There is a concern which has been posed by a lot better sailors than me. It involves the spinnaker boats on the downwind and windward boats coming into "A" mark. Some would like to see the rule changed for safety sake.

What are the rules and when is a protest appropriate? For myself I'm interested in hearing from our resident judge(s) on this.

I know it's been beaten to death but the situation still exists!

Rules: P/S and W/L. Pretty simple.

Until boats change course, of course...

Mike

Ban spinnakers, they are just a fad after all.

If the race committee sets an offset mark to provide some separation between the boats rounding and the boats approaching, it shouldn't be much of an issue.

So, if I'm on port tack, going to weather and a spin boat comes roaring down on top of me (also on port) what should I do?

If it's an ARC22, better pray . . .

I usually yell "windward boat keep clear". This does two things... it let's them know you are there and that you are leeward and you have rights.

Be sure to wear a wetsuit? Buy Karl's red main?

There's an idea, I had been going into my duck and cover routine.

Whataya do if they just keep coming and you have to radically alter course to keep from getting cut in half?

You would be expected to avoid contact RRS 14. The other boat will have broken RRS 11. You hail them and let them know that you are protesting them. I would also check to see who else is in the area to validate your protest.

Waiting for our USS rep to wade in...

Like has been said above, the rules that apply are pretty simple:

Rule 10: On opposite tacks (port starboard)
Rule 11: On same tack, overlapped (windward leeward)

So, if a port tack upwind boat and a port tack downwind boat are approaching, the downwind boat is windward and needs to keep clear.

As the ROW boat, it is important that you don't make any course changes that could break rule 16.1 or 16.2

The best idea is to hold a steady course, make a clear hail (I like "leeward boat") and allow the give way boat to avoid you. Obviously, if that boat doesn't look like they are altering, then you should alter course to avoid a collision, then protest.

Is there any distinction, according to USS, between rockstar boats and hacks just plodding along (that would be me)?

Yelling is probably most effective.
Its important to stay in clean air so sometimes its better to tack away well in advance, if they do see you in time there is a chance they will gybe right on top of you.
Or worse, they do a crashgybe and they capsize.
(Thats how I nearly had a mast land on my head at the last worlds).

Do what you have to do to avoid then protest, which is what you do whenever there is a blatant rules violation.

I've had many upwind/downwind, windward/leeward encounters and as soon the windward boat knew I was there they altered course and we both went about our business.

Nope! Although there are some that think there should be and I believe it's covered in the douchebag section of the RRS.

Well, I usually just try to stay out of the way, but up in the left corner the spin boats sometimes pop up outta nowhere, something about the angle.

If you are in the left corner... then you are likely on PORT... Many of the Spin boats coming out of the blue at you are on STARBOARD....You need to stay clear.

When you are on port and leeward of a port spin boat... you need to sail your course and make lots of noise until you know you are seen..... and then sail your course...

If you chicken out and get intimidated... the spin boat will not know where the hell your steering will take you next and you will be lucky to miss each other and you would be in the wrong.

That's some funny sh!t , right there.

Mark,
You CAN"T be holding your course and hitting people though(it sure was clearer when you could), you have to avoid collision or else you're at fault as well. Don't confuse the situation, by leaving out the important parts you dirty obfuscator.

Are you referring to me, or any of the judges that frequent here (Eric, Matt, etc.)?

Keeping course changes, lack of lookout, obstructions, etc. out of the discussion, it is very simple.

Think about any potential crossing as a 4-way intersection, because there are really only 4 basic ways boats will be heading when converging in open water, holding a steady course.

In crossing situations:

Starboard, closehauled boats have ROW over everyone.

Port, closehauled boats have ROW only on port running boats.

Starboard, running boats have ROW over all port boats.

Port, running boats have no ROW.

Reaching is the same as running for this discussion.

As mentioned, number of sails up, experience of the teams, color of your hair (or lack of it), has no bearing.

By the book, you should protest any time you are fouled.

Hope this helps, and you are not on a secret mission...

Mike