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Rule 42
Mmm, time to fire an email to my instructor... Thanks.


Okay, I did fire an email to him and he replied. Here is his opinion (Note that he is instructor at national level, with a lot of experience).

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A very interesting point. However I’m not sure I agree that the rule precludes what I've suggested, “putting one foot in the water to increase drag and slow down".

Looking at the rule, clause by clause.

1 “a boat shall compete by using only the wind and water to increase, maintain or decrease her speed”

That’s OK, we’re using water

2 “Her crew may adjust the trim of sails and hull, and perform other acts of seamanship”

Not very seaman like but otherwise OK

3 “but shall not otherwise move their bodies to propel the boat”

We’re not propelling it.

So as I see it, if we use our hands to paddle forward, that’s illegal, but using hand (or leg) to slow down isn’t.


I guess that's one of those open to interpretation things...