Inner Distance Mark

   RYA 2006/1
(Incorporating RYA 1965/18)
Rule 28.1, Sailing the Course
Rule 28.2, Sailing the Course
A starting limit mark does not have a required side for a boat when it is laid on the pre-start side of, and more than a boat-length from, the starting line.

SUMMARY OF THE FACTS
The sailing instructions said that the starting line was a transit with an inner limit mark and an outer limit mark, and that boats were to pass between those marks while approaching the line to start. 

Highlander sailed a course when starting that did not take her between the limit marks when approaching the line to start. The outer limit mark was two boat-lengths to leeward of the starting line. She was protested, was disqualified, and appealed.

DECISION
Highlander’s appeal is upheld, and she is to be reinstated into her finishing position. The limit marks were starting marks. Rule 28.2 requires a starting mark to be left on the required side when
approaching the starting line to start. The effect of the sailing instruction was that the outer limit mark was to be left to starboard at that time. It is the ‘string test’ in rule 28.1 that decides whether this requirement has been met, and the ‘string test’ does not begin to apply until after a boat has started. Therefore, the beginning of a boat’s track will be at most one boat length on the prestart
side of the starting line. As a result, the string cannot be said to lie on any side of a starting limit mark when that mark is more than one boat length on the prestart side of the starting line. 

Smithereen v Highlander, Port Edgar YC

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Presuming Ed Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 26 Feb 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 641	Post Options Post Reply Quote Presuming Ed Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Inner Distance Mark Posted: 01 Sep 12 at 10:20pm
	RYA 2006/1 (Incorporating RYA 1965/18) Rule 28.1, Sailing the Course Rule 28.2, Sailing the Course A starting limit mark does not have a required side for a boat when it is laid on the pre-start side of, and more than a boat-length from, the starting line. SUMMARY OF THE FACTS The sailing instructions said that the starting line was a transit with an inner limit mark and an outer limit mark, and that boats were to pass between those marks while approaching the line to start. Highlander sailed a course when starting that did not take her between the limit marks when approaching the line to start. The outer limit mark was two boat-lengths to leeward of the starting line. She was protested, was disqualified, and appealed. DECISION Highlander’s appeal is upheld, and she is to be reinstated into her finishing position. The limit marks were starting marks. Rule 28.2 requires a starting mark to be left on the required side when approaching the starting line to start. The effect of the sailing instruction was that the outer limit mark was to be left to starboard at that time. It is the ‘string test’ in rule 28.1 that decides whether this requirement has been met, and the ‘string test’ does not begin to apply until after a boat has started. Therefore, the beginning of a boat’s track will be at most one boat length on the prestart side of the starting line. As a result, the string cannot be said to lie on any side of a starting limit mark when that mark is more than one boat length on the prestart side of the starting line. Smithereen v Highlander, Port Edgar YC

andymck Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 15 Dec 06 Location: Stamford Online Status: Offline Posts: 397	Post Options Post Reply Quote andymck Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 12 at 9:40pm
	This is not an uncommon occurrence. I looked at this a few years ago as we had a few guys who would sail up the triangle and get a better start. I believe there is a case about this which states if the inner distance mark is too far below the start line it can be ignored. You would have to look this up as I can't remember the exact ruling. Otherwise as long as you are not over the line and don't cross the no go line you are in the clear. Andy
	Andy Mck

jsluke Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 28 Mar 12 Location: Cowes Online Status: Offline Posts: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote jsluke Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 12 at 12:11pm
	Thanks Presuming Ed You are correct - it was the Island SC start. We started further along the line and I had a grandstand view of the pack of port tack boats and the dip starting starboard boat. To simplify my explanation above I left out the fact that there was interaction between the two lead Port tack boats and the dip starting Starboard tack boat. The Port tack boats then turned back as they were OCS so the Starboard tack boat had to have been OCS at that point as well. I do want to emphasise that my question was posted purely out of curiosity / rules fascination. It's a friendly series and I simply thought this raised a really interesting rules question. If anyone else who was there has a different recall of events I'd be interested to hear but please don't interpret my post as a complaint / moan in any form. Just discussing over a virtual pint with friends who I love racing against. The Island SC starts are unique and a lot of fun due to the line angle, strong tide and wind direction. Five years ago nobody would have attempted this dip start but the class has become a lot more competitive now and if you win the pin end you get a huge advantage - hence a lot of us try the dip start. Personally, I think I've made it work once in twenty attempts! Thanks again for the explanation. James.

