YACHTS

The Club races the International One Metre(IOM) and Victoria Class.

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SAIL LOCKER 
So, having had a look at the Racing Rules as noted in the Elements of ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing as recommended, and given some thought to perspective and judging four boat lengths on the edge of the known world, what else is there to know?. We now know the rules governing rounding the marks, what happens at the starting line and how it should be sited, and of course you are all good sportsmen and so very tolerant, what else is there to know apart from tactics?.

How about finishing?. Simple isn’t it?. Get to the line and sail across it, preferably before anyone else !. Not quite. The marker buoys are now live, just as they were for the start-line. To finish you must cross the line without any contact, and the end of your boom is part of your yacht; even such a minor contact is a contact and means returning to the course side via the extended line and re-crossing. Contact with another yacht is just the same, re-cross the line from the course side of the line. To re-cross the line you must go right round the end of the line without impeding other competitors in any way.

Once you have finished, keep clear of the finishing line and the course; collide with or impede competitors still racing can lead to your disqualification Nor the ideal end to the race you have just worked so hard to win! .

What else?. Get a good start, and keep in clear water, as far away from other competitors as possible preferably ahead of them!. We have probably all seen competitors still out on the course long after others have finished. The Race-Officer should state during the briefing if there is going to be a time-limit; this is usually four minutes after the winner has crossed the line. Competitors still racing are awarded “places on the water”. The R.O should announce this in a manner understood by all.

The duties of the Observers should be understood by all; the observer will be responsible for a defined leg of the course assigned by the Race Officer, and have at least a working knowledge of the rules. He/she is watching for contacts and infringements such as buoy-contacts, and for penalty turns to be taken before arriving at the next mark of the course. When such an infringement is seen, the observer should call the sail number and the offence; the offender is honour-bound to complete a penalty turn, CLEAR OF ALL OTHER COMPETITORS, ie, OFF THE RACING LINE. Thus if the competitor under-shoots a buoy, the correct procedure is to turn towards the inner area of the designated course and approach the buoy without obstructing other contestants who are on the racing line. Attempting to nip in with the potential of obstructing or contacting other racers is full of danger, so don’t do it!. You will lose boat-speed anyway. Calling an infringement is not solely down to the observer, such a call can be made by another contestant and again it is the responsibility of the offender to do the decent thing; don’t argue about it, just do the 360 degree turn. If you are aggrieved about the call, you can lodge a protest as you finish.


The other significant call likely to be heard from another contestant is “Starboard Tack”. This call indicates that the wind is coming onto the starboard side of his/her boat, indicated by the booms being over to port, and leeward boats should give way to the caller, and not sail above their course. Sail parallel by all means, but do not take unfair advantage by easing towards the windward boat. Boats on port tack must give way to boats on starboard tack.
The safety of the leeward boat is in the hands of the windward boat’s skipper. The origins of this call go back into the long lost mists of time when it was possible for the windward vessel to cause the leeward vessel to run aground; not always an accidental outcome.
Overtaking; as with the road traffic rules, the overtaking skipper must keep clear of the boat being overtaken. Give sufficient clearance, and don’t overtake into a tangle of other craft. This is too frequently seen at the approach to a buoy.


SCORING SYSTEMS. Most Clubs try to keep things simple and we are no different.
The system in use is a low-score system, ie, the lower your points total, the higher you’re placing.
Penalty points are awarded for failing to start, or failing to finish. Normally this is one point more than competitors who have entered the event, so with ten entrants you score eleven for failing to start or to finish, whatever the reason.
What ever your score and placing, just remember it’s a sport; your life doesn’t depend on winning. If you don’t do well, try harder next time, but what-ever, remember sailing is not a contact sport!.

Next time I’ll deal with race-preparation, hopefully you have not been put off this stimulating activity.

RON

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