definition of an overlap.

[howard easton]

probably in the book of words and its me that has missed it. But reading again the thread about overtaking at the start had me wondering. If the leeward boat has an overlap of just a couple of feet and starts to luff, the windward boat responds by heading up then simple geometry means that often the overlap will be broken. At which point the leeward boat has to keep clear, the windward boat can resume course and the overlap re-appears. A dance that can go on for some time if the boats are reasonably matched.

Comment?

 

[rudolph_hart]

"Mast Abeam!"- or is that out of date now?

 

[lpdsn]

probably in the book of words and its me that has missed it. But reading again the thread about overtaking at the start had me wondering. If the leeward boat has an overlap of just a couple of feet and starts to luff, the windward boat responds by heading up then simple geometry means that often the overlap will be broken. At which point the leeward boat has to keep clear, the windward boat can resume course and the overlap re-appears. A dance that can go on for some time if the boats are reasonably matched.

Comment?

Potentially. But the leeward boat will have gained the overlap by having more speed, and if the windward boat has to luff it is not exactly going to pull away. So chances are the overlap will be firmly established again during the first luff and if not a second should do it.

A good argument to train your crew to trim through the pre-start manouvres.

 

[howard easton]

"Mast Abeam!"- or is that out of date now?

I have heard that one but I always thought that it was a line drawn across your transom intersecting anywhere behind the bow of the overlapping boat.

 

[lpdsn]

I have heard that one but I always thought that it was a line drawn across your transom intersecting anywhere behind the bow of the overlapping boat.

It's known as "Ye Olde Mast Abeam" rule. It is a wee bit out of date.

The current rule is as you understand it.

 

[flaming]

probably in the book of words and its me that has missed it. But reading again the thread about overtaking at the start had me wondering. If the leeward boat has an overlap of just a couple of feet and starts to luff, the windward boat responds by heading up then simple geometry means that often the overlap will be broken. At which point the leeward boat has to keep clear, the windward boat can resume course and the overlap re-appears. A dance that can go on for some time if the boats are reasonably matched.

Comment?

Yep, pretty much what can happen, usually with less than a minute to go as leeward herds windward down the line towards the pin and windward is desperately trying to prevent leeward getting enough of an overlap to force them over the line.
For leeward to actually get established to leeward with enough of an overlap to hold windward up and get clean for themselves they have to be travelling quite a bit faster than windward. Normally because windward has been luffing to slow down and fails to notice leeward coming barrelling down the line.

 

[gmkjr]

Keep in mind that under the definition, there is no proper course prior to the starting signal, so the leeward boat can luff pretty much as she wishes. However, after the starting signal, a boat that establishes an overlap from clear astern may not sail above its proper course.