Sailing rules

As both boats are on the same tack and neither boat is clear astern of the other then, according to the RRS definition, they are overlapped even though they are approaching from nearly reciprocal directions. A change of course by either boat would have to be very radical in order to break the overlap.

This holds true for both scenarios that have been put forward. In one scenario this means that rule 11 applies and the windward boat keeps clear. The additional scenario I introduced is one (unlikely but it has happened) in which, because of the way RRS defines windward and leeward, there is no windward boat, both boats can claim to be leeward boat. Rule 11 is inapplicable so rule 14 obliges both boats to avoid contact.

Gordon

PS If applying the rules as they are written, precisely and in accordance with the policy of ISAF, constitutes "an overating or parading of book-learning or technical knowledge or an insistance on strict adherance to formal rules, or even being possessed by by a doctrinaire theory " (such is the definition of pedantic) then I am proud to say that I am guilty as charged. The current rules are simple, short and logically structured. The essential rules for when boats meet are a mere 4.5 pages long. There is little excuse for not using these rules precisely.

 

 

Rule 14 obliges a boat to avoid contact "if reasonably possible". In addition a right of way boat, or one entitled to room, only has to take avoiding action when it becomes clear that the other boat will not keep clear.

In this case the protest committee may conclude that the situation was somewhat uncertain (the time we have spent discussing it is proof of that), and that both boats have suffered major damage  affecting their result in the race and maybe the series. If I was chairing the protest committee I would be tempted to conclude that the damage was a sufficient penalty and that there was no need to inflict a penalty such as disqualification. On the other hand, if there was evidence that one or both boats had had a reasonable opportunity to avoid contact and had taken no action to do so, then disqualification would be an appropriate penalty.

The decsion would depend upon the facts established according to what the competitors said in the protest room.

 

Gordon

hehe john. U didnt pick the best of boats to get into that incident did u?

running by the lee to go as far as heading straight towards a beating boat on the same tack is going to be surfing on waves? And surely then they are going to be doing transitions between broad reaching & running by the lee? Surely then this is changing course & they are going to have to give the beating boat room to keep clear (under rule 15), which must surely be a considerable time as they are going to have to tack? And so in the event of a collision the beating boat will argue this & take the protest?"

My full answer to this and his last posting would be :

1.The situation I described MAY occur due to the existence of surfing conditions, but not necessarily. There may be other circumstances : fluky winds and RC sailing have been cited

2.A transition from a broad reach to running by the lee does not in itself constitute a change of course, as a boat might do this while sailing in a straight line. A change of course occurs when the direction in which the boat is travelling changes.

3. In the situation I described both boats could claim to be the right of way boat. Rule 15 does not apply as the right of way boat only has to give room "initially". 

4. Rule 16.1 only applies IF a right of way boat changes course. If neither changes course then the rule does not apply. Only rule 14 applies. I would add that the beating boat does not necessarily have to tack in order to avoid contact.

5. If in a protest a competitor states that a boat changed course BECAUSE they went from a broad reach to running by the lee the protest committee should verify that the boat in question did in fact change the direction in which it was travelling. The competitors case would be stronger if they could demonstrate that this direction did in fact change. This is not being pedantic, merely trying to establish the facts.

6. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of protest committees to ensure that competitors who may be unfamiliar with the rules and protest procedure can express themselves, the competitor who has studied the rules and has experience of protests will always have an advantage. Which is why any keen racing sailor should read the rules, protest when necessary, and volunteer to sit on protest committees. The protest committe can only make a decision on the basis of the information that is presented to them

7. The language used in the rules has been greatly simplified over the years. Whenever a word is used in the rules in a way that is in anyway different from a dictionary definition the rules give a definition - the use in the rules of windward and leeward being a good example.

8.A protest committee should not make a decision directly on the information given by competitors. This information is used by the protest committee to establish, to the best of their ablities, a description of the incident. It is at this point that the work of "translating" competitors testimony into the language of the rules will be at it's most intense. It is only when the facts are established that a protest committee should consider which rules apply and if a rule has been infringed

9. Personally, whenever I chair a protest committee I always offer, after having given the formal decsion of the committee, to explain the ruling, with reference, when necessary, to the Case Book. This is especially important when the decision is based on a legal nicety, or on an interpretation of the rules that may not seem obvious. After all protests are heard I am available, usually somewhere near the bar, to answer any queries on the rules, on incidents that occured during the day, or any other points arising. I also prefer to be out on the water during racing, even when there is no judging on the water.

10. If, in the situation I described, in a diagram, some time ago,  if neither boat changes course and there is contact then both boats have infringed rule 14 and the protest committe would have to consider if a penalty is appropriate. If one boat changes course then they are obliged to give the other boat room to keep clear. The protest committee would have to decide whether the boat that had changed course had left enough room.

11. The best option for the by the lee boat would be to gybe on to starboard in good time to let the beating boat time to keep clear.

 

Hope this answers your questions.

Steffan,

I think I did answer John's point by reminding him that, for the rules, a change of course is a change in the direction in which a boat is heading, not a change in the angle between the wind direction (real or apparent) and the axis of the boat. There are many situations in which this angle may change, surfing being one, fluky winds another, however this change does not constitute a change of course.

Gordon