Racing Rules

[kireonriley]

How long before the start of a race must your engine not be used?

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[Cantata]

Engine must be stopped at the 'Preparatory' signal. This is 4 minutes before the start if using the 5-4-1-0 minutes system, or 5 minutes before if using the old 10-5-0 system.

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[kireonriley]

thanks very much, i can't appeal then!

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[Vara]

I think that this applies only if engine is being used for propulsion(in any direction)

<hr width=100% size=1>If it can't be fixed with a lump hammer dont fit it!

 

[uforea]

No, engines off means just that.

Ted.

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[ex-Gladys]

There may be an additional phrase in Sailing Instructions, but the rule does not just cover engines it covers all forms of alternative propulsion. In dinghies that means you can't paddle or push. I don't see that (unless there is a SI) running the engine for battery charging purposes would be illegal.

<hr width=100% size=1>Larry Botheras

Anderson 26 "Amber"

 

[boatless]

Running for battery charging is perfectly legal. Thing is that I always seem to sail faster when charging, get the same kind of feeling that I experience when going through Customs. And, yes, I do know that the prop isn't turning.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[Trevor_swfyc]

If the engine cannot be used to produce propulsion, then an engine which takes water in and ejects it with exhaust gases out of the stern must produce net propulsion even though it may be unintentional. If I saw water and exhaust comming from a competitors boat I would expect him/her to resign or try to make the case for running the engine. I thought I would run the engine to charge the batteries, sounds a bit of a weak argument to me.

Trevor

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[boatless]

Most water intakes do so pointing mainly upwards and slightly forwards = nett drag. Exhaust usually points down and out sideways = nett not much. Are you being serious?

So what would you suggest after you've been racing all night with nav lights and instruments on - just let the batteries go flat? Have you done any long races?



<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[Trevor_swfyc]

No I have never taken part in an overnight race, I assumed we were talking about club racing which is usually done in the light, as clearly at night how would you see water comming from a competitors engine anyway. Clearly if a club race officer saw you run the engine and appear to go faster he must assume the engine has something to do with it. It is only my opinion that in such a case pleading I was charging my batteries would not be accepted.

Trevor





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[boatless]

No, the going faster is just psychological! Night races, well, you can hear other boats charging if they're not too far away, but have never suspected anyone of cheating like that. With one exception. Cowes Dinard years ago. Could hear a motoring yacht coming up behind us, but no lights visible? Got the deck flood on it - and there, as plain as you like, was a competitor motoring flat out to go inside Alderney. Sponsored mainsail up, very obvious coloured hull. Assumed he'd retired.

But no, get to St Malo, and guess what, he's won his class. We were so completely flabberghasted that we didn't do anything about it. Cheats usually get what they deserve in the end.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[qsiv]

Most of the new maxi's have to run their engines throughout any races in order to power the keel hydraulics - sounds like a JCB as the engine loads up and revs as the hydraulics need power, and then drops back to idle when the job is done. Smaller ones (like my new toy) make do with batteries.

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[racingron]

That's unbelievable.

Did they get their come uppance?

Can we name names or is that a no no?

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[boatless]

I think the name is a no no, publicly. No comeupance afaik, but he doesn't race anymore - probably couldn't get crew after that.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[jamesa]

From the Sailing Instructions this year's Scottish Series:
1.14.3 An engine may be used for charging batteries, pumping
or supplying power for weighing anchor or hauling
off but in all such cases the part of the shaft between
the gearbox and the stern tube shall be held
stationary.

In case of a protest I'm not sure where the onus of proof is, but I suspect you would have to detail how you had ensured that the shaft remained stationary

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[Nick_Pam]

Sealing of engines in race cars done by lead seal which would break if bolt moved - how about a pair of lugs - one on boat and one on shaft with a lead seal between them?
Just a thought!
Nick

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[bedouin]

I think that standard racing rules prohibit the use of power for such things as operating winches, hydraulics and pumping water though sailing instructions often seem to relax this requirement.

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[Vara]

I know I replied but in retrospect I regret it as a relatively new forum member I enjoy the eclectic mix of the forums,but the one thing I can live without is discussion of the racing rules, in my youthful years I've had more fights and lost more friends through this topic than any other.
Perhaps a seperate forum should be started with the Title "The racing rules" with a health warning appended to deter the weak and the feeble.
Enough of this, back to the really important things :copper bottoms,rudders,and what colour wire to connect to an Adverc

<hr width=100% size=1>If it can't be fixed with a lump hammer dont fit it!

 

[BrendanS]

If we shoved off every little marginal topic into another forum, as is requested so very often, we would not have the eclectic mix of topics that make these forums so much fun, and would have so many forums we wouldn't be able to read them all

Really not sure why people keep requesting more and more forums, when the mix here is good and balanced

<hr width=100% size=1>Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabris, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

 

[Trevor_swfyc]

Colin,
Clearly you should think twice and post once, being particularly cautious where there may be legal implications in that the post could be damaging to an individual ect ect ect. To express a view or opinion which may be different from others opens up the topic. If we all waited to see what the majority thought before we posted just in case we upset somebody by having a different or even the wrong opinion what a farce it would become, so no you should not regret your post anymore than I should regret mine.
I must agree with you on the point about friends and racing, I found cruiser racing a lot less fun than dinghy racing maybe because dinghies don't have engines!

All the best.
Trevor

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