LTW Readers Q&A (63); Tacking at the Finish?

A Q&A from David and Vernice about a situation close to the finishline:

  
A couple of months ago David was a member of a protest committee which heard the following case:

Two one-design boats (Blue and Red) were approaching the upwind finish line in one of several races in a multi-class regatta. Both boats were on port tack near the port (left) end of the line, looking upwind.There were about 2 1/2 boat lengths separating the two boats, gunnel to gunnel.
Both boats were well within the 3-boat-length zone and had entered the zone almost simultaneously, with the windward Blue boat being slightly closer to the finish line than the leeward Red boat.
The leeward (right hand) Red boat suddenly tacked onto starboard. The windward Blue boat, which was slightly closer to the finish line, crash-tacked to avoid a collision.
After her tack, the Blue boat was outside the lay-line, to the left-hand end of the finish line, and had to execute a jibe to circle around and finish after the Red boat had crossed the line.

The Blue boat hailed "protest" and raised a red flag immediately. She filed a protest within the time limit. She alleged, citing Rule 18, that she should have been given mark-room as the inside boat and allowed to finish on her port-tack course.

The facts found that both boats were overlapped on port tack on their approach to the finish line, with 2 1/2 boat lengths of separation, well within the three-boat-length circle. Both boats were within the port-tack layline to the finish, and the Blue boat would have finished first if they both remained on port tack.

Even though both boats entered the zone on the same tack, the P.C. ruled that the last sentence in the preamble to Rule 18 and Rule 18a indicated that Rule 18 did not apply in this situation because: after the leeward boat (Red) tacked, "both boats were on opposite tacks on a beat to windward." Therefore Blue was not entitled to mark-room (since Rule 18 was shut off). Red was within her rights to tack onto starboard within the zone, becoming the Right-of-Way Boat and forcing Blue as the Give-Way Boat (Rule 10) to tack away onto starboard and be unable to fetch the line.

The questions are:
1.) Did the rule-makers intend that the last statement of the Rule 18 Preamble, along with Rule 18a, would allow the outside leeward port (Red) boat to have such a powerful weapon of being able to tack onto starboard and force the windward port boat (Blue) to tack away and be unable to fetch or to claim mark-room, even though both boats entered the zone overlapped on the same (port) tack and with the windward port boat closer to the mark? Was the Blue boat in that situation unable to invoke Rule 18?

2.) Can the last part of the Preamble, along with Rule 18b, be construed to mean that the proper course for the leeward port boat (Red) should always be to tack in this situation, so that she would be able to shut off Rule 18 and finish before the Blue boat?

I have a question of my own: You mention a crash-tack by Blue. Did she have to respond before Red was on a close hauled course? According to my animation of the incident that is almost unavoidable.  I’m assuming the PC did not find that as fact, otherwise they would have DSQ-ed Red for not keeping clear while tacking. And a crash tack is not seaman-like. If that was the only way Blue could keep clear, Red possibly broke rule 15.




Answer 1: YES. As soon as Red tacks to starboard, both boats are on a different tack and rule 18 is switched off per 18.1(a). Have a look at case 95 in the casebook

Answer 2: Proper Course? Maybe you can call it a good tactic, but not proper course. The definition proper course does not take into account whether a boat finishes before or after.
It is only the fastest way to the finish.
But if Blue ‘allows’ this manoeuvre it is a good way for Red to make sure she finishes before Blue.


There is an affective tactic to defend against such a manoeuvre. If Blue makes sure that Red can never complete her tack without keeping clear, she is effectively blocked and Blue wins.
In order to do this she must bear off and close the gap between her and Red. Not too close, she’s still keep clear boat (and has no protection from her mark-room, because she’s not sailing directly TO the mark) but close enough so that Red cannot tack.

David and Vernice came back to me, with an answer to my question and additional questions. Watch this space for part 2 of LTW Readers Q&A (63).

Ultimate trapeze?!?

