Windward boat

RRS applies between boats racing, whether or not they are in the same race.

If you want a fun mental exercise, figure out how rule 18 applies as between boats rounding a mark in opposite directions (which has happened to me at least 3 times now in the Solent).

The proper corse part of the rule I find quite confusing, I have on at least 2 occaisions had an assymetric boat purposely bear away and sail below me to gain an overlap to leeward, once they have sailed into my wind shadow, they have luffed above the course to the next mark, claiming that as an assymetric boat, they are entitled to do so, as this is their "proper course". There had been no significant change in wind or sea conditions and were not dinghies, who I agree tend to heat up and soak in most conditions.

In both occaisions I felt this was an attempt to gain and keep an overlap for an upcoming mark, (bowsprit overlapped, but not boat) which otherwise due to the wind shadow they were having difficulty keeping. Forcing me above the 2 boat length circle, so they would have rights after the gybe.

Given that it was their choice to go below, and therefore sail below the course to the next mark, can they then claim that their proper course is then well above the next mark, given that if that was the case, they should have gone above me in the first place?

When I have been sailing assymetrics I have always gybed away, and then come back from below 2 boat lenghts and therefore assumed luffing rights in the same situation, am I just being too polite?

Andy

Yes they can. If they are L with an overlap, they can sail their proper course. As JimC said, they are not obliged to sail their proper course in ordert to put themselves in that position.

The situation has arrised on both occaisions with the boat never sailing above the direct course to the mark, until in the wind shadow. As when no other boats were around them, they did not feel the need to go above the direct course, how can they then jusify it when they then are interacting with another boat?

As both incidents occured in the last quarter of the leg, I find it hard to believe that you can claim proper course in this situation. Otherwise they would have gone well above the direct course earlier, and gybed back in, and may have had to give water to the boats on the direct course. I doubt we would allow any symmetrical kited boat to do this, even though some, eg 505 could argue the higher and faster point.

As for sailing low to prevent them from going below you, unless the rules have changed since I was umpiring, unfortunaltly ISAF site not working to check, if a boat is sailing a course to go below you, you cant sail below your proper course unless you then gybe.