JUNE 25, 2019
GOOD TO THE LAST
GUST!
I got to the harbor early and there was a strong northwesterly
blowing with many whitecaps on the water.
As I meandered about my boat, I noticed the wind changing. By 5:30 the wind was showing a strong
Easterly blowing. As we left the harbor
at 5:30 , there were many boats out for the fun with others following us out of
the harbor. We ended up with about 16
boats out. After determining that the
Easterly was not going to die, we called for course B4. Not a
long race but it would allow us to get back to the club for the barbecue. We gave the 5 minute horn and set up for our
start.
We knew everyone would be favoring the yellow ball (start
mark) end of the line and the fleet did not disappoint us with a large crowd at
that end of the start line.
Unfortunately Pair A Dice got stuck to leeward of all of the massive
screen of boats and we were one of the last boats over the start line. We had our work cut out for us! All of the boats converged on Blacks with
Zoop leading Aquavie and Avatar around the mark and heading toward Gov. Right after Pair A Dice rounded Blacks we
headed further outside since the wind seemed to be more outside. This worked out well for us as we were
consistently ranging on the inside boats.
Have I said how much I love my 155 jib in these situations?
After rounding Gov, it seems like most boats noticed how we
had greater wind outside for the downwind part of the race and most of the
boats sailed outside. We started down
that path also, but noticed many of the boats further outside seemed to be
slowing down, so we did not go all the way out. We watched our wind gauge and
as it started showing a decrease in wind we would tack back inside (trying to
stay in the wind). We also tried to read
the headers and lifts to tack appropriately to take advantage of these shifts
in the wind.
At the finish it was Avatar 46:48, Aquavie 50:22, Pacific
Spirit 51:28, Pair a Dice 56:13, Kicks 59:18, Sandpiper 1:01:10, Perfect 36
1:01:50, Rosa Nautica 1:06:25 and Aeolian 1:10:00. Toad’s track stopped so I
could not get a finish time. All times
are elapsed and the length of the course was 2.43 miles.
We watched as the last boats crossed the finish line, as
strong as the wind was earlier it was quickly fading as the last boats
finished. The excellent wind we had for
the race was good to the last wimpering gust!
We had a great time at the club for the barbecue. This is always a great time to get to know
your fellow sailors.
Race QS:
Once again, we had boats out that are not running Race
QS. I know Sagitarius and Zoop were out, but without Race QS tracks,
we cannot rate your performance. The tracks for tonight are at this site:
RACING RULES:
One of the areas that is confusing to many sailors is
windward vs leeward situations that occur during the starting sequence and
right after the start. There are several
rules that come into play. I have asked
some friends for their input on this subject.
“There are a couple
rules that are a bit different in the starting area v. other areas of the
course. The one you mention in your question deals with a restriction on the
right of way boat in an overlap position being restricted to not sailing above
proper course in some circumstances (RRS 17). The definition of proper course
says there is no proper course before the starting signal, so the rule might be
“on” but there is no restriction on the right of way boat until after the
starting signal.
In a situation where
two boats are approaching the starting line to start where Boat L is on
starboard tack and clear ahead of Boat W, also on starboard tack, RRS 12
applies between them and W must keep clear. Boat L is not restricted by RRS 15,
17, 18, 19, or 20. There is a restriction in RRS 16 she must abide by. RRS 15
doesn’t apply because there was no recent change in right of way. RRS 17 does
not apply because there is no overlap. RRS 18, 19 and 20 do not apply because
the preamble to Part 2 Section C turns them off. L as the right of way boat is
restricted under RRS 16 in that if she maneuvers, she must give the keep clear
boat room to keep clear. From here out I will leave RRS 18, 19 and 20 out of
the discussion.
If boat W is sailing a
bit faster and establishes an overlap to windward, things change a bit. RRS 11
now applies between them and W remains the keep clear boat. Boat L is not
restricted by RRS 15 as right of way did not change. RRS 17 (proper course)
does not apply as the overlap was established to windward. RRS 16 does apply
and L must give W room to keep clear if L changes course. If L
wishes to change course (in either direction) and cannot do so without immediately
making contact with W, then W has failed to keep clear (see definition keep
clear). L may change course toward the wind (referred to as ‘luffing’) as long
as she abides by her restriction in RRS 16. If she luffs so abruptly that W
cannot maneuver promptly in a seamanlike way to keep clear, then L has not
given room to keep clear. If L luffs slowly and W does not maneuver promptly,
and the boats become so close together that L can no longer maneuver in both
directions, L has met her obligation under RRS 16 and W has not kept clear.
L may luff head to wind
if she pleases as long as she complies with RRS 16. W must keep clear and may
need to go head to wind or may even need to tack to keep clear of L. If L
passes head to wind she will be subject to obligations in RRS 13.
If during the luff the
boats become positioned such that W cannot maneuver in a seamanlike way, L must
curtail her luff to avoid contact.
So, in the scenario
described, ‘proper course’ did not apply. Boat W was always the keep clear boat
under RRS 12 and then 11. Boat L was only restricted by RRS 16 to give room to
keep clear only if she changed course.”
Another rendition with the verbiage for rules
involved:
“12. ON THE SAME TACK, NOT OVERLAPPED
When boats are on the
same tack and not overlapped, a boat clear
astern shall keep clear of a boat clear ahead.
11. ON THE SAME TACK,
OVERLAPPED
When boats are on the
same tack and overlapped, a windward boat
shall keep clear of a leeward boat.
15. ACQUIRING RIGHT OF
WAY
When a boat acquires
right of way, she shall initially give the other
boat room to keep clear, unless she acquires right of way
because of the other boat's actions.
16.1.
When a right-of-way
boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep
clear.
and
14. AVOIDING CONTACT
A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably
possible. However, a right-of-way boat or one entitled
to room or mark-room
1. need
not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is
not keeping clear or giving room or mark-room, and
2. shall
be exonerated if she breaks this rule and the contact does not cause damage or
injury.”
_/) _/) _/) _/) (\_ (\_
This may all seem a little overwhelming, but
if you read each rule, and visualize each situation, it should make sense. Many of us are novices and still learning.
This is what Tuesday nights is all about (learning the rules and improve our
sailing) Knowing the rules but not
following them is not acceptable. By
your participation, you are accepting and abiding by the RRS. If you know the
rules and have no inclination to abide by the rules, please stay clear of the
racing area, so the rest of us that want to race (following the rules) can have
our fun.
See you next Tuesday.
Barry Keeler
Sailing Pair A Dice
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