A picture send in by Stevie Kouris I think you shouldn't miss:

He had the following questions:

Then I went to the IJreport website to read the report from the regatta and there was a protest against that boat but the protest was dismissed because no rule was broken. Thinking it over and over and reading the Rule book it seems that actually they don't break any Rule, but the following question (more like a curiosity) came to my mind.

Is the helmsman considered to be on board? If yes, what does being on board mean? Is he considered to be on board only because he is not in the water? If a crew member is in the water holding himself onto a sheet is he considered to be on board?

Stevie is referring to rule 47.2 which states: No person on board shall intentionally leave, except when ill or injured, or to help a person or vessel in danger, or to swim. A person leaving the boat by accident or to swim shall be back on board before the boat continues in the race.

One thing is for sure. These guys will have a hell of a climb to make when they tack.....

LTW Readers Q&A (62): Backwards

From BerkCan in Greece:

Yesterday while training we had a situation during pre-start and we had doubts about it so I thought best thing to do is to ask you.

Here is the situation:

 

During pre-start two boats wait head to wind, one is slightly ahead and overlapped. Then the one which is slightly ahead (Yellow) starts to go backward by backing her sails and the other boat (Blue) bears away in order to pass ahead of the backing up boat.  

Our question is: What if Blue decides to bear away more and goes on to Yellow boat? What should Yellow do in that case? 

If she continues to back up her sails and go backward she could be interpreted as continuing her maneuver and doing nothing to avoid Blue. But on the other hand the best thing Yellow could do to avoid Blue is to continue going backward.

Regards,

BerkCan

Answers in the Case of the Seven Samurai

Perhaps you remember our discussion in the case of Seven Samurai boats at the Leeward Mark, back in February?

If not have a look at http://rrsstudy.blogspot.de/2012/02/seven-at-leeward-mark-ltw-readers-q-60.html and at it's sequel: http://rrsstudy.blogspot.de/2012/02/seven-at-leeward-mark-part-2.html.

As agreed in the discussion, it would be sent in to ISAF as an official Q&A and now the answers are published in ISAF Racing Rules Q&A 2012-005 B023.

It seems the answer tells us that both camps in the discussion were partly right; As per usual - it depends.....

Here is the text:

ISAF Racing Rules Question and Answer Service; B 023 Q&A 2012-005; Published: 6 July 2012

Question 1
In the first sentence of rule 18.1, does the phrase 'applies between boats' refer solely to each possible pair of boats, or can it mean “amongst any number of boats”?

Answer 1
Rule 18.1 states: 'Rule 18 applies between boats when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is in the zone.' Note the unqualified use of boats in the plural. Therefore, at any point in time, rule 18 can apply to any number of boats as long as one of them is in the zone. In many instances, this number will be more than the number of boats affected by an obligation placed by rule 18.2 on an outside overlapped boat or a clear astern boat. The fact that rule 18 applies between boats may be a condition for another part of rule 18 to apply but, in itself, it does not mean that any of the boats has an obligation or entitlement under another part of rule 18.

Question 2
In the three-boat scenario on the right, Does B (Purple) break rule 18 by luffing A (Grey) after
position 2, but before reaching the zone?

Answer 2
Rule 18 applies to A, B and C from the time that C enters the zone at Position 2. See answer to question 1 above.

The relevant part of rule 18.2 states 'If boats are overlapped when the first of them reaches the zone, the outside boat at that moment shall thereafter give the inside boat mark-room.'

This creates an obligation on an outside boat, from a particular point in time, to give mark-room to each boat inside her. Thus, after C reaches the zone, she is required to give mark-room to both A and B. However, B does not have a similar obligation to A, the boat inside her, as neither A nor B have reached the zone. Therefore, B does not break any part of rule 18 when she luffs A.

Question 3
In the seven boats scenario, does rule 18 apply in Position 2 amongst the three boats E, F and G that are not in the zone?

Answer 3
Yes. A has reached the zone. All boats outside her have an obligation to give her mark-room. The same applies for B, C and then later D. See answer to Question 1.

Question 4
If there is contact in Position 2 between D, E, F and G, may E be exonerated for breaking rule 11 and rule 18.2(b)?

