Guys, my PERSONAL interpretation of this scenario is that if you enter a regatta as a sloop with crew then the whole of the regatta should be raced that way unless there are exceptional circumstances. e.g illness or injury or pehaps if the intention to switch modes during the regatta was made at the time of entry and permission obtained both from fellow competitors and the PRO.
This situation has arisen in UK events and has been settled before racing began, for example where a crew has been unavailable for the first day of a weekend event.
I guess I agree with Robi!
Totally agree with John.
If you can get permission from the PRO and all competitors in writing then you can sail with / without crew IF there is a good reason and it is decided far enough before the event that the forecast cannot be used to make an advantage.
Well, here's something else that just came to mind. Andi is an accomplished skipper. But he wants to "crew" for me. I would rather he drive a few races. Can we switch off, alternating skippers/crew? Does that count as swithcing crew? Does anyone have a problem with that?
Not IMO. When I was sailing Dart 18's (Single wire) sometimes the crew would helm from the wire down tight reaches to enable the helm (well the person at the back of the boat) to play the mainsheet with both hands. Also, some teams where helm was "of bigger build" would do the wiring as well as helming. Again no problem for me.
As long as same people are on the boat, no problem who is doing what. We had one team in the Hurricane 5.9 fleet where they would switch roles depending on how windy it was; one was better in light wind, one in heavy wind.
