Rules of Racing Overview HMBYC Women’s Sailing Rebecca Mendenhall March 20, 2018 HMBYC Women’s Sailing March 20, 2018 Beccie Mendenhall

Rules of Racing Overview Core Components: ROW (Right of Way)  This trumps everything Starting Mark Rounding Penalties Protests

Rules of Racing – Fundamental Rules 1 SAFETY 1.1 Helping Those in Danger  Must give help to any person or vessel in danger Not just people you know, or people in the race – anyone in danger! 1.2 Life Saving Equipment and PFD All competitors responsible to wear a PFD adequate for conditions Not just on the seat near by - you must be wearing it! Must have life saving equipment for everyone on board Must have one device ready for immediate use Examples: Cleveland Race so many years ago – Everyone DFQ except our boat Three Bridge This year – “that guy”

Rules of Racing – Fundamental Rules Fair Sailing Sportsmanship and Fair Play is expected (Corinthian spirit) Acceptance of Rules No – you don’t get to make up your own rules 4 Decision to Race Yours alone – no one is making you do this! 5 Anti-Doping (I guess drinking is excluded here)

Right of Way (ROW) – Section A 10 Opposite Tacks: Starboard has ROW Port tack must KEEP CLEAR of Starboard tack boat 11 Same Tack Overlapped: Leeward has ROW Windward boat must KEEP CLEAR of Leeward Same Tack NOT Overlapped: Clear Ahead has ROW The boat clear Astern (behind) must KEEP CLEAR While Tacking: Tacking boat must KEEP CLEAR of all other boats If 2 boats tacking at same time: Starboard and Clear Ahead boats have ROW Tacking boat does not have rights until sailing close hauled on new tack

ROW Limitations – Section B Avoiding Contact – ROW boat Need not act until it is clear the other boat is not Shall be exonerated as long as no damage or injury BUT you SHOULD Hail the other boat – confirm your ROW 15,16 Acquiring ROW or ROW boat changing course Must give other boats room to keep clear 17, 11 Overtaking from Clear Astern Passing on Leeward side - You acquire ROW at overlap BUT you must sail proper course (cannot “luff” windward boat) You also may lose your wind mid-maneuver Passing on Windward side – Leeward boat has ROW AND they are allowed to “luff”, windward boat must keep clear Passing Windward ME – Kelly Pike story Passing Windward NOT ME – Dave Morris story But now we are talking about Tactics This is when it gets fun!

Know your class Know your order of go Know the flags Don’t get too far from committee Starting Line Starting Line Restrictions – varies by race, check your SI! Before Race / During Race If you are over early, you have to go back and start again If you hit the starting pin you have to do a penalty (check SI) If you hit committee boat you are generally DQ (but check SI) Starboard Tack – Leeward Boats have ROW AND are allowed to sail above proper course until race starts can force windward boat over early Does NOT have to give room at committee boat Port Tack – Must keep clear of ALL Starboard boats  Can be a daunting experience! But can pay off big if done right  Richard (Cal 20 racer) says it is better than “Sex” No “Barging” down the line Race we missed – Race with no verbal cues

Sailing the Course The “Course” consists of Cross the Starting Line in proper direction (heading to first mark) Pass each Mark on required Side (Starboard or Port) Pass each Mark in proper order Pass between a Gate from the direction of previous Mark Cross the finish line in proper direction You are allowed to “correct” mistakes as long as you have not finished If you “hit” any mark or a pin on the start or finish line it is a penalty Penalties can vary from race to race – again the SI is key AND – know your course, from start to finish and all points in between You can’t follow the other boats if you are in the lead!! AND sometimes the other boats are wrong AND there is nothing worse than being in front and missing the finish

Mark Room – Rule 18 Applies for boats on the same tack approaching a mark Mark Room - is about giving other boats space to clear the Mark The ZONE – an imaginary circle 3 boat lengths around the mark Overlap is determined when the FIRST boat reaches the ZONE No Overlap entering zone Clear Ahead boat has ROW and does NOT have to give Mark Room Clear Astern boats (all of them) must give Mark Room and stay clear Overlap entering zone Outside boat must give Mark Room to inside boat(s) Must still give mark room even if overlap is broken Changing Tack in the zone Must not interfere with any boats fetching mark Gybing - Inside ROW boat must not sail further from mark than needed

Simple Right? But wait until you apply it Rule 18.2 c – Not So Simple!! If overlap from Clear Astern or Tacking to Windward IF Outside boat at time of overlap cannot give mark room, she is not required I think what this means is – if you are coming in faster than boat A AND try to squeeze in at mark on inside (leeward) But to give you room Boat A would have to sail above the wind Then she does not have to go into irons to make room Something similar applies for Obstructions (Rule 19c)  overtaking from clear Astern you can’t squeeze in on the inside

Simple Right? But wait until you apply it And what about the ROW stuff? How does that work when the other boat (or you) Have No Wind Have Too Much Wind Yelling at the other boat doesn’t do much good When they are drifting Or fighting a round up in 30 knots And it could be you next time – so think about it and be reasonable

Penalties (44) Penalty = 360 degree turn of your boat (one tack + one gybe) Must Keep Clear of all other boats during penalty Should be taken as soon after the incident as possible Hitting a Mark (Rule 31) = One Turn <- includes hitting the start or finish pin Breaking any other Rule in Part 2 (When Boats Meet) = Two Turns Additional Conditions: Break Rule 31 plus Rule in Part 2 – Only have to do 2 Turns If injury or serious damage  RETIRE If unfair advantage despite penalty turn  RETIRE EXONERATION: If you were a ROW boat who was forced to break a rule AGAIN – Check the SI, individual race penalties supersede the rulebook

Protests (60 – 63) IF you are involved with another boat And you believe that boat broke one of the rules in Part 2 or Rule 31 First – you should have hailed the boat when they were breaking the rule BUT suppose they did not agree with you THEN you need to inform them you intend to protest Protest Actions: Raise a red flag on your boat (< 6 meters options but visual helps) File protest paperwork with race committee as soon as possible after race Note: You cannot raise a penalty unless you were involved in the incident

Know the rules – and win some races!!