Rule 18.3

 So this is rule 18.3:

Passing Head to Wind in the Zone

If a boat in the zone of a mark to be left to port passes head to wind from port to starboard tack and is then fetching the mark, she shall not cause a boat that has been on starboard tack since entering the zone to sail above close-hauled to avoid contact and she shall give mark-room if  that  boat  becomes overlapped inside  her. When this rule applies between boats, rule 18.2 does not apply between them.

This sorta like says: If I enter the zone on port tack, I am not allowed to disturb boats that entered the zone on starboard tack - not even if I entered the zone first. Not sure if that's fair, but at least it is easy to understand.

BUT

Why does this rule apply only to a port side passing? AFAICS the exact same thing can happen on a starboard side passing?

I can easily see myself entering the zone (first) on starboard tack, wanting to tack to port in order to pass the mark on starboard; Sounds easy, as I have right of way, but the minute I tack, I need to think of rule 11 and 15. 

If I tack, I might get overlapped from behind on the inside. Then I have no rights what so ever? Isn't that just weird? Because I tacked in the zone, rule 18 is off - or is it? Anyway, It would not help me. I just need to keep clear. Even if I tack clearly ahead, those port tack boats may catch up and overlap on the inside; I'll then need to keep clear as stated by rule 11 and with no warning - by rule 15. Or is it just 18.2.a?

Something is fishy, but that's not all:

Rule 18 starts of by stating it does not apply to boats on separate tacks on an upwind beat. Still, rule 18.3 seems to apply to just that situation. So is rule 18.3 on or off? Turns out it is on, - the minute someone tacks and the two boats are on the same tack - rule 18 turns on..

What does that mean? Rule 12 is off when tacking in the zone, but only on a port side passing? Why not on a starboard passing? Why does that make sense?

Like... Is the inverse 18.3 correct for a starboard passing?

Try this:

If a boat in the zone of a mark to be left to starboard passes head to wind from starboard to port tack and is then fetching the mark, she MAY cause a boat that has been on PORT tack since entering the zone to sail above close-hauled to avoid contact and she shall NOT give mark-room if  that  boat  becomes overlapped inside  her. When this rule applies between boats, rule 18.2 does not apply between them.

Naah, that does not make sense.

So 18.3 is there to favour those starboard boats already in favour? Why?

 

Beginners rules

I received a question from ThomasK Andel about rules for inexperienced sailors. Thank you, Thomas.

The question is: Are there any universal rules to be used at a regatta series? The answer is a big YES! The International Sailing Federation aka ISAF maintains and develops a set of racing rules that are used globally in yacht races. The rules may seem a bit overwhelming at first. However, you should bear in mind that they have been developed over many decades to ensure clarity and fairness.

ISAF logo

Still, the rules book is a rather small book, and you only need to know a few pages by heart. You can get the rules in PDF format at the ISAF site. Here's a link: ISAF rulesbook. You want the PDF that says "ISAF racing rules for sailing 2013-2016", and you need to be concerned about pages 12-16. Oh, and if your native language isn't english, these rules are translated to pretty much any language on the planet.

Several clever people publish books to help sailors understand the rules. You see, - Yacht racing can be a complicated sport. Sometimes help is needed to figure out just what rules are in play at a certain point. I used to read Paul Elvstroms book, when I started sailing... now I just read the ISAF Book and sometimes the Case Book. The casebook is (strangely ;-) good for looking up cases;

Paul Elvstrom explains 

If that's all too much and complicated, then another approach may be better: You can use a reduced set of rules. I am not much of a fan of this approach, but kids are usually not able to master the full rules-set. The important thing is to step up and use the full rules as soon as possible. Otherwise people get stuck with the simplified rules-set; That would be a pity because it means loosing so many of the finer aspects of the game. You can read about that elsewhere on my blog.

So, should I recommend a reduced rules-set for inexperienced sailors, I would have to recommend the use of the international sailing rules; Those are the rules used at night and when not racing, so it makes sense to learn those and be aware of the difference between the two rules-sets. I'll add two extra rules. One for rounding marks and one for correcting mistakes.

