boats starting by viewing the Mark 1 rounding The Photo Boats would begin by viewing the first gybe after Mark 1 from the Reserved Corridor position. NOTE: there is a no go area adjacent to M1 to provide an escape route should a yacht or yachts have difficulty rounding the mark.
After the race yachts have passed and headed to the leeward gate the Photo Boats will move down to either a position in the Reserved Corridor opposite the leeward gate or to a position being to leeward of the gate to view the last leeward gate rounding.
After the leeward gate rounding DO NOT attempt to go up to the finish if it is back at the start area, however if it is at the leeward end of the course you may proceed there to watch the finish.
For Boats starting by viewing the start from leeward of the line Photo Boats that begin by viewing the start from the leeward side can move down the reserved corridor to view the 1st leeward gate rounding from the reserved corridor or to leeward of the gate. After the leeward gate rounding the Photo Boats will either move to view the 2nd gate rounding or move to a position to view the finish. On the inside course the options are to watch the windward rounding after the leg to Mark 1 and back or move to the leeward end of the course area.
General Instructions The Media coordinator may allocate each Photo Boat to a position for the first race. After the first race those Photo Boats may take up a new position for a different perspective of the racing.
Photo Boats must not follow the service boats in the reserved corridor as they will be following the race yachts for safety reasons.
Under no circumstances are photo boats to be going down the reserved corridor in front to the race yachts or going up the reserved corridor in front of the yachts (no wash zone). Photo Boats should be near their first position at least 10 minutes prior to race start.
Departure will be from the Pontoon in front of the Media Centre where the ACRM boats are moored. Media shall be on board the Photo Boats by 1230hrs to allow time to reach the area to see their first viewing. The pick up point is some distance from both inside and outside race course areas.
At the conclusion of racing each day, return to the pick up point to drop off the photographers.
Harold Bennett On Water Operations Director, Americas Cup Race Management