Hi all a quick query from a situation that arose at the weekend,

I was sailing along the start line, about a boat length under the line, on starboard with my sail almost empty so I was sailing slowly. Aiming to get to the port end of the line at about 10s to go tack and then start on a port tack flyer (worked by the way, got to the top mark first ).

A boat on port crossed in front of me forcing me to point up and then back down around his transom. I called starboard on him, but he said I had no rights because my sails were not full. Is that correct? I was moving, just very slowly with my sail very loosely sheeted.

What would have happened if I was stationary, do I have right of way over port tack boats?

Thanks for any help

He was sailing along the line, to windward of me, and then he bore away in front of me, which without me pointing up momentarily could have lead to a collision.

Not sure if we would have made contact, and that is mainly why I didn't protest, just wanting to understand when i have rights better.

Starboard tack constant course and speed (albeit slow): all boats on port should keep clear rule 12 and all boats to windward and overlapped should keep clear rule 11.  By avoiding the port boat you did the correct thing rule 14 (avoiding contact), could the port boat keep clear? if so I would expect you to win a protest.

Thanks for the clarification on this weekends incident. glad to know I would have won a protest, as it happens I got a good start despite that.

Just out of interest, would I have rights over a port tack boat if I was on starboard and stationary?

You have rights over port even if going astern as long as you didn't achieve sternway by backing a sail.  You can also back a sail to stop and still require a port boat to keep clear as long as they have the opportunity and you don't start moving astern.

Worth getting a good rules explanation book like Elvstrom,

Well explained Gordon :-) and dead right by my view. I have had someone try to protest me following a tack because they said my tack was not complete because my sail was not set. I pointed it that was irrelevant it was my course that mattered.

This was an experienced sailor (and a nice chap by all accounts) but he never keeps himself up to date on the current rules.

Sorry Gordon, for the benefit of some readers who may mis-interpret,  could you add the full definition which covers 'running by the lee' ?

Andy Mc.

Thanks for the clarification. I have been reading my rule book, and did think I was correct, so will have to have a friendly chat with him next time were at the club. He is an experienced racer but I am sure he was mistaken rather than misleading me, he is a very fair guy. Is it something that used to be in the rules and has been changed?

I only really started racing seriously last season, so still getting the hang of the rules and their interpretations, so your help is much appreciated.

Thank you Gordon,

As ever, you are 100% precise (and concise) with your answers.

I didn't mean to imply that 'running by the lee' definition was included in tack, just that somebody might have not understood the definition of windward/leeward side which could be equally relevant (although not to the original question posted in this thread).

Andy Mc.

Ok, here's one from me.

Firstly, i'm an inexperienced racer that, generally, just tries to stay out of everyones way  .... however, on Sunday, i found myself making a cracking start, right up at the far end (most were at the committee boat end). About 3 seconds off the start - i'd have hit the line with about 1 to spare) - a fast reaching laser came up on my port side, slightly converging courses, we're both on Starboard and i (think) i understand that he was going to get the overlap AND i was windward boat so, technically i have to keep clear? .... however, the laser did come very fast to the line and very close to me - to the point where i had no room in order to keep clear and had to tack around just as i reached the line (right on the start end marker) in order to give him room.

Now, as i said, my position was more luck than anything & i just wanted to keep clear so, right now, i'm not into protesting anyone...BUT, as i understand it, whilst he had right of way, he also has to give me room to keep clear? There was no room other than to go OCS & around the start pin or go away and turn right round...that's what i did and ended up at the back of the fleet instead of (possibly) winning the start.

I just want to be clear so that my understanding increases.

Would i have been justified in protesting or was it just one of those things?

Something not right here.

1, Fast reaching laser, so not sailing up wind?

2, Converging course with you; thus you were sailing LOWER?

3, No room to avoid, yet you managed to tack?  in tacking you would have pushed your stern towards the other boat.

4, maybe a diagram would help?

Sorry scoob, i didn't really explain it too well to be honest, suffice to say that yeah, whilst the issue of room etc came to my mind, the answers given by Gordon & Jim have cleared that up for me. Just wanted to get it clear in my mind really, no intention of a protest - wouldn't have stood anyway - and i'm not fussed about having to go around, just wanted to check and get it sorted in my brain. Yeah, i had to move away but as pointed out, that's all the name of the game i guess   Lesson for next time? - make sure i stay at the back hahaha! - and read a bit more of my rule book.

Cheers guys.

This month's Y&Y has an article on starting.

you normally need to be a few boat lengths back from the line to prevent this happening and then start accelerating at the right time.  There are ways to defend but you need to be aware of the situation developing.  Lots of starting practice is probably the best way to develop the necessary skills.

If you would like acopy of the beginners guide to racing CD which is used at BCYc for the start racing course PM me your address and I'll put one in the post (donation to sailability if you find it helpful)!

fleaberto:

Anticipation is the name of the game... thinking ahead... like in a chess game, thinking 3 or 4 movs ahead.

As you sail down the line towards the pin end, keep looking around. Once you see the danger approaching in the form of a Laser, you have 3 choices:

1) As you did, get luffed over the line, andhave to start behind people.

2) Speed up, cross the bow of the Laser, and then luff to slow down again. You are now leeward boat, and he has to luff to avoid you. But you need to get ahead of and to leeward of the Laser early enough.

3) Slow down and allow the Laser to go ahead of you and have "the best" start off the pin end, and you accept the 2nd best by starting just up the line from him. This is much better than being luffed over the line!