Conference unifix::sailing

1540.0. "THE RACING RULES - SIMPLIFIED" by ALGAE::KANN () Thu Jun 21 1990 16:50

        The following are the "THE RACING RULES - SIMPLIFIED".
        This is from Community Boating Inc.
        
        Anyone have any comments?
        
                Enjoy,
                        JIM
                        



			THE RACING RULES - SIMPLIFIED

1.  When boats are on opposite tacks, port tack keeps clear.  When boats are
    on the same tack, windward boat keeps clear.

2.  Overtaking boat on same tack keeps clear, but boat overtaking to leeward
    must allow room for windward boat to get clear once they're overlapped.

3.  When you tack or gybe, do it far enough away from other boats so you can
    complete the tack or gybe before they have to change course.

4.  Before the start, don't head up suddenly on another boat; do it slowly,
    and not above close-hauled if windward skipper sits ahead of your mast.

5.  At the start, don't "barge" - that is, don't try to squeeze in between
    the starting mark and a boat to leeward of you.

6.  Your Proper Course is the course you think will take you around as quickly
    as possible - not necessarily a straight line between marks.  When a boat
    is trying to pass you to windward, you may luff her (head up above your
    Proper Course).  When windward skipper can look straight across from where
    he sits and see your mast beside him or behind him, he may hail "Mast 
    Abeam", and you must go back on your Proper Course.  You may not luff him
    again during that same overlap.

7.  On a reach or run, if another boat is trying to pass you to leeward, you
    may not bear off below your Proper Course.  But she may not luff you when
    she gets an overlap because when that overlap began you were sitting ahead
    of her mast.  She may not luff you during that overlap.

8.  To be allowed inside room at a mark, you must get your overlap on the out-
    side boat before that boat reaches 2-boatlengths from the mark.

9.  At a Tacking (Windward) Mark:  Port tack must keep clear of starboard
    tack.  Overlapped boats:  outside boat must give room to inside boats on
    the save tack.  Clear Ahead and Clear Astern:  the Tacking and Gybing
    Rule (3, above) is in effect.  Clear-ahead boat can't tack around mark 
    until she can do so without interfering with the boat clear astern.

10. At a Rounding of Gybing Mark:  Overlapped boats:  outside boat must give
    room to all inside overlapped boats, no matter whether they're on star-
    board or port tack.  Clear Ahead and Clear Astern:  the boats clear astern
    when the leading boat reaches 2-boatlengths of the mark must stay clear
    while all clear-ahead boats gybe, and round, and pass the mark.

11. If you want to protest another boat for committing a foul, you must hail
    "Protest!" to the other skipper at the time of the foul.

12. If you have fouled another boat, you may clear yourself by doing a "720"
    (two complete circles) as soon as you can get clear of all other boats, 
    staying clear while you do the circles.  If the foul was before the start
    signal, you must do your circles after the start signal.

13. If there is contact between two boats, a protest must be filed at the end
    of the race, unless one skipper did a "720."  (Report all "720's.")

14. If you hit a mark, you may re-round, keeping clear of all boats until
    you've done the extra circle.  Your rights resume when you're on your
    Proper Course to the next mark.

15. Fair Sailing Rule:  You shall try to win a race only by fair sailing and
    superior speed and skill.

    I like the simplicity of these definitions, however it should be noted
    that 12-14 are alternative penalties, and they do not always apply,
    this being the decision of the race organisers.
    
    The standard penaly for infringent of nearly all rules is
    disqualification, and some organisers use the above mentioned
    penalties, others ( e.g. The Admirals Cup ) use a points or places
    penalty on the final result. Many regattas, particularly offshore ones,
    have no alternative penalties.
    
    One major area not covered is what you do if you are over the line
    early, and how that can be affected by alternative rules ( e.g. the
    5 minute rule )
    
    Don't ask me to explain, I'm not very good at rules.
    
    Chris
    

    You also missed the simplest ones of all....
    
    He who is in the lead, is in the right.
    
    He who shouts first, is in the right.
    
    He who shouts loudest, is normally in the wrong - unless he shouts
    first.

    The rules governing PHRF racing have been modified this year.
    
    One of the rules changes deals with no longer being required to have
    the spinnaker pole on the opposite side of the boat from the boom. 
    That's straight-forward enough.
    
    Is it a corollary then, that the whisker pole in non-spinnaker
    situations can be used in the same manner, i.e. Is it now permissable
    to pole the genoa out with the pole on the same side as the boom?
    
    We were in the vicinity of boats racing last night, and saw a number of
    boats with the poles and booms on the same side of the vessel.  Were
    they legal?
    
    Thanks,
    
    djc
    
    
    
    

    
    	CorrectoMundo; they are legal. The rules don't differentiate
    between spinnaker and whisker poles, far as I know. I _DO_ wish a rule
    was added to mark the adjustable poles at the J length. I'm not gonna
    protest anybody for extending it longer than J, but that's still
    cheating.
    
    	Now, those who only own one pole, like me, are experimenting with
    the pole when close reaching. One guy is working on adjusting the pole
    car on the mast, up & down, to adjust how far the jib is out. No
    smashing successes yet; the pole is just not all that long. I prefer a
    snatchblock or twing on the toerail.
    
    	Another big change: if you thump a mark, you are now only required
    to do one 360� turn, rather than 2.
    
    	Scott (psyched for 2 races this weekend!)