Answer 4
Yes. Because there is contact between D, E, F & G and D is in the zone, G has broken rule 18.2(b) by not giving mark-room. F and E have broken rule 11 but are exonerated under rule 64.1(c).

Question 5
Rule 18.2(b), first sentence, requires both E and F to give mark-room to the boats A, B, C & D that are overlapped inside them. While giving such room, E fails to keep clear of F and breaks rule 11. Is E entitled to exoneration?

Answer 5
The answer depends on the space between D and E. If this space is sufficient for E to luff and keep clear of F while giving mark-room, then the incident is simply that E breaks rule 11. However, if E cannot luff and still continue to give mark-room to D, then F breaks rule 18.2(b) by failing to give mark-room to D and E is exonerated under rule 64.1(c).

That's it then.
The solution in the Seven is given. They can all stay in service and don't have to become 'Ronin'.
I think all PCs and IJs can use this principle for multiple boat scenarios under rule 18.

Sportsmanship in other Sports

I'm currently looking at other sports to see how they handle 'verbal' abuse of the referee/umpire in a field of play. I think I might need some help.

The rugby rules are pretty straightforward. From the IRB Laws of Rugby Union 2012:

(s) All players must respect the authority of the referee. They must not dispute the referee’s decisions. They must stop playing at once when the referee blows the whistle except at a kick-off or at a penalty kick following admonishment, temporary suspension, or send-off.

Sanction: Penalty kick

 I've been told that this works extremely well in Rugby. If you only look crosseyed towards a referee you'll get a penalty.

In Tennis, from 2012 FRIEND AT COURT, The USTA Handbook of Tennis Rules and Regulations: Misconduct:

• Visible or audible profanity or obscenity
• Abuse of racket, balls, or equipment
• Verbal or physical abuse of a player or official
• Receipt of coaching
• Abusive conduct by a player or a person associated with a player (USTA Regulation IV.C.10. refers to this situation)
• Retaliatory calls (obviously bad calls made in retaliation for the opponent’s calls)
• Unsportsmanlike conduct (any other conduct that is abusive or detrimental to the sport)
• Failure to follow the instructions of an official (Violation of any USTA Tournament Regulation (USTA Regulation IV.C.20.)

Violations shall be penalized as follows: First Offense: Point, Second Offense: Game, Third Offense: Default

If there are any of you who - besides Sailing -  participate in other sports where a referee or umpire is taking decisions in a field of play, please have a look at your rulebook and tell me what is written  about verbal abuse towards officials.

Misrounding; LTW Readers Q&A (61)

A Question from Bence from Hungary about radio controlled boats.

I’m writing to you as I’ve got a situation to think over and I’ve got some doubts about it. I’ve been sitting over it for 3-4 days now and can’t make it final. I attached the animation I made to it.

It’s happening in a race for radio-controlled boats. They have a gybe mark to be left to starboard in a triangle course. Two boats are approaching the mark overlapped when reaching the zone (which is 4 hull lengths according to Appendix E). The Yellow one gives enough mark-room for the Blue one as required by rule 18.2(b) but the Blue one makes a navigational error and sails on the wrong side of the mark. From this point on, the two boats are on different legs of the course (as I found in TR CALL 13). The Yellow boat wants to bear away to gybe to the next mark but the Blue one won’t let her. That’s why I’m rather sure that rule 23.2 applies and Blue breaks it as she would normally gybe as soon as possible to return to the right side of the mark and correct her mistake. I’m also sure that according to rule 11, Yellow still has to keep clear of Blue after passing the mark.

Now my doubts: rule 18.2(b) ceases to apply only when the blue boat leaves the zone (rule 18.2(c)).
How does this influence the situation happening still in the zone?
Or (maybe???) after Yellow passed the mark, can we say that rule 18 is no more applicable as it said by rule 18.1(c) (Yellow is leaving it and Blue still has to approach it – but is not doing this so I’m fairly sure that this is a wrong thought)?
If there were a contact between the boats at position 5, which one would you penalize? (maybe both?)
Blue for breaking rule 23.2 and Yellow for breaking rule 11 – as Blue made her course change according to rule 16.1)?

