Forum: The Racing Rules of Sailing
New definition of obstruction
P
Ric CrabbeCertifications:
- National Judge
2
The 2025 rules have the definition of obstruction as, “(d) an area or line in a rule that boats are prohibited from entering or crossing”
Rules 30.2-30.4 state that “If flag x has been displayed, no part of a boat’s hull shall be in the triangle formed by the ends of the starting line and the first mark during the last minute before her starting signal.“. That sure sounds like an area in a rule that boats are prohibited from entering. Therefore, if a Z, U, or black flag is displayed, the start line is an obstruction during the last minute before the start.
Thoughts?
Rules 30.2-30.4 state that “If flag x has been displayed, no part of a boat’s hull shall be in the triangle formed by the ends of the starting line and the first mark during the last minute before her starting signal.“. That sure sounds like an area in a rule that boats are prohibited from entering. Therefore, if a Z, U, or black flag is displayed, the start line is an obstruction during the last minute before the start.
Thoughts?
Comments
[You must be signed in to add a comment]
Oh yes it does 'no part of a boat’s hull shall be in the triangle'.
That's a prohibition.
But why does it matter? In the last minute, RRS 19 is not going to apply.
Section C rules do not apply between boats when the mark or obstruction referred to in those rules is a starting mark surrounded by navigable water or its anchor line, from the time the boats are approaching it to start until they have left it astern.
You might not be approaching the line to start 50 seconds before the start and are running line. Also, the area is not a starting mark.
John F. - yes, I prefer that wording too
John C.— To me, “no part shall” is a prohibition
John A. — Why doesn’t 19 apply?
Preamble to Part C only switches off at the starting marks, not the line.
A boat in the last minute may or arguably may not be approaching to start.
A boat "A" is slowly approaching the line on starboard with one boat length to go at 30 second to the start. A boat "B" clear astearn establishes a windward overlap when there is room to pass between "A" and the starting line line.
Can "B" claim that "A" is the outside boat to the continuous obstruction and barge in?
I’m thinking that if A is close hauled approaching the line and B becomes overlapped to windward, then 19.2(c) applies (there is no room, so she’s not entitled to any). But if A is running the line more than a boat length below it, and B gets in there above her, then A cannot luff B over the line.
I just reviewed all of the reference submissions that built-up the new definition ... and there is nothing about this. The closest was a discussion about a very large signal boat .. and that the new definition makes clear that it is not a continuing obstruction.
Hopefully someone will send-up a signal flair to WSRC.