I have seen a few interactions recently between boats that are racing and boats that are not. The preamble to Part 2, the right-of-way rules, says that the rules of Part 2 apply to all boats who are racing, intend to race or have been racing, as long as the boats are in or near the racing area. The preamble also says that a boat not racing will not be penalized for breaking any of the Part 2 rules except rule 14 or 24.1.
Rule 14 talks about avoiding collisions. It should be clear that all boats, racing or not, should avoid collisions.
Rule 24.1 is more interesting. According to the definition, boats are racing from their preparatory signal until they have finished and cleared the finishing line. For most racing around the world, the preparatory signal is four minutes before the start (for RCYC Midweek races, it is three minutes). Some regattas have specific sailing instructions telling you to stay away from the starting area until the prep signal. This is extra guidance, but in my opinion, not necessary as Rule 24.1 already covers it. Until your own prep signal, you must not interfere with boats whose prep signal has been raised. This may require you to stay clear of boats that are some distance away from the starting line. At the time of the previous class’s prep signal, you should probably be about four minutes away from the line (three for RCYC midweek). As the previous class’s start signal gets closer, you can get closer.
Racing A boat is racing from her preparatory signal until she finishes and clears the finishing line and marks or retires, or until the race committee signals a general recall, postponement or abandonment.
Finish A boat finishes when any part of her hull, or crew or equipment in normal position, crosses the finishing line from the course side. However, she has not finished if after crossing the finishing line she
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takes a penalty under rule 44.2,
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corrects an error under rule 28.2 made at the line, or
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continues to sail the course.
PART 2
WHEN BOATS MEET
The rules of Part 2 apply between boats that are sailing in or near the racing area and intend to race, are racing, or have been racing. However, a boat not racing shall not be penalized for breaking one of these rules, except rule 14 when the incident resulted in injury or serious damage, or rule 24.1.
24 INTERFERING WITH ANOTHER BOAT
24.1 If reasonably possible, a boat not racing shall
not interfere with a boat that is racing.
PART 3
CONDUCT OF A RACE
31 TOUCHING A MARK
While racing, a boat shall not touch a starting mark before starting, a mark that begins, bounds or ends the leg of the course on which she is sailing, or a finishing mark after finishing.
PART 4
OTHER REQUIREMENTS WHEN RACING
Part 4 rules apply only to boats racing unless the rule states otherwise.
The next time that the definition of racing gets interesting is at the finish. A boat does not stop racing when she finishes. She is still racing and subject to penalty under all of the rules of Part 2 until she has cleared the finishing line.
In the diagram, Blue and Yellow are approaching the finishing line with Yellow on starboard tack and Blue on port tack. Blue attempts to cross ahead and at position 2. she has crossed but not cleared the finishing line. Yellow on starboard tack has to avoid her. Since Blue has not cleared the line, she can be penalized for breaking rule 10, not keeping clear, even though she has finished.
Further down the line, Green is sailing to cross the finishing line. At position 3, she has cleared the line so she has stopped racing. She heads up into the wind and drops her sails. Red, who is still racing, approaches the line on port tack. Red has to duck Green. If Green had kept going on starboard tack she would have been further away and would not be interfering with Red. It was reasonably possible for Green to avoid interfering with Red, so Green breaks rule 24.1, even though Green (who has not tacked and therefore remains on starboard) is right-of-way.
Remember – before your preparatory signal and after you finish and clear the line, not interfering with boats that are preparing to start, or finishing and still racing is not only a courtesy but an obligation.
In the second diagram, Grey has just crossed the line at position 1. At position 2, she bears off and goes back down the course. At position 3, she has cleared the line and is no longer racing – but she still is obliged by rule 24.1 and common courtesy to avoid interfering with their finish.
Also in the second diagram, Orange crosses the line between position 1 and 2. At position 2, she has cleared the line. At position 3, she capsizes and starts to drift. At position 4, she hits the mark. Rule 31, which talks about hitting marks, starts with the phrase “while racing”. Since Orange had finished and cleared the line, she is no longer racing, so rule 31 does not apply to her and she does not have to take a penalty for hitting the mark. If she had crossed the line but not cleared it and hit the mark, she would have to take a penalty.
The distinction between racing and not racing applies to other parts of the rule book as well. Part 4 of the book lists other requirements while racing. It contains rule 42, which says that you can’t use an engine to propel yourself. This applies from the prep signal until you have cleared the line. Some boats, in light air, try to motor right up to the preparatory signal and use their momentum to start the race. This is legal as long as the motor is shut off by the prep signal.
© Copyright 2017 Andrew Alberti