Windward boat

Originally posted by Scooby_simon I'd argue that my porper course changes when there is a wind shift, or I sail past a tree.

Certainly "proper course" allows you to respond to wind shifts, provided the wind-shift isn't caused by another boat.

What do you think "proper course" is about? It is intended to limit the circumstances under which you can indulge in boat-on-boat tactics. There is no requirement to sail your proper course unless, under specified circumstances, you are forcing another boat to take avoiding action.

So what's been argued here is that "proper course" includes the freedom to luff another boat because of its wind-shadow in a situation where the rules require you to sail the course you would sail in the absence of other boats. This is quite clearly nonsense and driving a coach-and-horses through the definition of proper course. In the absence of other boats, the wind shadow wouldn't be there.

 

 

Edited by Stefan Lloyd

My argument would be:

 - I found myself to leeward of another boat, and my proper course from that point onward is to sail on a higher course than the windward boat.

 

How did you get to leeward of the other other boat? That bit doesn't matter, as long as I give the windward boat room to respond.

 - Maybe: sailing from well off to the side of the course.

 - Maybe: I was trying to sail as low as possible: boat well heeled to windward, bearing away, keeping the kite on the verge of collapsing, trying to get down to a buoy without gybing. But the crew moved, or the wave knocked the wind out of the kite, or a 1 degree change in wind direction, or a 1mph change in speed was enough to break the flow. And at that point I had to luff in order to re-establish the wind flow across the kite.

 - Maybe: I dived to leeward of his transom, hoping to claim an over-lap, but once there I realised I couldn't stay at that angle and needed to luff up.

 

It shouldn't matter HOW I got to leeward. What matters is that from now on my proper course is at a higher angle than the windward boats. So I shout and warn and give him time to respond, and then I sail on my proper course.

Originally posted by ChrisJ My argument would be:  - I found myself to leeward of another boat, and my proper course from that point onward is to sail on a higher course than the windward boat.

Which is fine. However in an earlier post, you said that "proper course" included luffing in response to the wind shadow of W. That is incorrect.

If that was a legitimate tactic, people would do it with conventional kites all the time. Tuck hard under W, wait till your kite curls and give them a nice sharp luff. It would be a very nice way to pass to leeward. 

 

Originally posted by Stefan Lloyd If that was a legitimate tactic, people would do it with conventional kites all the time. Tuck hard under W, wait till your kite curls and give them a nice sharp luff. It would be a very nice way to pass to leeward.

Exactly. There is nothing special about asymettrics in this context. My spinnaker free IC sails hotter angles than Lasers running by the lee. I can duck under if I wish, and come up to what would be my proper course in the absence of other boats and their winshadow, but I can't claim that because my jib is flapping due to the windshadow my proper course has just got higher.