My list of 5 super simple rules for inexperienced sailors:

1. Port boat must keep clear of Starbord boat.
2. Overtaking boat must keep clear - even if she is Leeward.
3. Windward boat must keep clear of Leeward boat.
4. The boat that enters the 3 boatlength zone last must keep clear of boats in front.
5. Hit a mark or do a foul you must do a 360 turn or you are disqualified.

Number 2 has the effect that you cannot - as an overtaking boat - choose the leeward side to gain luffing rights. Luffing is only for defense. Number 4 is really not needed, as it follows from 2; However, it is important to get to know the zone around the marks. So there: Five super simple rules that makes racing possible.

I know for a fact that these five simple rules work great for beginner optimist-sailors aged nine or ten. Let me stress this again: As soon as the sailors master these five simple rules, it is important to scrap them - or rather - add more details by using the full rule-set; Otherwise the sailors will never be able to compete on an international, national - or even interclub scale.

Having a coffee while my lovely Folkboat rests

I hope this kinda clarifies things. If not, feel free to contact me inworld with more questions; We can grab a coffee and talk rules, or I can pop over and be your "second level support" while your race is on.

Happy sailing,

Noodle

Topmark roundings

This one's pretty fresh too. Same event actually. Two boats approaching the top mark. Green on port tack enters the zone clear ahead. Yellow on starboard tack hits green as Green tacks right in front of Yellow.

Top mark blues

The collision at position 3 was hardly unavoidable, but Yellow would need to luff pretty wildly to avoid hitting Green in the back. Almost no damage. Green protests! What did the jury say, and what should green and yellow have done?

Sailing today

Something is happening in sailing today. It's changing. Sailing is changing. It used to be a gentleman sport. Being in the game and sailing by the rules was the most important thing. Much more important than winning. When I was a kid, we always took our penalty turns with no quarrel, no questions. Today, it seems grown men have problems admitting they made a mistake.

It's a beautiful day out there

It's happening everywhere. Local races, Nationals, Worlds, Olympics. Ofcource the socalled "showcase of sailing" has the problem too. Right now the entire AC circus is in Limbo, because the Oracle team is awaiting a rule 69 investigation. Yes, it's about rule 69. Gross misconduct. This rule is becoming the single rule of sailing the crowd understands. It was there in Perth 2011. It was murmured at the Olympics 2012, and now it's in the AC circus 2013. What's on peoples mind, what's in their memory, is sailors quarreling about who's being unfair. Not good for sailing.

A perfect spot for contemplation

The reality would - under normal conditions - be the defending team looking at a two year ban from sailing. Isn't that a laugh? Team Oracle unable to defend the title! The AC circus isn't normal. It is a freakshow, and the show must go on. I am guessing they will end up picking a scape goat and carry on with business as usual. After all, - it is Larry's show. Question is: Who will want to be in that show when the host is - hmm - not entirely trustworthy? How can trust be restored? Can trust be restored?

Virtual or real

What seems to be the problem is grown men with too much testoterone. Is there too much at stake? Would it be unbearable to loose? Unaffordable even? Is that what's causing the problems? Are the stakes so high that the participants cannot see clearly and determine what's right and wrong? Has sailing become about winning at any cost? Pathetic, don't you think? Grown men outgrown by their own game? Even if this is just about 2.5kg there is no excuse. Cheating is cheating. The real problem is - what happens at the big games is copied by our kids and junior sailors in those smalltime races and nationals, because their socalled "heroes" are doing it. Now that's bad for sailing.

I think I'll chant Elvtrøms famous sailing philosophy and go sailing in RL. The AC sailors need to chant it too, or they might as well shut it all down. 

