So, I've been sailing just about my whole life, but I have to admit it has all been pretty much outside of the sailing establishment - meaning neither my family nor I have been members of a yacht club, I didn't grow up racing optis, and in fact I never raced before hooking up with the West River scene. So it is with a bit of bemusement in reading the Sailing Anarchy thread bashing up on Lee that it seems to be the biggest sin in the world to pass somebody to windward. I saw it mentioned in another thread that just featured a reunion of Newick boats where somebody makes that comment about the boat in the video clip. It seems that of all the kinds of things you could do to somebody and their family, passing them to windward is nothing short of cowardly, showboating, and being a "cat whacker". Now, I know that if you pass somebody to windward in a race you risk being driven up. I also know that passing somebody to leeward can be a good way to sit and not get by. I also know that heading somebody up in a different class or in handicap racing is a good way to lose ground to the boats that count.

When just out sailing on the Bay, do I risk offending the populace if I pass them to windward? How far must I be away from them to avoid the offense?

So, here's my question - is this really the biggest sin one can commit whilst competing (or sailing in general), or is this just another manifestation of the folks who think they are fast not having the ability to deal with somebody who is just sailing faster? Are people just being too sensitive or do I have some repenting to do? When the fastest boats are starting last in a many class fleet, do I need to take a course completely outside of everybody on the course to avoid offending somebody and being accused of showboating only to be subject to whatever on the water justice people feel is justified?

Do the PHRF A0 boats really make sure that they only pass the Alberg 30s that started before them to leeward?

Thoughts?

Here's mine - this is a bunch of crap, especially in mixed fleet racing. You will pass and get passed to windward. Deal with it. Head this person up only if it makes sense from a competition standpoint, not because you feel violated. But I could be wrong, and as a "cat whacker" I may have to learn some manners before I can wear a blue blazer.