Upwind/downwind right of way

1. Port tack boat must keep clear, but if the starboard tack boat makes a course change for any reason she must leave port tack boat room to keep clear. The rules do not differenciate between different types of boat, nor the fact that some boats can only sail downwind in a narrow band of angles, which change according to wind speed. If a boat has to bear away in a gust to avoid a capsize that makes no difference to the rule situation. It may be that in some situations certain boats are not manoeuvrable enough to meet their obligations under the rules. In such a case common sense, and the rules, would be for such boats to carry less sail. The rules do not give a boat any right to carry full sail at any time.

2. Deliberately "screwing someone elses race up" would be dealt with under rule 2, if you can prove it!

3. Hailing does not oblige ROW boat to hold her course. She has an obligation not to alter course without giving keep clear boat room to do so, as always. However, if a Jury finds that a ROW boat hails to allow a keep clear boat to cross then deliberately alters course so as to prevent her keeping clear this would probably be seen as a Rule 2 infringement

3. In the 1929 rules all boats not close hauled kept clear, whatever tack they were on, of close hauled boats! Memories of this may linger on.

4. Case 87 establishes that a ROW boat need not anticipate that the other boat will not keep clear, Case 92 establishes that the keep clear boat need only react to what the ROW boat is doing at the time, not what they might do subsequently.

In other words a ROW boat need only take avoiding action only when it become obvious that the other boat will not keep clear. They do not have to anticipate that the keep clear boat is "locked in" and sailng in a perilous balance on the verge of capsize. ROW boat can assume that other boat is being sailed in a seamanlike manner and will keep clear. A Jury will ask when did it become apparent that the keep clear was not going to keep clear, and did the ROW boat take prompt action to avoid or diminish the impact of the colision. Similarily, if a ROW boat changes course the jury will ask if when doing so the keep clear boat was given room to keep clear.

It is assumed that time is given for an averagely competent crew, sailing in a seamanlike manner, to manoeuvre. If a boat was to say that she was unable to manoeuvre because any change of course would result in a capsize, a Jury might well consider that she was not being sailed in a seamanlike manner.

Gordon

 

I agree Gordon. It is the responsibility of the downwind boat to keep clear (unless of course the downwind boat is on Starboard and the upwind boat is on port, which is often the case, and if fact was the case that Iain was referring to, that of port tack boats going upwind and not keeping clear of starboard boarts going downwind). I don't think it implies that the boat is not in control, it just implies that they are less maouverable, and if the consequence is that they are highly likely to p*ss it in on top of you, then surely it's better to avoid the situation altogether.

All we're suggesting here is that people use a bit of common and try to avoid creating these situations if they can, as it's of no benefit to anyone. Even if you're all racing against each other, if one boat is that far behind that it's on a different leg of the course, then don't deliberately try to screw the other guy's race up. Just tack away early and let him go, or at least make it clear which way you intend to go.

You're also right that the ROW boat has no obligation to call, but am I righ in saying that if he does, then from that moment he has to hold his course?

Edited by Skiffybob

Yet again the forumites take things out of context.

I don't think anyone's suggesting that everyone else on the water should keep clear, and I don't agree with the view that skiffs spend a lot of their time "out of control".

I think where Iain started from is a concept that people use common sense. A boat going upwind is move able to change course than a boat going downwind. Now, when you have a twin-wire boat with a big kite, where you have to set the boat up and then lock yourself in, makes it much more difficult to make a sudden gybe than it does for a similar boat going upwind.

The reality of it is that if you call late and force one of these boats to make a sudden gybe, there's a good chance that not only will you ruin their race, but you'll probably ruin your own when they capsize right on top of you (best case), of stick a big hole in your boat (or your head, worst case).

So all we're saying here is that if you see someone powering downwind with both crew on the wire and locked-in, use a bit of common sense and let them go.

Originally posted by Skiffybob Which brings us nicely back to the origin of the thread. You see it's all just common sense really.

Common sense and ISAF
 Isn't that a contradiction! I agree that the current rules in this regard could be amended or failing this a good chat with the person responsible for drafting the SI's for the Event or Club series could help reduce the risks.

I club race with all sorts on the water ranging from cats, 49er, down to laser 4.7's/fevas.  Although we are on different courses we do meet occasionally and all have to go through the line each lap.  In something as slow as a laser radial its very hard to judge how quickly some of the much faster boats are approaching.  I've spoken to 49er and tornado helms and they have basically said the best thing is for the slow boat to hold course as the faster boat has planned further ahead and planned how to deal with you.  The worst thing I can do in my radial is tack to avoid them at the last minute.  They'll be calling early if they do need me to avoid.  This doesn't mean I don't keep an eye out for them though.