Page 10 - Holiday Issue

WHEN ARE ARE YOU YOU RACING? WHAT RULES APPLY IF YOU YOU AREN’T?
Andrew Alberti
I have seen a a a a few interactions recently between boats that that are are racing and boats that that are are not The preamble to Part 2 the the right-of-way rules rules says that the the rules rules of of Part 2 apply to to all boats who are racing intend to to race or have been racing as as long as as the boats are in in or near the racing area The preamble also says that a a a a a a a a a boat not not racing will not not be penalized for breaking any
of the Part 2 2 rules except rule rule 14 or 24 1 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 the world the 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 is extra guidance but in my opinion not necessary as Rule 24 1 already covers it Until your own prep signal you 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 the the starting line At the the the time of the the 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 closer you can get closer closer The next time that the definition of racing gets interesting is is at at the finish A boat does not stop racing when she she finishes She is is still racing and subject to penalty under all of of the rules of of Part 2 until she has cleared the finishing line 24 INTERFERING WITH ANOTHER BOAT
24 1 If reasonably possible a a a a a a boat not racing shall
not interfere with a a a a boat that is racing PART 3 CONDUCT OF A A RACE
31 TOUCHING A A MARK
While racing a a a a a a a boat shall
not touch a a a a a a a starting mark before starting a a a a mark that begins bounds or or ends the leg of the course on which she is is sailing or a a finishing mark after finishing PART 4 OTHER REQUIREMENTS WHEN RACING Part 4 rules apply only to boats racing unless the rule rule states otherwise Racing A boat is racing from her preparatory signal until she she finishes and and clears the finishing line and and marks or or retires or or until the race committee signals a a a a general recall postponement or abandonment Finish A boat finishes when any
part of her hull or crew or or equipment in in in normal position crosses the finishing line from the course side However she she has not finished if after crossing the finishing line she a) takes a a a a penalty under rule 44 2 b) corrects an error under rule 28 2 2 made at the line or c) continues to sail the course PART 2 WHEN BOATS MEET
The rules of Part 2 apply between boats that are sailing in in in or near the racing area and intend to race are are racing racing or have been racing racing However a a a a a boat not racing shall
not be penalized for breaking one of these rules except rule rule 14 when the incident resulted in in in injury or or serious damage or or rule 24 1 In the the diagram Blue and Yellow are approaching the the finishing line with Yellow on starboard tack and Blue on port tack Blue attempts to cross ahead and at 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 the the line Green is sailing to cross the the the finishing line line At position 3 she has cleared the line 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 Green If Green Green had kept going on starboard tack she would have 10 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 • KWASIND
SAILING