Presuming Ed Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 26 Feb 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 641	Post Options Post Reply Quote Presuming Ed Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 12 at 11:25am
	All depends on the wording of the SIs about the definition of the line. Assuming this is the Island's Tuesday night racing (can't really imagine it's anything else!), the SIs read: 9.1. The Start line is the extension of a line through the two club flagstaffs, each bearing an orange panel with a black cross. 9.2. The Outer Distance Mark (ODM) is a black inflatable buoy. If it is not laid the ODM will be the yellow cylindrical Trinity House Buoy. 9.3. The Inner Distance Mark (IDM), if laid, is a black inflatable buoy, at the southern end of the line. When starting, boats shall pass between the IDM and ODM. 9.4. When either the ODM or the IDM is on the pre-start side of the line, boats shall start between the points of the line nearest to the ODM and IDM. Start is a defined term in the RRS. Start A boat starts when, having been entirely on the pre-start side of the starting line at or after her starting signal, and having complied with rule 30.1 if it applies, any part of her hull, crew or equipment crosses the starting line in the direction of the first mark. So she didn't start "between the points of the line nearest to the ODM and IDM.". In other words no, it wasn't a legitimate start. Incidentally, you have to be careful with dip starts. 21.1 A boat sailing towards the pre-start side of the starting line or one of its extensions after her starting signal to start or to comply with rule 30.1 shall keep clear of a boat not doing so until she is completely on the pre-start side. So if you're OCS and returning, until you're on the pre-start side of the line you have to keep clear of boats that weren't OCS. Not a problem if you arrive on the pre-start side just before the gun. It can be a problem if you're a bit late. Edited by Presuming Ed - 01 Sep 12 at 11:28am

jsluke Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 28 Mar 12 Location: Cowes Online Status: Offline Posts: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote jsluke Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 12 at 10:56am
	At a recent Tuesday Evening Race off Cowes I encountered an unusual racing situation and would be interested in everyone's views on the rule situation. The start line for the race was set up for an upwind start with a strong bias (it's actually a fixed line) so it was impossible to cross the start line on starboard. Boats were also heading into a very strong tide (pushing them away from the start line) so a boat approaching the line on starboard would be swept away from the line. A boat approaching the line on port would be able to cross the line but still be plugging against the tide. In these circumstances a number of competitors attempt a dip start. They position their boats upwind and uptide of the start line (on course side) on starboard tack (position 1 below). The idea is to be swept by the tide back down to the start line and to arrive at the inner distance mark as the gun goes. If timed perfectly a boat arriving at the inner distance mark on starboard will have right of way over the fleet coming in on port (position 2 below). They then tack onto port on the gun and win the start. Obviously they have to ensure that they dip back under the line just before the gun. Normally, the Inner Distance Mark is positioned just below the start line and a dip starting boat that arrives early is severely punished. If they dip below the Inner Distance Mark they have to find a way to get back to the start line amongst the pack of port tackers. If they tack and cross the line they are OCS. My question relates to a slightly unusual twist on this dip start scenario. Last Tuesday the inner distance mark was set a long way below the start line (determined by a transit on the sailing club masts). The boat attempting the dip start was early and arrived at the inner distance mark with 10 seconds to go. However, as there was a gap between the inner distance mark and the line they were able to escape the situation as shown below. At position 1 they started their run in from above the line. They reached position (2) with 10 seconds to go and normally they would have had to either duck under the inner distance mark (putting them behind the pack on port tack for the start) or tack back across the line (putting them OCS for the start). However, the distance between the Inner Distance Mark and the line allowed the boat to continue their transit and dip under the line (3). To add a final twist to this situation .... because the line is skewed and because the tide falls off rapidly inside the Inner Distance Mark the boat in question gained a huge advantage. They were first to the windward mark by a long way. So my question is whether on this occasion the dip starting boat started legitimately? By the way, I'm not looking for redress - it's a friendly series and we discourage protests, however I am really curious as to how this would be heard by an official protest committee. Many thanks. James.