However, the second last race was held in 20-25 knots, conditions for which we don't really have a headsail, and which suited the bigger boat to a tee and, on the final beat to windward, our two boats were pretty much level, us in front but to leeward, them astern to windward. This was on port tack with two tacks required to take the windward mark (an island).

We tacked onto starboard and I thought they'd probably cross in front of us, but they too, tacked and, by the time they got up so speed we were a little astern and about a boat-length to windward. We had them pinned. We didn't tack at the layline but sailed maybe a minute past it, allowing another boat to cross astern of us both. The big boat eventually got impatient and started to pinch up, a manoeuvre we could easily have matched, but we tacked for the mark.

At the end of the race, the big boat got 3rd on corrected time (still in front of the boat we allowed to pass us both), about one minute and 20 secs. behind second. I doubt we affected their placing (and may even have improved their handicap a little).

After the race I thought that we'd wimped out: having decided to take them past the layline, we should have kept going. I imagine they'd eventually have bore away to make room to tack, but we could have bore away with them, preventing the tack and, eventually, they'd have had to bear away and gybe to head for the mark. If we'd tacked while they were gybing, we could probably have crossed in front of them, forcing them to sail above us and repeating the whole thing on the other tack.

We could have forced them to second-last place (we'd have been last) which on the day would have cost them 6 points, we'd have picked up 4 and would have been in the lead by half a point with one race remaining. Instead, we were 2 and a half points behind.

So (finally!) my questions:

1) Did we break a rule?

2) If not, if we'd done what I suggested we should have done – including bearing away to prevent them from tacking – would we have broken a rule?

3) If not, is what we did "unsporting'?

Thanks in advance,

Steve  = : ^ )

I might add that the final race was sailed in light conditions, we beat the bigger boat by three places and won the series by half a point, making the second year in a row we've won by half a point(!) The skipper of the other boat came over and congratulated us – but he slipped in a mention of this incident. ;-)

Thanks again,

Steve  = : ^ )

Sorry a bit short and untidy:  on the mobile.

Steve  = : ^ )

Unfortunately the rules can't make judgement calls like that and it's all fair game, but I think the first situation wouldn't lose you too many friends wheras the second has the chance to make you a bit of a outcast at the fleet party.

The faster boat was also in a different start to the slower boat and they hung around part way up the beat to pin the slower boat down too which was what caused more of the furore I believe.

SA Thread here

  http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=159471&hl=sportsman#entry4643314" rel="nofollow - http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=159471&hl=sportsman#entry4643314

Includes Case 78 quoted in full, and discussion about boats of significantly different size in an IRC race, but NOT two different races.

Attacking a boat in a different race would break rule 24 Interfering with another boat.