Start-line Rules (and other racing matters).

[Iain C]

Thank you for your comments, but just to clarify a couple of points I do not feel wronged in any way, I was only trying to familiarise myself with the Rules for future reference (and the forumites have done a splendid and interesting job in doing just that).
The other point is that I didn't "do the same to the boat below me", as I let him hold his course and went astern of him. I didn't protest as I was unsure of the Rules. I would NEVER hit another boat (intentionally), whatever I thought of my "rights".
And as I further said, the positions/result don't matter to me; but I do like to conduct myself properly, fairly and in the spirit of sailing.

But thank you, and one-and-all, for your spirited advice.
Hope this stormy weather abates before the end of the season!

I guess my point is that it's "scary" that there are people out there prepared to "mix it" on the start line in the company of other boats, without knowledge of even the simpler racing rules. Fair play to you for coming on here and asking the question, which is great, but people really need to know this stuff BEFORE going on the race course. And yes, you were wronged, in the same way that known to you at the time or not, you nearly did the dirty on the boat below you.

I think sometimes people get spooked by the whole "racing" rules thing. They are only extensions of normal IRPCS with some additional common sense added. For example...

-If sailing in open water, and a same tack boat is bearing down on you from above but on a slightly lower course, you have right of way (just ignoring the whole "stand on, no one actually has right of way thing"...you know what I mean). It's no different on a start line. A boat above you still has to keep clear, and if that means they are over, then tough.

-You can't go charging past someone and then force them to change course, same as you can't overtake someone when racing and start luffing them.

Theres plenty of self teach books and websites out there that cover the basic rules that everyone should know, plus the advanced ones that the keener people should know. Enjoy!

 

[Robert Wilson]

I guess my point is that it's "scary" that there are people out there prepared to "mix it" on the start line in the company of other boats, without knowledge of even the simpler racing rules. Fair play to you for coming on here and asking the question, which is great, but people really need to know this stuff BEFORE going on the race course. And yes, you were wronged, in the same way that known to you at the time or not, you nearly did the dirty on the boat below you.

Point taken, thanks.
Looking back I did the right thing by going astern of him - but perhaps if he'd not been sure of the rules then HE might have acted like me and given way; however, HE KNEW the rules and correctly stood his ground.
Incidently, he went on to win the race by miles over the course and on handicap too! He was about 40ft long and had eight crew sitting legs-outside the guard-rails as he powered past me. There was no way I was going to "mix with him" even IF I HAD had right on my side!!!!

This thread seems to keep ruunning and running - so I hope by starting it I have helped make the start line a safer place for more people, as you state.
Many thanks,
R

 

[Neil_Y]

Sadly there are some bullies of the race course who will shout loudly even when they are in the wrong, sometimes I think they know the rules other times I'm not sure. It often seems there are some genuinely good sailors in this small group, which is sad as they could win on sailing skills and not by intimidation.

Having sailed some very fast boats it scares me a little sometimes when I'm not sure what a boat is trying to do or when they are clealy not getting out of my way when I'm in the right. The time you have to to back off and protest is split second when doing over 20 knts. Mixed fleet and gets even worse. I14 or F18 on the same race track as an Enteprise or Laser radial makes for some forward planning.

I hope you enjoyed your racing and you've been encouraged to learn the rules for the next time.