Sailing and Large sailors.

Originally posted by turnturtle On a serious question, if a crew are perpetually too unfit / too big to race their boat in compliance of class rules, are they really of sound physical capacity to comply with Rule 4? Rule 4 is not a rule that a boat can break. Given that rule 4 deals with a mental or ethical concept, namely 'responsibility' there can be no question of 'physical capacity to comply'. Rule 4 DECISION TO RACE The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone. Could Rule 1.2 override class rules in this instance? Rule 1.2 refers to the adequacy of life saving equipment and personal flotation devices. 1.2 Life-Saving Equipment and Personal Flotation Devices A boat shall carry adequate life-saving equipment for all persons on board, including one item ready for immediate use, unless her class rules make some other provision. Each competitor is individually responsible for wearing a personal flotation device adequate for the conditions. I can't visualise a way that a class rule would contradict this rule, but in any case Class Rules may not change a rule of Part 1 (rule 1 to 7),  (Rule 86.1( c )). (c) Class rules may change only racing rules 42, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54.

I've always been of the opinion the responsibility rests with the OOD and when it's my turn I'll black flag the whole thing rather than risk rescue boat crew even.

Dinghy sailors, love em as I do, are not the most competent of power boat handlers when it's tricky, so far better to keep everyone off the water.

And yes even if we are going out, the rescue boat crew can refuse to let you sail if they believe you will be an unnecessary complication to them providing cover to the main fleet. Twice this year I've counselled don't go, to folk who might have a problem.

Edited by iGRF - 16 Oct 17 at 11:08am

Originally posted by turnturtle ...but would be there for my safety therefore complying to Rule 1.2:

I think not only are you trying to get angels dancing on a pin, but your pin is on a different planet.

I have Epilepsy and always report this to whoever is in charge when I sail at another club, slightly off topic, but shows their are other issues facing safety boat, incidentally I have never been told I cannot race.

Originally posted by turnturtle Thanks Brass... OK, so I'm going to write a hypothetical scenario for you, one which I would assume would utterly breach class rules, but would be there for my safety therefore complying to Rule 1.2: Musto Skiff - racks fitted with outriggers (skinny moth style hulls for example) What would be your interpretation from a purely RRS perspective?  I think we know what the class measurer would say....