Proper Course

Hi everyone,

It just shows how complicated the rules are as many experienced sailors have responded to this topic having had access to rule books and lots of time to think about the scenario.  After all this consideration there is still quite a bit of disagreement and lots of different opinions.  Nevertheless, whilst racing, we all have to make decisions like this in split seconds, often in strong winds, in testing conditions, when surrounded by many other boats (often of all different types with different sail plans) and in testing high performance boats.

I think that the topic has been a great source of learning for us all.  Redback said in his original post that the matter was resolved informally and in good spirit, which is great.  I think that part of the problem, now that we have all had chance to study the situation, is that we really needed more information to decide which rules apply.  I realise that initially it was just a brief, interesting, post by Redback who I suspect might be quite surprised with the amount of interest in the topic.  However, situations like this happen all the time in club racing, open meetings and championships.  I think that the problem has become more prevalent since the glut of asymmetric boats over the past fifteen years and particularly with asymmetric boats sailing against non-asymmetric boats.  The ‘proper course’ problem raises its head all of the time.

It seems that both boats were on tightish reaches, prior to approaching the mark in question, as neither boat was flying a kite.  It appears that the leg of the course after rounding the mark was much broader, or a run, as both boats intended to hoist kites.

It does not state whether or not the boats were clear ahead/astern on approaching the two length zone of the mark.  It does not state whether or not the boats were within the two length zone of each other, or, if they were, at what stage in relation to the mark (before, alongside or past the mark). It does not state where the boats were in relation to the mark when the leading boat started to hoist a kite (before, alongside or after the mark).  It does not state whether or not both boats had completely rounded the mark and were then on the downwind leg.  My point is that unless these facts are known then it is difficult to assess which rules apply and when.

Redback has not stated what type of boat he was sailing or what stage he was at, in the process of hoisting his kite.  In my experience, if the leading boat was say a Musto Skiff or an RS 700, and the wind was say a Force 3+, then the helm would find great difficulty in pointing up, and keeping clear, in response to a luff from the outside boat, whilst in the process of hoisting his kite, knowing full well that there might be a strong possibility of a capsize if he did luff up.  Rightly or wrongly, I suspect that he would, firstly, concentrate on safely getting his kite up and secured before getting out on the wire and then pointing up.  The circumstances would be different in lighter winds.

I can’t see how the topic can be finally resolved, with a definitive conclusion, as we, unfortunately, do not have all of the facts.

It shows how important it is, if there is an incident, to know exactly where you are in relation to other boats concerned, in relation to marks, and precise details of relative distances involved. Problems will always occur if the parties involved do not agree or can not remember exactly where an incident took place.  If an incident is not informally resolved and one or both of the parties accepts a penalty, this is where witnesses are important, particularly in cases where there is a formal protest which eventually goes to a Protest Committee for a decision.

Ian  (Yorkshire Dales S.C.)

There is no way that hoisting a kite is an integral part of any mark roundiing.