Racing Rules: On the offensive

   I've been reading a lot of the Olympic write ups in the various magazines and how My Ainslie and Mr Goodison employed agressive tactics to make sure their opponents didn't beat them. 
At the same time I've been trying to learn the ISAF rules which seem to be there primarily to work out who's got right of way in a multitude of different situations.
How does a sailer employee aggresive moves against another sailer? Surely the victim must have right of way some of the time?
And what is lee bow? Seems a popular one that.

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ellistine Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 06 Mar 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 762	Post Options Post Reply Quote ellistine Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Racing Rules: On the offensive Posted: 15 Sep 08 at 11:43pm
	I've been reading a lot of the Olympic write ups in the various magazines and how My Ainslie and Mr Goodison employed agressive tactics to make sure their opponents didn't beat them. At the same time I've been trying to learn the ISAF rules which seem to be there primarily to work out who's got right of way in a multitude of different situations. How does a sailer employee aggresive moves against another sailer? Surely the victim must have right of way some of the time? And what is lee bow? Seems a popular one that.

alstorer Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 02 Aug 07 Location: Cambridge Online Status: Offline Posts: 2899	Post Options Post Reply Quote alstorer Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Sep 08 at 7:35am
	Lee Bow is the projection of a boat's "wind shadow"- the area of air made turbulent by passing over its sails- to windward, affecting a boat trying to pass close to windward. Effectively, you even out the pressure on both sides of their sails- it's quite common for a windward boat to pretty much stop. The effect is enhanced by heeling the boat on top of you (careful you don't touch rigs) and even, oddly, flogging your jib (unbattened, "soft", jibs only). Some boats, though, really don't seem to project much- try as I might I couldn't get a Vareo to put down effective lee-bow.

MerlinMags Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Admin Group Joined: 19 Mar 04 Location: UK, Guildford Online Status: Offline Posts: 585	Post Options Post Reply Quote MerlinMags Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Sep 08 at 1:20pm
	You can use the right-of-way rules agressively, you just have to manoevre yourself into the commanding position first! It is not easy, but if you can move yourself into the right place to create a right-of-way conflict (and be in the right) then the other boat will have to keep clear, and you have a degree of control over them.