The principle underlying Jake's take home is "You can take advantage of mistakes by others.. but the rules themselves are not a weapon to use to win in the corners.
I would add... the underlying notion that you can use the rules to gain an advantage at the corners is not valid ...
Yes and no.
The rules are written such that one boat cannot really force another to commit a foul (although nothing prevents a boat from willfully sailing into an untenable position). One can, however, use the rules to one's own advantage. That's why I originally began to study the rules (not because I enjoy protest hearings).
If you work out rule scenarios ahead of time, and learn to recognize them about to happen on the water, then you can often maneuver into a controlling position. I've won many races by doing exactly that.
I occasionally toy with the idea of writing a book called "how to use the rules
to your advantage". I don't know what I would say, but I think the title alone would make it sell
Regards,
Eric
