Sailboat (Yacht) Racing: A Primer for Ship 378

Yacht Racing

Primer for Ship 378

Topics

• Why Race?• Race Course Set Up• Parts of a Race• Regatta Organization• The Rules• Handling Rule Infractions

Why Race?

• It’s Fun– More time on the water

• Teaches Sailing Quickly– Boat handling in stressful situations– Makes cruising safer

• Fellowship (Social)– 4th S of Sea Scouting

• Any other reason that makes sense to you

Objective

• First to finish while complying with the rules

• Impossible to win without abiding by and accepting . . .– Safety– Sportsmanship– Tactics. . . As defined by The Rules

Racing

• Usually 2-3 laps around a course• Intent is for race to last 60-90 minutes

• If the race committee chooses to shorten race– Pre-arranged visual signal

Race Course: Triangle

Race Course: Windward - Leeward

Parts of Race

• Starting– 5 minutes before racing begins

• Racing– 4 minutes before the race begins until finishing

• Finishing– Crossing the finish line with any part of the boat– Clearing the area

Finish

• A boat finishes when any part of its crew or equipment legally crosses the finish line and clears away from the line– Crew & equipment in normal operating position– Line must be crossed in the correct direction

Starting Sequence

• 5-Minutes (Warning)– Engines off

• 4-Minutes (Preparatory)– Racing rules fully in effect

• 1-Minute (62-67 Seconds to go)– Final line-up for start

• Start (Go)– Permission to cross the starting line

5-Minutes (Warning)

• Propulsion Rule goes into effect– Engines must be off

– No propulsion allowed besides• Wind• Waves• Current

Rules Go Into Effect Instantly

• Propulsion Example

• As soon as the Warning signal (5-minutes) is applied, the engine must already be off.– Killing the motor as the signal is applied is too late• Immediate disqualification (DSQ)

Rules Go Into Effect Instantly

• Preparatory Example

• If any part of your boat (equipment and crew) touches a starting mark, a foul has been committed– Imaginary starting line– Committee boat– Marker

Start Signaling

Warning (5-Minutes)

• Any Solid-Color flag (Usually)

• One sound signal when raised

Preparatory (4-Minutes)

• P – Flag up

• One sound signal when raised

Preparatory (1-Minute)

• P – Flag down

• One sound signal when lowered

Start

• Any Solid-Color flag (Usually)

• One sound signal when lowered

First Race

• Goal: Finish within the time limit

• Actions– Stay out of the way– Watch experienced racers– Learn & understand the rules– Experiencing racing environment– Learn the lingo– Have fun!

Organization

• Regatta Committee– Club’s committee responsible for racing program

• Race Committee– Club’s committee responsible for a race

• Boats– Race Participants

• Observes / Judges– Referee / witness, on-water safety/rescue staff

Organization

• Protest Committee– Judges whose decision impacts race outcome

• “The Rules”– International Sailing Federation (ISF) regulations

Acronyms

• OCS: Over Course Side– Over starting line

• DNF: Did not finish• DSQ: Disqualified

Terms

• Passing / Rounding a Mark– Going past a mark on the correct side without

hitting it• ColRegs– Collision Regulations (Rules of the Road)

• Damage– Anything a prudent skipper would repair

Terms

• Tack: Port / Starboard– The side opposite where the boom is carried

• Leeward Boat– The boat on the leeward side of another boat– Leeward is determined by the side the boom is

actually carried on (not by the wind)• Windward Boat– Opposite of Leeward Boat

“The Rules”

• Primary Purpose– Allow close quarters maneuvering wo colliding

• Primary Effect– Defines tactics• Things you can legally do to gain advantage

• The racing rules are an extension of the ColRegs

Hierarchy of Rules

• Collision Regulations– Avoid boats restricted in their ability to maneuver

• Boats on Different Tack: Windward vs Leeward– Boat on port tack keep clear

• Boats on Same Tack: Windward vs Leeward– Windward boat keep clear

• When Boats Meet (on collision course)– Follow rules above

Hierarchy of Rules

• Overtaking– Port tack boat keeps clear of starboard tack boat– Applies to racers only– ColRegs apply when non-racers are on the course

• Obstructions: Different Tack– Port tack boat keeps clear

• Obstruction: Same Tack– Allow Room

Hierarchy of Rules

• When Passing Marks– Above rules apply– Allow room for any boat within 2-3 boat lengths

when your boat is within 2-3 boat lengths of the mark• Does not apply at the windward mark

The Rules: Key Points

• Primary purpose is to avoid collisions• All collisions are avoidable• Good sportsmanship, good seamanship, and

safety must prevail• Assumes boats skippered by competent crews• Other boats must be allowed adequate time

to respond to your rightful actions• Other boats not required to anticipate action

Rules Enforcement

• Rules enforcement is by the honor system– No referee– Self-monitoring

• If you think you’ve committed a foul, take the appropriate penalty

• If you’ve done something to be disqualified, disqualify yourself

Penalty Turn

• Goal– Cause an offending boat to lose time and position

• Accomplishment– Sail in a 360º circle with a least one tack

and one jibe out of the way of other boats

Common Disqualifying Actions

• “Guilty” boat involved in a collision• Failing to assist vessels in distress• Failure to assist your own MOB crew member

Common 1-Turn Penalty Infractions

• Touching a mark– Doesn’t apply when the actions of another boat

cause the mark to hit your boat• Violate a “When Boats Meet” rule

Common 2-Turn Penalty Infractions

• “Innocent” boat involved in a collision• Refusing to give-way at the start of race

Protests

• Protest– An assertion by one boat that another boat has

committed an infraction of the rules• Shout “Protest” at the offending crew• Raise Protest flag (rectangular red flag)

Protest Committee

• Judges decide what would have been done if two competent skippers encountered the same situation

• The Race Committee helps with protest procedures– Will not argue the protest