As the 39,000 nautical-mile Volvo Ocean Race draws to a close with Ian Walker’s Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing the unbeatable overall leader, lessons learned from the eight-month event could prove decisive in distance contests closer to home.

While the double-Olympic medallist and former Irish entry skipper pulled off overall victory on his third attempt, detailed planning was a hallmark of the campaign that included Cork sailor Justin Slattery.

That detail included crucial interpretation of the Racing Rules of Sailing and one aspect in particular delivered payback to Walker’s team just a few weeks from the end of the race.

The issue is the role that Vessel Separation Schemes (VSS) play, primarily for commercial shipping but also affecting every vessel including leisure and recreational craft.

Fixed direction

Where used, a VSS requires vessels to proceed in a fixed direction, much like a road. Users must enter or leave at fixed points while crossing a VSS must be done at right angles to the direction of the flow.

In sailing events, RRS 48.2 requires entrants to observe the rules of a VSS that in turn apply whether or not there is other traffic present. Three of the Volvo Ocean Race boats fell foul of this rule leaving Newport, Rhode Island, and were penalised valuable race points.

That outcome may be of interest to the 32 teams about to start the 220-mile Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race (D2D) on Friday as three such traffic schemes affect the course.

While the Dublin VSS borders the ideal route southwards and is unlikely to be a factor, the Tuskar Rock off Wexford is more of a challenge. Inshore zones are provided at each VSS but negotiating these if a decision to avoid the traffic zone could prove tricky.

“It’s very hard to sail in those VSS as you have to sail in a straight line and you may even have to beat,” said Brian Mathews, veteran of five D2D races and a winning navigator of the Round Ireland Race. “They just weren’t designed for sailing boats.”

Prevailing winds

The prevailing winds over Ireland are often from the south-west so beating to windward is common once turning onto the south coast so avoid a VSS the size of a small city is a significant hurdle for racing boats.

“The forecast is for north-east breeze so it looks like it will keep the boats in the VSS so we don’t anticipate an issue with it for this year’s event,” commented Con Murphy, start race officer for the D2D at the National Yacht Club.

Meanwhile, the longer Round Ireland Race at 704-mile has a fourth VSS to contend with at Rathlin Island on the north coast where competitors are regularly challenged by the strong tidal gate there.

Details of the next edition will be announced next week on June 18th, exactly one year before the start and draft race documents have been finalised for discussion with the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

“This rule is one that we need to discuss so that the interpretation of that rule is made perfectly clear to all the participants,” according to Theo Phelan, Race Director at Wicklow SC. “We would count on the expertise of the RORC and rely on their advice in how to implement it.”