Tacking onto starboard at the windward mark

I don't know if JS is complaining about port and starboard near windward marks or foul and abusive language and rule 69/2.

If it's about port/starboard, then I think Rupert's got it covered.

About, foul language and abuse, there may be a point.

When I was involved in swimming and orienteering, it would have been just unthinkable for a competitor to cop an earful, either during a race (a bit difficult with swimming) or around an event venue.  I think that's probably the same for any participation sport like golf, or indeed, aths or cycling.  It may be different where the marketing department has promoted a 'bad-boy' image with trash talking and sledging as in basketball and cricket.

Sure aths an cycling have drug problems, but I suspect that drug problems, appearing at the elite level, don't deter families from participation, while an image involving foul mouthed bad manners might.

A bit of both really.

The rules need to be simplified. The fact that there are X number of pages debating a single situation shows the situation is overly complex and is symbolic, in my view of the reasons there is low up take of sailing. It's true that a lot of the old guard like it that way. But the old guard die. If people want sailing to continue as a meaningful SPORT it needs youth.

The Americas Cup is doing a good job of effectively simplifying and creating understanding with the technology being employed. The concept of 'understandability' they have used to make the AC meaningful to crowds needs to be employed in our rule set.

And yes, rule intimidation, swearing and boat bullying needs to be got rid of. Unfortunately it is sort of embodied in the sail rules through the concept of 'protest'. Which creates an aggressive mind set not to dissimilar to two barristers playing chess. A lot of old guard sailors like this sort of sailing. And enjoy drifting around a tree surrounded gravel pit at 1 knot, having a mental battle with an club adversary. 

I've yet to see a teenager get much out of this type of sailing. That's not to say it shouldn't exist. Just maybe they that enjoy that sort of sailing should 'team race' with the current set of rules. And let those interested in SPORT ( in the athletic sense ) and not 3D CHESS, sail with a rule set that is focused more on getting around the course as cleanly and swiftly as possible.

Maybe there should be two very distinct rule sets? RULES LIGHT and RULES HEAVY after all most classes have an Inland Championships as well as there regular Champs etc...

JimC - as for drugs, I'd be careful about pointing the finger at other sports with the inference being that Sailing is clean.