team racing rules clinic

TEAM RACING RULES CLINIC

January 8, 2006

INTRODUCTIONS

I’m Steve Shepstone.

Who are you, and why are you here?

What we plan on covering today

Right of Way Rule Differences between fleet and team racing

Protest Information What Umpires will be looking for Umpiring Concepts you should be aware of Select Umpire Calls Using the rules to your advantage

Rule Differences for Team Racing

READ APPENDIX D!! Read the book “Team Racing for Sailboats”

by Steve Tylecote Download Umpire Calls from www.sailing.org

Right of Way Rules

D1.1(a) – Proper Course D1.1(b) – Clear ahead D1.1(c) – Don’t have to jibe D1.1(d) – Finish and leave everyone alone D1.1(e) – Leave boats in other races alone D1.2(a) – Can’t foul own teammate D1.2(b) – Talk to your teammates D1.2(c) – No redress for damage from teammate

Right of Way Rule D1.1(a)

You can sail below your proper course on a downwind leg when you’re ahead of a boat, but you still can’t when you’re within 2 lengths of a leeward boat (overlapped).

Note: This does not apply before the start, or if the leeward (overlapped) boat is your teammate.

EXAMPLE

Right of Way Rule D1.1(b)

The first sentence of rule 18.2(c) is changed to“If a boat was clear ahead at the time she

reached the two-length zone, or she later became clear ahead when another boat passed head to wind, the boat clear astern shall thereafter keep clear”

EXAMPLE

Right of Way Rule D1.1(c)

The rule requiring you to jibe at the jibe mark or leeward mark when you’re the inside right of way boat is deleted.

EXAMPLE

Question – when are you required to jibe?

Right of Way Rule D1.1(d)

Add new rule 22.3: “A boat that has finished shall not act to interfere with a boat that has not finished” See 22.1 & 22.2

EXAMPLE

Right of Way Rule D1.1(e)

You can’t change course to go after a boat in another race.

Right of Way Rule D1.2(a)

There’s no penalty for fouling another boat on your team if there’s no contact. However, this won’t help you if your foul causes your teammate to foul a boat on another team.

EXAMPLE

Right of Way Rule D1.2(b)

You can communicate with your teammates as long as you don’t use electronic communications.

Right of Way Rule D1.2(c)

You can’t get redress for damage caused by your teammate.

Right of Way Rules

Any final questions?

Protest Information

D2.1(a) – Flying the flag D2.1(b) – When can I spin? D2.2(a) – When are Protest Hearings held? D2.2(b & c) – Umpire flags D2.2(d) – When will an Umpire flag me?

Protest Information – D2.1(a)

A boat of any size has to display a red flag and hail protest, but it doesn’t have to be flown for the entire race.

Question – what are typical fouls you would fly the protest flag for in team racing?

Protest Information D2.1(b)

If you break a rule in Part 2 (Right of Way) or 42 (propulsion), but not rule 14 (damage), you can exonerate yourself by doing one turn.

Question – what is one considered one turn?

Question – when does the turn have to be done?

Protest Information D2.2(a)

For umpired races, there is no hearing for Part 2 (except 14 for damage), rule 31.1 (touching a mark), rule 42 (propulsion), or rule 44 (penalty turns).

Question – what happens if the other boat doesn’t do a penalty turn?

Protest Information D2.2 (b & c)

Umpires respond with green or green and white flags for no penalty or a red flag and hailing for the penalized boat or boats.

Question – how many turns can the umpire make the penalized boat turn?

Protest Information D2.2(d)

Question - What infractions can umpires penalize a boat for?


Umpires can penalize a boat or boats for: Touching a mark Propulsion Contact with a boat on the same team Not doing a 2-turn penalty correctly Breach of sportsmanship Rule 14 The penalized boat’s team gaining an advantage

despite the boat taking a penalty


Who flies a black flag in team racing, and what does it mean??

Additional Protest Information

D2.3(a) – Single flag protest procedure D2.3(b) – Races with limited umpiring Breakdowns When can points be added to a boats or

teams score? Additional items which can be added to the

sailing instructions.

Additional Protest Information D2.3(a)

Single flag protest procedure (must be in the S.I.’s):

If a boat protests with a red flag and nobody takes a penalty, then the umpires will decide if a boat will be penalized. Umpires will wait to see if someone takes a penalty turn. If there’s no turn, they’ll signal their decision in the same manner as for two flag protests.

Additional Protest Information D2.3(b)

Races with limited umpiring (must be in the S.I.’s);

If the umpires don’t give a signal or if they display a yellow flag, then there will be a protest hearing.

