Luffing

Can anyone clear up an issue for me ?

Sailing in Lasers on broad reach, on port, towards the leeward mark that is to be left to port.

Lead laser luffs to discourage chasing the laser from going above her and potentailly gaining an inside overlap at the next mark.

Chasing laser then ducks to leeward and begins to luff lead Laser way above the leeward mark (so far the they both have to gybe back). Cgasing Laser gets ahead.

Is it correct that if you gain the overlap from astern you cannot then sail above your proper course ? (which in a Laser would be straight towards the next mark ?).

 

 

Originally posted by laser4000 If you gain overlap from astern then under rule 17 you can't sail above your proper course. The windward boat is still obliged under rule 11 to keep clear of you. The relevant bit is: - "If a boat clear astern becomes overlapped within two of her hull lengths to leeward of a boat on the same tack, she shall not sail above her proper course while they remain on the same tack and overlapped within that distance, unless in doing so she promptly sails astern of the other boat."

Hi everyone,

I think that this rule is easy to understand and interpret with regards to fleet racing, but I find it ambiguous in handicap racing.

In a handicap race,  where a una rigged boat (e.g. a Laser) is, for example, sailing on a dead run, on the rhum line from the previous mark, to the leeward mark, there can be problems with an assymetric boat (e.g. an RS 200) which starts to luff from a recently acquired overlap, from astern, and within the two boat lengths.  In this situation the assymetric crew will (rightly) state that they are sailing their 'proper course' as they intend to gybe downwind. 

The wording of the rule does not take any account of the fact that both boats may be sailing their 'proper course' but the 'proper course' might be different for the boats concerned. I suppose that the rules were not designed for differently rigged boats.

Personally, as I sail a una rigged boat, I try to anticipate this situation and try to keep out of trouble beforehand, but it is often difficult when there are several assymetric boats, often of different classes and sailing at different speeds, luffing, albeit sailing their 'proper course'. 

It is very easy to be taken somewhere where you don't really want to go. Do other people have a problem with this rule in handicap racing or is it just me?

Ian  (Yorkshire Dales S.C.)

 

Originally posted by iansmithofotley The wording of the rule does not take any account of the fact that both boats may be sailing their 'proper course' but the 'proper course' might be different for the boats concerned.

The rules do anticipate that - there are a number of examples in the case book. Its best to read through th case book alongside the rules if you want to get a good understanding, and IMHO the case book is essential for any protest committee.

The rules are very clear

Rule 17 is a limitation on the course that the leeward right of way boat may steer. The leeward boat is not allowed to sail above HER proper course. If leeward boat is an assymetric and to windward is a boat that sails deeper then leeward boat may luff up to HER proper course, which may be well above windward boat's proper course.

Gordon

Originally posted by iansmithofotley in the situation that I have previously described, it does not seem to be a 'fair' rule for all participating boats in this situation

Every boat has a downside in these situations... few things more irritating than some Laser or other Una rig boat stuffing up high when you desperately need to free off and get some boat speed in your high performance boat. What comes around goes around!