Rounding the downwind mark

Here's one that's fresh from the racetrack. Two boats on port tack approaching the downwind mark. The first boat gybes to starboard (2) right at the edge of the zone. This kinda opens up the overlap zone. Both boats carry on and at the mark (3) Yellow yells "no room" and tries to close the gap. Blue seeks the space between the mark and yellow but fails to execute the turn and slams (4) right into yellow. Yellow protests!

Fresh from the race track

What did the jury say? What should yellow have done? What should blue have done?

PS: That Boat Scenario program is supereasy to use. If only those animated files could be made smaller.

New rules highlights

Those new RRS 2013-16 are well underway, and since there's a few changes I thought I'd read them. If you don't have them yet, then get them from www.sailing.org.

A nice evening read with...

First quick flip through reveals few changes. All is good; We're in the comfort zone. Oh wait, - section D seems to have been rewritten. Not that I do a lot of team racing, so who cares. No really, - it is a fun discipline. Maybe we should take it up. Virtual teamracing. Whoopsidaisy and the Linden Labs have their gaming platform. Teehee...

 an unreal sunset and

Back to more important stuff; It begins with changes in definitions. The definition of "finish", "keep clear" and "mark-room" has been changed. Then on to what matters in part two: "When boats meet".

a lovely scent of roses plus...

Rule 14: Avoiding contact is different. Rule 18: Mark room has changed too. Rule 20: Room to tack at an obstruction has changed, - as has rule 21: Exoneration. In part three, rule 28: Sailing the course is also changed, and rule 44: Taking a penalty has also been improved, and that's about it for the racing rules.

ocean waves blending with splashes from the fountain makes...

There's a couple of weird things added about not littering the sea. Sportsmanship now includes the notion of reducing environmental impact to a minimum. Rule 55 says "A competitor shall not intentionally put trash in the water". Isn't this a bit silly and unrelated to racing? Next they'll add rule 56: Sailors must wear sunscreen, especially red heads, because they're more susceptible to sunburn. Duh.

the RRS 2013-16 much easier to digest.

Later in the book, there's changes to rule 61: Protest requirements, rule 64: Decisions and rule 69: Allegations of gross misconduct. Then there's alotta stuff for windsurfers and kiteboards, until we finally reach some of the last changes, - and they are related to appeals.

That pretty much covers it. Go read, preferably in a nice place like this small italian island or your favourite armchair. See you out there...

More on racing rules here...

Bending or breaking

Norregaard and Thomsen took silver at the Seiko 49 Europeans. Woot woot. What's more interesting is the on-going debate over their hiking style... Question is, - is this legal? Some have suggested a rule 47.2 infringement. It's the one about "noone can leave the boat while racing". Check the post on Look to windward. I think it is safe to say he is still on board.

Always wear flats when sailing

To me it looks more like a rule 49.1 infringement: "Use only hiking straps and stiffeners to position yourself outboard". Standing on top of another person is definately not allowed, but is it forbidden? Using another persons body to position yourself outboard? Perhaps there is something in the 49er class rules about this?

What do you think? Bending or breaking? Lethal or illegal?

Sailing is sailing

Hehe... some people seem to think that virtual sailing is special, and therefore special rules must be applied. In a few very, very (very) special ways that might be true. Just check this post about virtual sailing anomalies. Right. Weird. Very weird in fact. So here's a shot of a real world live "sim border crossing" gone bad:

Crazy spinnaker stunt / forward 360

Wooohooooo... Swimming isn't just for dinghy sailors. Keelers can have their fun with water too. Surfing in a 14 footer is a fantastic feeling. Surfing in a 40 footer is simply amazing. The powers in play, when the boat lifts out of the water and takes off... phew! Surfing in an overpowered keeler is huge fun. Broaching is great fun too, but the look of face of the owner is simply priceless. Words cannot described it. It is somewhat like a fast forward loop through fear, disbelief, despair and awe. Back on topic.. Sailing is sailing!

Cheers...

Racing rules revisited

What good are those racing rules anyway? The ISAF RRS? Why would we want to use those rules? It's a question rarely asked in RL, where most people simply accept the rules as a given fact. Even the Knarr sailors use the ISAF rules, though they've been kinda reluctant to join the local ISAF family tree.

