Definition of Planing

There's plenty of help about. Here's a starter for 10...

http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/42Interpretationsforbooklet-15296.pdf

(Link fixed after struggling with daft URLs with square brackets. Web search for RRS 42 examples for lots more...)


1_Rule_421.pdf

Edited by JimC - 03 Mar 19 at 8:54am

Basically it’s massively subjective and judges just make their own opinions about it, often elderly judges who have never sailed dinghies in the modern age sitting in boats hundreds of yards away, adding an element of inconsistency! You could never get clarification or claim redress against poor decisions of which there were many ie say “that pump was on a wave / gust” or “that roll was to enable / facilitate steering of 3.2 degrees” etc. Just about the only unambiguous policeable one was for sculling on start lines, which is a nonsense as nobody is looking to propel themselves, just change heading at zero forward speed pre start.
It’s very rare to see of hear sailors protesting each other at club to international level on r42.

“He rocked / pumped repeatedly etc at that time..” “No I didn’t” or “there was a wave/ gust” or “I steered” then you are back to how big is a wave, how can you measure it etc.

Originally posted by Daniel Holman It’s very rare to see of hear sailors protesting each other at club to international level on r42.

But very common to hear sailors complaining about other sailors breaking propulsion rules.
The only time I can recall being on the wrong end of a protest was club sailing back in the 70s. It got very acrimonious. We won, but the PC effectively told us we were lucky to get away with it.

How is that allowed? An ambiguous rule, subjectively applied and penalised without a hearing. What could possibly go wrong?

Originally posted by Peaky How is that allowed? An ambiguous rule, subjectively applied and penalised without a hearing. What could possibly go wrong?

Ach it all generally finds an equilibrium.
Tbh most of the laser sailing I did, which outside windsurfing and Finn with free pumping, is one of the most kinetic classes, the best guys did as much kinetics as they wanted / could and it wouldn’t draw too much heat as it was in the lighter part of the grey area.
Apart from sculling to change heading whilst stationary, Judges in boats 100yds away don’t like seeing leeches flicking or arms moving fast. (Where does continuous sheeting start and “pumping” stop?) but to be honest no top laser sailors ever do what the rule describes pumping as.
Much quicker / more transient / done through body weight.