Additional Protest Information - Breakdowns

If you have a breakdown in a supplied boat, fly a red flag and keep racing (if possible). Then try to obtain redress for the race to be re-sailed or for you to be awarded a fair position.

Note that how the breakdown occurred is key to the decision, and that any carelessness on the part of the crew will count against your claim.

Question – what happens if you have a breakdown in your own boat, ??

Additional Protest Information – When Can An Umpire Add Points?

Scores can be increased by 10 points when a boat has caused damage and broken Rule 14 or if the boat was a premature starter that did not return properly.


If a boat has broken any other rule, but a penalty has not been taken, her score can be increased by 6 points (if there’s a hearing).


In addition, a protest committee may further increase a team’s score if one of them has broken a rule and they believe that their team has gained an advantage as a result.

Example

Additional Items That Can Be Added To The Sailing Instructions

Check the recall procedure to be used Check what types of marks and whether the

flag is part of the mark Check which rule will be used when

capsizing, because if the “mast head rule” is in use, the capsized boat must retire from the race.

What Umpires Look For

Right of way Proper Course Contact between Boats Interfering with a boat on a different leg Touching marks Propulsion 2 boat length zone Overlaps

What Umpires Look For – Right of Way

When a right of way boat alters course, does the give way boat alter course (if appropriate) promptly and far enough?

The same thing applies when a boat acquires the right of way

What Umpires Look For – Proper Course

Is a boat sailing above or below a proper course when it’s not allowed?

Question – how is proper course determined?

What Umpires Look For – Contact Between Boats

Umpires will watch for contact between boats, and they should fly a black flag if there is any chance of damage.

What Umpires Look For – Interference With A Boat On Another Leg

Question – how can you “legally” interfere with a boat on another leg?

What Umpires Look For – Touching Marks

Question – what do you do if you touch a mark, and what rights do you have & not have?

What Umpires Look For – Propulsion Rules

When is it OK to: Scull Pump Rock Do 2 tacks or jibes in immediate succession

What Umpires Look For – 2 Boat Length Zone

They will look at: When the boats enter the zone When the boats are no longer about to round Does the outside boat give enough room Does the inside boat take more room than

she needs

What Umpires Look For - Overlaps

When was it established How was it established

Question – how can I alert the ump that I do have or that the other boat doesn’t have an overlap?

Umpiring Concepts You Should Know About

“Last Point of Certainty” Giving Room How to get the call from the umpire

Umpiring Concepts – Last Point of Certainty

The umpire will assume that you have not completed a tack, passed head to wind, broken an overlap, etc. until they are certain that you have done so.

Question – what can I do to show the umpire that I have completed the action?

Umpiring Concepts – Giving Room

You cannot make a boat do an unseamanlike move to keep clear of you. However, “Some actions that are abnormal and therefore unseamanlike in a fleet of many boats will be considered normal and therefore seamanlike in a team race”.

Question – what are some examples of moves that would and would not be acceptable in a team race?

Umpiring Concepts – How To Get The Calls

Yell loud! Use hand signals – know skipper & umpire

signals Use correct protest language Use proper flag procedure

Select Umpire Calls

See handouts of select calls

Using The Rules To Your Advantage

Prevent your opponent from doing his penalty turn until after the start

Leeward boat at the leeward mark Slowing down to establish overlaps Prevent your opponent from completing a

tack

Using Rules To Your Advantage – Penalty Turn After The Start

If a boat fouls you before the start, try to keep them from getting clear to do a penalty turn until either right before or after the start.

Using Rules To Your Advantage – Leeward Outside Boat At Leeward Mark

When you’re the outside leeward boat, give the windward inside opponent only enough room to make a seamanlike rounding, not a tactical rounding.

Using Rules To Your Advantage – Slow Down To Allow Teammate To Overlap You

When approaching a mark with an opponent outside of you and a teammate close astern of you, slow down to allow your teammate to overlap both of you.

Using Rules To Your Advantage – Prevent Your Opponent From Completing A Tack

If an opponent passes just ahead of you and tries to tack on you, head up after they cross you to prevent them from coming down to close hauled on your tack.

Be Nice To The Umpires – They’re People Too!

Always remember that umpires, like everyone else, are not perfect. Often, they have not seen the entire event, and therefore can’t make a call.

And sometimes they make mistakes – everyone does. I certainly have!

Questions?????????

So What Did We Learn Today?

The rules are your friend! They can be used to great tactical advantage if used properly.

Umpires will be looking at specific situations. Know what they are, and how to make the umpires take notice of you.

Have fun – team racing is the best.

team racing rules clinic

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