I have had several comments about boats having trouble with boats that are milling around in the starting area interfering with them as they are trying to finish or have just finished. There are rules that address this. Be aware that if you are not racing and interfere with a boat that is racing, you have broken Rule 23.1 and are subject to protest and disqualification. The rule reads as follows:
23.1 If reasonably possible, a boat not racing shall not interfere with a boat that is racing.
Racing is a defined term as follows:
A boat is racing from her preparatory signal until she finishes and clears the finishing line and marks or retires, or until the race committee signals a general recall, postponement or abandonment.
The most common situation described to me is that boats that are still racing, trying to finish and clear the finish line, are being interfered with by boats milling around waiting for the next sequence to start. Rule 23.1 tells us that it doesn’t matter if you have right of way over the boat that is racing, if you are not racing and force them to alter course, you have fouled them. There is no way for you to exonerate yourself for this foul by taking a two turns penalty because that is only an option while you are racing.
Rule 64.1(d) says the penalty is as follows: “If a boat has broken a rule when not racing, her penalty shall apply to the race sailed nearest in time to that of the incident.” Therefore, if you are found to have broken Rule 23.1 you will be disqualified from the race you have just finished or the following race depending on the timing of the incident.
I suggest that we all avoid the starting area until all the boats have finished. It is rude to the competitors that are still trying to finish, it makes it difficult for the RC to spot finishers and you might be subject to disqualification by Rule 23.1. If you find yourself being interfered with by boats that are not racing as you are trying to finish, please don’t hesitate to protest.
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We have had this problem at our Wednesdy night race series. Boats in the 2nd start sail up and down the start line during the start sequence of the 1st class to start.
ReplyDeleteScolding and urging them to stop only seemed to work for the night and some would return to their inconsiderate ways the following week.
I finally protested the worst offender for breaking 23.1. The protest committee let him off the hook when they could not find a fact that any boat was actually interferred with. Just being in the "start area" does not, in itself, break the rule.
But that's ok. as boats in the 2nd start are now better behaved knowing that they will likely spend their after racing social hour in the protest room defending themselves against a possible DSQ rather than with their elbows on the bar swapping half truths about the nights racing.
And next time, I think I will call every skipper of every boat of the class in the 2nd start to testify to see what they may have witnessed. Perhaps then they will all get the message and convince their fellow skippers to amend their ways.