Sunday, May 17, 2009

Starting Quiz




Using the diagram above, and assuming none of the Rule 30 penalties apply, answer the following:

1. Assuming that the starting guns sounds when Yellow, Blue and Green are at position 1, which boat(s) have started properly?

2. Answer the same question if the starting gun sounds when all three boats are at position 2.

The intended answers are:
1. All three boats meet the definition of starting, however, blue does not sail the course as required in Rule 28.1 Sailing The Course. Blue's string when pulled taught does not pass on the required side of the starting mark after she starts. Green's string loops around the starting mark and it does pass it on the required side as well as the wrong side, but there is no restriction on the string passing on the wrong side as long as it also passes on the correct side. I've attached Case 90 that explains it better than I can. Yellow of course starts properly and complies with Rule 28.1

2. If the gun sounds at position 2 for all three boats only Yellow will meet the definition of Starting. Both Blue and Green fail to be on the pre-start side of the line at or after the starting signal and cross the starting line. Yellow is on the pre-start side after the starting signal and crosses the line so Yellow is the only one that starts if the gun sounds at position 2.

6 comments:

  1. OK, how about a clue as to which is the direction to the windward mark. Up, down or off to the right?

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  2. The windward mark is on the top of the page.

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  3. 1. Gun at position 1 all boats start correctly.

    2. Gun at position 2 yellow starts correctly.

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  4. 1. Gun at position 1 all boats meet the definition of starting. However, only green and yellow sail the course properly according to rule 28.1

    2. Gun at position 2 only Yellow meets the definition of starting and sailing the course per rule 28.1. Green and Blue are scored DNS.

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  5. Did not initially think about rule 28.1. But since Anonoymous has brought it to my attention I looked in the ISAF Case book and found Case 90.

    Case 90 would say that at position 2 both yellow and green sail the course properly but blue does not. In which case somebody, a competitor or the race committee, must protest blue as a boat cannot be DSQ'ed for not sailing the course without a hearing.

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  6. Here's how I see it:

    Rule 28.1 defines the string as "representing her track after *starting* " (emphasis in original, signifying official definition).

    The definition of "start" gives the following criteria:

    1) entirely on the prestart side at or *after* the gun; (emphasis mine)

    2) comply with 30.1 if applicable (not relevant here)

    3) any part crosses the start line in the direction of the first mark.

    It seems to me the clear reading of these two taken together is that the "anchor point" of the 28.1 string is a point occupied by the boat on the course somewhere just on the prestart side of the line at the instant of starting.

    So, with gun at position 1:

    Yellow complies with all criteria of the definition of start (entirely behind after, crossing in direction of first mark) and her string passes between the two start marks. Yellow has started and sailed the course.

    Blue complies with the definition of start but when her string is pulled taut it does not pass between the start marks. Blue starts, but has not sailed the course and can be protested.

    Green complies with the definition of start and when her string is pulled taut it passes between the start marks. Started and sailed the course.

    With gun at position 2:

    Yellow: Same as gun at position 1.

    Green: Did not cross start line in direction of first mark. Score DNS.

    Blue: Same as green.

    Case 90 is a bit different because in it both boats started and then were pushed back into the prestart area by the current. Green cannot have sailed the course properly (or at all) because she did not officially start.

    -- Radio Newbie

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