A good place to think?

However, it appears to be a question frequently asked in virtual sailing. For a long time I have avoided posting about this topic, hoping the subject could be dealt with through dialog and lobbyism. Now, the topic seems to emerge again, so I went to a quiet place and gave it some thought.

Thinking about RRS

Let's set the scene. In the red corner we have the ISAF RRS. Hated and loved, used, abused and supported every day by millions of sailors. Adjusted every four years by world class sailors in order to promote fair, fun and exciting races. Kids on the entire planet are taught these rules. They have proven their usefullness over years and years.

Thinking about RRSSL

In the blue corner we have RRSSL. A subset of the RRS, deviced by a single individual, consisting of only  rules 10, 11, 13, 16, 18 and 19, several of these reduced to catchy one-liners. These rules are only used in SL virtual sailing, they are not taught anywhere, they have no call books, no backing organisation, no proven track record, and they were defined four years ago for a virtual sailing environment much more primitive than what we have today. They are simply an easy to understand reduced ruleset.

Pros and cons

All the pros and cons make for a rather lengthy speech. Mainly two arguments are seen.

The first argument is that virtual sailing is not perfect, therefore we are better off with RRSSL. The story goes that virtual sailing in SL is in fact so weird that it does not make sense to use real rules. Obviously, I think this is wrong, and I have addressed that issue on my page dubbed Virtual Sailing. SL virtual sailing is not perfect, but it's pretty good. Using simplified rules solves no problems. It adds even more problems...

The second argument is that those RRSSL rules are good enough. Obviously, I disagree. The RRSSL has at least two problems. Firstly, RSSSL is a ruleset which in fact reverses ROW in a number of frequently seen situations. Secondly, RSSSL change the sailing game by promoting a bumperboat sailing style. I have addressed the reversed ROW and the bumperboat issue on the page dubbed ISAF rules. RRSSL is indeed rules upside down. Defunct.

Concluding anything?

So, I don't buy any of those arguments. Using defunct or upside down rules certainly won't make virtual sailing any better. Unhindered luffing anytime, anywhere?? Really... I can see the ISAF rules might seem complex to beginners, but those are the rules of the game. If you wanna play, then learn the rules! The rules aren't there to restrict you or to get in your way. The rules are part of the game. They facilitate a fair and fun game. The rules stop bargers, prohibit collisions and protect against bullies. That goes for any sport from chess to tennis.

Sure, beginners class can use rule 10 and a few more "essential" rules when training, but Yacht Clubs teaching and promoting such defunct rules?? Graded events using upside down rules? Who are they to not acknowledge the enormeous work and experience put into the RRS? I cannot see any reason why entities calling themselves virtual Yacht Clubs should teach and promote any other rules than the official ISAF RRS. Pushing anything but the RRS is wrong, confusing, makes sailing worse, and it simply makes no sense.

What do you think?

Not sure what to think of it all? Here's something to help you out. First, check What's in a virtual Boat, then see New fanatics start Here. If that's not enough, here's live action.

Over board finish?

Can you finish, while you are over board? What kinda question is that? Well, I wasn't there to see it, but apparently this is just what happened in the Fizz Cup races during this weekend. Someone finished without being on board. Surely, that never happens in real life! Hehe, let me put it in a real life perspective...

Woohoo a Laser

I was way ahead in my dinghy; Finishing downwind. Strong wind, current flowing with me. Finish line like 50 meters ahead. That's when I decided to do a gybe. The boom smacked over, while I jumped to the other side - hanging only in the tiller extension. It broke off, and before I could get my feet under the straps I was offline - ehh - overboard. The boat turned into the wind, and crossed the line carried by current and wind - without me; Instead of a first, I received a DNF. Bad luck, but hey I just wasn't good enough to win, falling over board like that.

It's all in rule 47.2:

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.

So no! You cannot finish, while you are not on board yourself. Very unruly.

