Upwind/downwind right of way

WIndward gives way to leeward and keeping a poor look out is no excuse for hitting someone, thats what it says in the rules OWTTE so that is what people should go by, as someone has already pointed out gentlemen's agreements can be dangerous things.

at the end of the day it doesnt matter if you get hit by a fixed pole or a sliding one, both are held out rigid and will cause a lot of damage. i think this thread is trying to find the solution to this upwind/ downwind problem. im not going to be popular but get a smaller kite with a shorter/ higher foot.

unless rule changes occur theres nothing you can do further than a 'gentlemans agreement' or have something writted into the SI's for events.

The up/downwind gate. We used to have this issue in the earlier days of 5
tonners. There were several close calls, and it was eventually binned as a
bad idea. Even having gate each side of the comedy boat was a bad idea
once the fleet spread out.
Andy

1 I am totally opposed to having gates in the middle of the course either upwind or downwind - they effectively reduce the "playing field" to a tiny hourglass shape. In the same way leaving the start line in the middle of the course and not allowing boats to sail through it means that there is a huge hole in the "playing field" (draw a course and then put in the lay lines to see what I mean).

2. In big fleets the first beat has to be long enough to allow the fleet to sprerad out before the windward mark. At the Irish SB3 Nationals 1 mile was too short.

3. Leeward gates need to be well set and wide enough so that there is not a pile up at one mark.

4. Conclusion from the SB3 event last weekend (80 boats)... put a jury boat on the water with an umpire, whistle and yellow flag...hover at the marks...rule observance will improve hugely and many problems will disappear. I should know - I was the umpire!

 

Gordon

 

 

Originally posted by tack'ho How about a rule for fixed bowsprit boats that the last 6 inches need to be a bright colour?

That's going to go down well with all the traditional boats...



There's nothing new about fixed bowsprits folks, they've been common since at least the 12th century...
[apologies to the uncredited photographer on the Old Gaffers website part of whose photo I ripped off for purposes of satire]

Edited by JimC