New Racing Rules Through 2012

I found it helpful to break out the major rule changes for 2009 and see them as a set. These are my rewording of the changes as presented by Dave Perry and the rules book. When I'm trying to learn, I find that if I engage different parts of my learning apparatus the information sticks better. So now I’ve read them, I’ve written them, I will discuss them with fellow club members on March 22^nd, I’ve looked at diagrams and I have created a visualization of me in each situation.

Rule 17.2        No longer a requirement to maintain a proper course

(Deleted)

·         You can sail below your proper course to block a boat trying to pass you downwind.

Rule 18                     There are a number of changes at marks

·         “Room at the Mark” has been replaced by the term “Mark Room.” This is room to sail to the mark in a seaman like fashion and space to round the mark on your proper course.

·         “About to round or pass the mark” is replaced by the “zone” and the distance is expanded to 3 boat lengths, unless otherwise specified.

·         If, for any reason, you sail outside the zone after you’ve entered it, the zone rules reset when you reenter the zone.

·         At leeward gates, the inside, right-of-way boat does not need to sail their proper course.

 Rule 19                     Some changes at obstructions

·         No zone around obstructions, just the question, “Is outside boat able to give room?”

·         At continuing obstruction, a boat clear astern, with right of way, can establish inside overlap and outside boat must then keep clear.

·         A boat clear astern can establish an inside overlap between two boats even if there isn’t room to pass between them, but must give time to keep clear.

 Rule 23.2                 Interfering with another boat

·         Can interfere with boat on another leg or taking penalty turns, as long as you are sailing your proper course

So now I’ve read them, I’ve written them, I will discuss them with fellow club members on March 22^nd, I’ve looked at diagrams and I have created a visualization of me in each situation.

As I wrote that last piece I visualized myself at a crowded mark rounding and I could feel my brain freeze. Did I have to give that guy room or not? What was that rule? Back to Dave Perry’s 100 Best Racing Rules Quizzes.