[Public-list] Racing rules

Fri May 7 05:34:33 PDT 2004

Interesting case...

I would say that you were within your rights as windward boat to hold your
course if all they did was call for room but not make a move to take it.
Even if you sagged down on them a little you are OK if they do not make a
move to take their room back.

I was trained to do that in crowded starts...my instructor, an ex-Olympic
Finn sailor called it "using your elbows to make room".  He suggested making
room to weather by calling for it and swooping up under a boat to windward;
then edge down a little on the boat to leeward - but only until they noticed
and reacted at which point you crowd the boat to weather again.

This sort of thing only becomes unethical if you press rights (on the boat
to leeward) that you don't have by ignoring their rightful attempt to take
back room.  

The danger is that the boat to leeward can protest (as he did) knowing that
in the protest court he is the one who walks in with the halo already
shining.  I'll bet the swoop to leeward was theatrical to underline hurt
feelings.  The "port tack" error you mention underlines that he might be a
less experienced sailor and took what he felt was "too close" (10' is a
mile) as personal and aggressive.

On another area - we race up here under the "new" IYRU rules that don't
automatically disqualify a boat in a protest situation anymore.  Are you
familiar with the change a few years ago?  If in doubt you can clear the
slate with a 360 before the end of the race.

Our first race is in a couple of weeks - ol'Surprise was brought home to the
Club from the marina yesterday and our first practice may be Sunday.  Can't
wait.

Gord #426 Surprise

> This actually happened about 1 boat length below the line because when we
> headed up, we crossed the starting line at +1 second.
> 
> This was Sunday a few weeks ago in a Bay high point round the bouys race.
> Winds were 18-20 and 3 foot waves on the line. At the moment since we lost
> the protest, we are DSQ. Protest notwithstanding, we actually won the race
> by several minutes.
> 
> Their protest centered on their claim that we came down on them instead of
> remaining on our heading or coming up as requested.
> 
> We printed out the GPS track showing headings, speed and time of day for the
> protest committee that showed we never altered course until after their
> protest and we were heading up to start (they were bearing away at that
> point, then came back up and crossed at the pin end of the line).
> 
> Their protest form said we were on PORT tack too. They didn't even know what
> tack they were on.
> 
> It ended with a QUOTE: "they do this kind of thing on the starting line all
> of the time and we were fed up".
> 
> Bill
> 
> --
> 
> 
> 
>> From: Bill Blevins <billblevins at mac.com>
>> Reply-To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all <public-list at alberg30.org>
>> Date: Fri, 07 May 2004 07:59:33 -0400
>> To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all <public-list at alberg30.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Public-list] Racing rules
>> 
>> Not sure. No obstruction, no other boats on the line in front of them. We
>> both were in the middle of the line and about 2 boat lengths below it when
>> they bore off. The windward boat was a 36 footer and the leeward boat was a
>> 28 footer. The leeward boat was in bad air at that time and probably
>> couldn't have come up much without the windward boat driving right over
>> them.
>> 
>> (Now you know I was the windward boat. I didn't come up when they called for
>> room because they still had 10-15 feet. We were on the winches ready to come
>> up when they started, but they maintained their position. We lost the
>> protest at SMSA on Wednesday and are appealing to CBYRA.)
>> 
>> Bill
>> 
>> --
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> From: John Birch <Sunstone at cogeco.ca>
>>> Reply-To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all <public-list at alberg30.org>
>>> Date: Fri, 07 May 2004 07:52:27 -0400
>>> To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all <public-list at alberg30.org>
>>> Subject: Re: [Public-list] Racing rules
>>> 
>>> Data insufficient - Why did the leeward boat bearoff, obstruction, ran out
>>> the line, other ?
>>> 
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Bill Blevins" <billblevins at mac.com>
>>> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at alberg30.org>
>>> Sent: Friday, May 07, 2004 7:44 AM
>>> Subject: [Public-list] Racing rules
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> 5 SECONDS TO START: Two boats sail on a starboard close reach are running
>>>> the starting line. Leeward boat has established overlap. Separation
>>> between
>>>> boats is 10-15 feet. Windward boat is sailing slightly faster.
>>>> 
>>>> 10 SECONDS TO START: Positions are still about the same when the leeward
>>>> boat calls for room to head up but doesn't alter course, maintaining
>>>> position 10-15 feet below the windward boat.
>>>> 
>>>> 5 SECONDS TO START: Positions remain about the same with 10-15 feet
>>>> separation and leeward boat overlapped with their bow abeam of the
>>> windward
>>>> boat. Windward boat is protested by the leeward boat for not coming up.
>>>> Leeward boat bears off dramatically and the windward boat heads up to the
>>>> starting line and has a clean start.
>>>> 
>>>> Valid protest?
>>>> 
>>>> --
>>>> Bill Blevins
>>>> Star Directory & Internet director
>>>> The Free Lance-Star
>>>> 605 William Street
>>>> Fredericksburg, VA 22401
>>>> 540-295-5359
>>>> bblevins at mac.com
>>>> http://fredericksburg.com
>>>> ###
>>>> 
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