Windward/leeward right of way

 

The last option should have read - 'As a change to the RRS where different boats share a course'.

 

and redoing the rules might be quite challenging as well

 

e.g. would a fast windward boat have rights over a slower leeward boat approaching the leeward mark?

the rule is fine as it is and works well because of its simplicity and universality, irrespective of the classes involved. the issue is awareness. the boats coming downwind stay alert and ensure that they keep a good eye out, it doesn't matter how awesome, flashy and important your boat is, you still probably don't have right of way so look out. but, as has been said above, the boat going upwind needs to stay alert as well. they need to be aware of where the other boats are.

when i had my 700 (good grief, 9 years ago now!) it was absolutely terrifying going downwind with the kite up during HISC club racing. frequently you'd be trying to navigate your way down a relatively tight channel, trying your best to sneak a peek under the kite, when all of a sudden you would hear a muffled cry of "windward boat". as you slid into the cockpit to look under the kite again you'd suddenly see a whole wall of solos coming towards you at a range of about 4 boatlengths!!! to a solo it was entirely possible for us to react and gybe out of the way in a couple of boatlengths, they could so why couldn't we? oh, and the chaos with people who have no/little appreciation of just how much a skiff changes direction when under the kite is scary. it's not just W/L, it's all over the place, they think they've moved out of the way but they've just put themselves in more danger, always go above the asymmetric, never below! by sunday evening your nerves would be completely shredded  . so far the 100 seems much easier, gybing is less of a procedure and the visibility is notably improved. 

as much as the primary responsibility is with the spinnaker boat to keep an eye out, there is as much need to educate other boats about the concept of how some of these 'extreme' boats operate. to paraphrase the old saying "Shout early, shout often!"

 

I know of no other field of recreation where it is accepted that you can career about amongst the water using general public in a fast heavy craft accepting that for a significant amount of time you have limited directional control and limited visibility!

 

It's an accident waiting to happen. I don't know what the answer is. In my own case I have chosen not to continue to sail a fast asymmetric.

 

Rule changes will make no difference where you are sailing on open water with a variety of other water users who are not racing, do not know the right of way rules, and do not know what to expect from high performance asymmetric dinghies.

 

I wouldn't change the rules, the people who it would most apply to wouldn't know the new rule and cause chaos.