I hope you have an opinion that supports mine or an explanation that will make the situation clear for me.
Thanks.
With Regards, Bence

I think you've solved this situation (almost) correctly.

A few thoughts from me. It does not matter if you look for a way to switch off rule 18 or not. Even if rule 18 is still on, when boats have passed the mark, Yellow is giving mark-room. She still is giving room to Blue to sail to the mark. Blue is not doing that, so it has no effect on the rules situation.
I think rule 18 is off nevertheless, also because boats are no longer required to pass the mark on the same side.

You are correct that Blue breaks rule 23.2. She's interfering with a boat on another leg while NOT sailing her proper course. Yellow is breaking rule 11, by not keeping clear of a leeward boat. Nobody is forcing her to do so, therefore she cannot be exonerated. So again, you are correct in disqualifying both.

If there's contact both boats break rule 14, they both were reasonably able to prevent that, but only Yellow would be penalized for rule 14 if there was no damage.

J.

Seven at the Leeward Mark; Part 2

As promised I would try to explain why I think that the three outside boats don’t have rule 18 rights or obligations between them in this post: Seven at the Leeward Mark, LTW Readers Q&A (60)

To do this I’ve created a much simpler situation involving three boats:

We have Grey, Purple and Red all sailing toward a leeward mark to be left to port. In position one Red enters the zone. Rule 18 switches on.

Both Grey and Purple have to give Red mark-room because she entered the zone clear ahead (RRS 18.2(b), second sentence.)

However, between Grey and Purple, rule 18 is not yet applicable. Provided she does so with rule 16.1 limitation and has no rule 17 limitation, Purple could luff and keep Grey outside the zone. She does not have to give mark-room to Grey, although rule 18 is switched on between her and Red.

 

Now we come to position two.

Both Grey and Purple still have to give mark-room to Red. In position 2 Purple enters the zone so now rule 18 is applicable between her and Grey. Grey has an inside overlap and is entitled to mark-room (RRS 18.2(b), first sentence)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This simplified scenario indicates that although all three boats are subject to rule 18 once Red enters the zone, that rule does not apply between the two outside boats as long as they themselves are not in the zone.

If I apply that principle to our Seven Boat problem:

 

In position two we have four boats inside the zone and three outside. Red, Purple and Blue all have to give mark-room to the inside ‘four’. But because none of those three have reached the zone themselves, RRS 18 does not apply between them. Red must keep clear of Purple, who must keep clear of Blue, all under RRS 11.

I hope I’ve clarified my view, and now await your punishment.

Seven at the Leeward Mark, LTW Readers Q&A (60)

Unlucky seven I would say.

Like I promised yesterday, a seven boat problem at the leeward mark. This was send in by Uli from Germany. This is what he wrote in his first mail:
 

"red" , "purple" and "blue" are not in the zone. All seven boats are a long time overlapped and required to leave the mark on port and there are only few centimetres between all of the boats in position 2 and contact without damage between "red" , "purple" and "blue".
Rule 11 applies between them. What about Rule 18 between "red" , "purple" and "blue" because they are not in the zone? I think that is a hole in the rule - done by cancelling the words "giving mark room" out of the definition obstruction. 

I answered:
Couldn’t we use 16.1?
As soon as Blue or Purple change course they have go give room to Red to keep clear,
Red cannot keep clear because she has to give mark-room to the inside boats (as do Blue and Purple towards all boats in the Zone.)

But he came back with this:

In the following situation 16.1 is not applicable:

The only solution I have is that Red and Purple should see this coming. The have to keep clear of their respective Leeward boats, but don't have mark-room. They must however give Mark-room to the inside boats..... They both are failing to keep clear under RRS 11. Red also breaks 19.2(b), she could slow down in position 1. Dark Blue will infringe 14 by not avoiding contact, but if there's no damage...

Please give Uli and me your views.