Plus: I just reread the Fizz Cup SI. Turns out the SI (section 1.iii) specifically states that a whole lot of special SL cases such as lag and crash and more are to be considered nothing more than a gear breakdown in RL, - equalling a DNF.

More on racing rules.

PS: I found a virtual Laser Radial, as you can see on the photo. So far, I've sailed a few other single-sail boats such as the Tako, the Lil-Laser, the Shelly, the MR-Trainer, the Leetlecat and the Moth.

Check back when I test the Laser Radial and the new Q-Scow.

Fun with rule 18

Here's a bit of fun with rule 18.

It's not from the Fizz Cup itself, but it is from a recent graded Fizz Race. Bea gave me the facts, the graphics and the question earlier this sunday. I will leave it open for a few days, then add my response.

Facts:
In position 2: Yellow enters the zone on a port tack. Blue, still outside the zone,  hails "Starboard".

In position 3: Yellow tacks in the zone onto Blue lee bow (Blue not in the zone yet). Yellow passes head to wind, then fetch the mark on a stb tack. Blue has not to change her course, and thanks to a higher speed, Blue comes overlapped windward ahead to Yellow (Position 3 to 4).

In position 4: Overlap, Yellow inside hails for mark room.

In position 5: Blue doesn't give mark room to Yellow, and rounds the mark. Yellow has to slow down to round behind Blue and protests.

Protest Hearing: 
Yellow says:
- I protested under 18.2 (a) and (b). (First in the zone, overlapped, inside…)

Blue will argue with rule 13 and 18.3, stating that 18.2 can't apply because she was fetching the mark when Yellow tacked. (If two boats were approaching a mark on opposite tacks and one of them changes tack, and as a result is subject to rule 13 in the zone when the other is fetching the mark, rule 18.2 does not thereafter apply.)

Decision: 
Judges will agree with Blue, and will dismiss Yellow protest arguing with 18.3.

Yellow appeals:
Yellow appeals, stating that this case is not a 18.3 case, that she fully respected 18.3 because she didn't cause Blue to sail above close-hauled to avoid her nor prevent Blue from passing the mark on the required side, and that Blue did not become overlapped inside her, but outside.

Your decision? (Beware of FUD ;-)

My decision would be to DSQ Blue for breaking rule 11. See comments for insights.

Touching the finishing mark

I am sure, most sailors are aware of rule 31. It's the one that says you cannot touch a mark while racing. If you do, you can correct the fault by doing a 360. We've seen a few marks touched in the Fizz Cup so far, and no problems there. Sail clear, do the 360 immediately, and your in the clear.

Ziz touching the mark, - or is he?

It's pretty simple. If you foul, you are required by rule 2 Fair sailing to correct the foul - or retire. The correction must be in compliance with rule 44. Sail clear, do the rounds, and do it immediately. I suspect most sailors know they cannot touch the starting mark either. Not before the gun. Not after the gun. A 360 is still the answer.

Krysha, very close to the starting mark.

Now, what happens, if you hit the finishing mark after finishing? After finishing, right! Definitions say that a boat finishes when any part of the boat or crew in normal position crosses the finishline. So, can you touch the finishing mark after finishing? Ofcourse not! Why? Definitions again. A boat is racing until she finishes and clears the finish line and marks. So, all race rules are still active after finishing.

Q is very close to the finishing mark here.

Besides that, rule 31 says you cannot touch a fnishing mark after finishing. If you do, you need to do a 360 and finish again by sailing clear of the line on the course side and crossing it again. Failing do do so will result in a protest from the other sailors or from the RD, and the Jury has no option but to rule a DSQ.

Note that the RD and members of the RC cannot give you a DSQ. They can protest as per rule 60, or they can request the protest committee to take action under rule 69.1 Allegations of gross misconduct.

Incidentally, the shots in this post are here to show how difficult it can be so see, if a boat actually touches a mark. Angles can play tricks, and often you can't be sure unless someone litterally assaults the mark.