Forum: The Racing Rules of Sailing
Closed LIne and Rules 18 and 19
P
John AllanCertifications:
- National Judge
- Regional Race Officer
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Sailing instructions prescribe:
- a Start/Finish Line between two marks,
- a mark W to be laid to windward of the Start/Finish Liine,
- a mark L to be laid to leeward of the Start Finish Line,
- a Course: Start/Finish Line – W – L – Start Finish Line; and
- “The Start/Finish Line is closed to boats sailing on the downwind leg, boats violating this SI will be scored DSQ by the race committee without a hearing. This changes rules 63.1 and A5”.
Two boats sailing on the leg W – L are approaching one end of the Start/Finish Line, where the mark is a small inflatable buoy.
Supposing that it is agreed that the SI above mean that boats on the leg W - L shall not sail through the Start/Finish Line:
- In the absence of any other relevant words in the SI, is the Start/Finish LIne an obstruction?
- Will rule 18 apply between the boats when one of them reaches the zone around the mark?
- Will rule 19 apply between the boats at the mark or at the Start/Finish Line?
Comments
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The definition Obstruction provides inter alia '......an area so designated by the sailing instructions are also obstructions'. Seems to me that the SIs, in declaring that the line is "closed" to boats sailing on legs of the course between marks W & L, effectively designate the start/finishing line as an obstruction to boats on those legs.
Neither of the starting/finishing marks have a required side when boats are sailing between marks W & L, so rule 18 will not apply when boats are passing them on those legs of the course.
Rule 19.2 "Giving Room at an Obstruction" will apply.
said I would say no. You have no need to avoid it at all.
And the definition of obstruction says nothing about 'avoid it'.
- Obstruction An object that a boat could not pass without changing course substantially, if she were sailing directly towards it and one of her hull lengths from it. An object that can be safely passed on only one side and an area so designated by the sailing instructions are also obstructions. ...
There is nothing to prevent a boat sailing towards the line from passing, or passing through it without changing course at all.I don't believe that the Start/Finish Line satisfies either of the first or second (object that can be safely passed ...) limbs of the definition.
Nothing in the SI designates anything as an obstruction..
Does rule 18 apply?
I am sure the SI define the marks when they are part of either the starting line or the finishing line.
The description of the course do NOT include the start-/finishing marks on the downwind leg (W -L), and therefore rule 18 cannot not apply on this leg.
Does rule 19 apply?
The definition ”obstruction” give the possibility to designate an area as ”obstruction” in the SI.
For me there is a distinct difference between restricted areas where you should not sail (shooting areas – fishing areas – deep water routes etc. - a line behind the starting line that boats in later starts should not cross to disturb the boats starting etc.), and an ”obstruction”.
Sometime you see the wording “The starting line close X minutes after the starting signal for each start” – does this make it an an obstruction!
All of the exampels above are exampels of restricted areas, but not “obstruction”s.
If the word ”obstruction” is not specifically used, these areas are not an ”obstruction” and you are not entitled to room according to RRS 19.
So for me In the present scenario to make the Start-/finishing line an ”obstruction” the SI should say;
“The Start/Finish Line is closed and an obstruction to boats sailing on the downwind leg ….”. (and then perhaps leave out the word “closed”), then RRS 19 would apply.
As the SI are written RRS 19 does not apply – and the downwind boats have an obligation not to violate the “closed” line, but they do not get help from RRS 18 or 19.
But if in doubt always ask the protest committee at the event of their opinion and get it posted – the above would be my opinion.
The S/F line is an obstruction because it is "so designated by the SIs" see definition of obstruction.
Rule 18 does not apply at the marks because they do not have to be left on a "specified side" see definition of Mark
Rule 19 applies to the line because it is an obstruction, see above.
Meanwhile, I am with Bill on this one, IMO, if the SI's restrict an area "on pain of DSQ," that area ranks as an obstruction, whether or not the SIs specifically provide that, and as a sailor, I would be reluctant to violate the SI, and count on a PC to reverse a DSQ.
However, I think Ted has it right that the RC can and should avoid any ambiguity on the matter.
And the 2nd half of the sentence establishes what a substantial change of direction is.
A boat sailing alone has no excuse but to honor the SI.
For questions 2 & 3, when applied to overlapped boats (on leg L as the SI states), the word Mark is irrelevant becasue the entire line is the obstruction not just one or the other of it's bounds. Hence RRS 18 does not apply. But 19.2 does, to the entire S/F line.
Even in the case of a boat crossing the finishing line from the direction from the course side, rule Definition Finish (c) states she hasn’t finished if she continues to sail the course.
In my part of the world, on the Swan River, the local sailing authority has long prescribed that SIs provide that start/finish lines be closed when the said lines display a Blue flag so indicating that the said line is in use. A useful tool to ensure that as much water is available for racing without interfering with boats starting or finishing at the various clubs around the river.
As to my use of the word “closed”, I think that everyone reading this comment would have no problem understanding the requirements of a SI using the same word.