Q&A 2008-02
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Racing Rules
Forum Discription: Discuss the rules and your interpretations here
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4355
Printed Date: 26 Jun 25 at 1:45pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Q&A 2008-02
Posted By: Ralph T
Subject: Q&A 2008-02
Date Posted: 05 Jul 08 at 8:09pm
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Just came across the following Q&A on the ISAF which was published 12 May 2008 Question 1 With respect to the definition of finish, does the condition "in normal position" refer also to the hull? Answer 1 No, the normal position refers to crew or equipment only. The commas before and after “or crew or equipment” in normal position limit the normal-position requirement only to the crew and equipment. Question 2 - With respect to the definition of Finish, the Terminology paragraph of the Introduction and the second part of rule 47.2, does a capsized boat correctly finish if she crosses the finishing line when: a) all of the crew members are (somehow) on board even though the boat is capsized, b) some of the crew members are not on board but are very close to the boat and trying to straighten it out , and c) some of the crew members are not on board because they have become disconnected from the boat and its equipment, but are swimming to reach the capsized boat? Answer 2 Yes. It is normal for dinghies to capsize and therefore a capsized dinghy and its crew in the water are in a normal position. It follows that a boat finishes correctly in all of the conditions stated in the question. Also, the boat does not break rule 47.2 while the crew are making all reasonable attempts to recover the boat and get back on board provided they are not making any attempt to progress the position of the boat in the race. If they attempt to ‘swim’ the boat across the finishing line, they would break both rule 47.2 and rule 42.1, and possibly rule 2. Is it me or is Answer 2 absurd?? Surely reference to normal position was meant to be when a boat was racing up to & across the finish line, not when it was lying in the water with the rest of the fleet sailing past it. I accept that there are rules relating to when a boat is racing & under this rule, a capsized boat is still 'racing' in relation to adherence to the rules. However, our sport is a 'first past the post' sport, not who did it with the best style. There was a time when the Aussies would throw some of the crew out on the last leg to lighten the weight. It looks as though this is now allowed again Hopefully, there will be a rule change in November to bring some sense to this situation
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Replies:
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 05 Jul 08 at 9:37pm
| No, because if you're upright and any crew leave, then you've got to recover them before continuing- that's covered elsewhere. What this means is that if the finish is down-wind/downtide/downstream, and you capsize close, then you can record a finish as long as the crew are at least making a resonable attempt to get back to the boat. |
Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 06 Jul 08 at 12:11pm
I think this is fair and in line with most sports I can think of such as downhill/slalom skiing where as long as you complete the gates correctly you can finish on your backside, sprinting where you could crawl over if you had a tumble just beforew the line. Not sure about horse racing though which is more similar to sailing in that you have a competitior and a substantial peice of equipment I think to question this would be churlish as you are hardly going to score a big win being capsized at the finish unless you already had sailed a blinder, and you would have all the ribbing in the bar afterwards as well. One last point: it is a more 'normal' sailing position for some than others to be furiously chasing a capsized boat ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
at the finish or otherwise.Posted By: Ralph T
Date Posted: 06 Jul 08 at 2:36pm
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Thanks for putting me straight guys. I see what the intention is now & like you, totally agree. Apologies to the esteemed members of the ISAF Q&A team |
Posted By: Garry
Date Posted: 06 Jul 08 at 8:03pm
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You could think of this problem a different way. What would you have a crew that unfortuanately capsized just before the finish and then drifted across the line. Would you make them sail back to the course side and refinish once they had righted the boat? that would seem a bit harsh! ------------- Garry Lark 2252, Contender 298 www.cuckoos.eclipse.co.uk |