After a 32 comments and counting… I think that we’ve sufficiently beat this into the ground. There were some pretty interesting levels of confusion for what should be a simple issue. Likewise, moments of “Aha! It really is a fuzzy definition” from a lot of pretty smart people.
Tactically, from the racer’s point of view, we always need to err on the side that makes the PRO happy. The reality is that we are always at the mercy of the weather, our equipment, the jury and the race committee. If the committee decides that we are OCS, then we are OCS and without a definition in the book, there is nothing to be done about it (except maybe try to get your blog-post on Scuttlebutt).
Thanks to a comment from dear old Dad, there is mention of an interpretation from the US federation:
page 254 in the 2009 US Sailing Race Management Handbook under the caption SIGHTING THE LINE, it says “It is generally accepted that the course side of the starting mark (the upwind side if the start is upwind) is used to sight the starting line.”
I think that provides about as close to a definition as we’re going to find right now. The truth is that the SIs are the correct place for the definition to live. The clearer that definition can be, the happier the sailors will be. Any time that the jury and race committee can be on the same page with the sailors about how items like this will be interpretted, the sailors benefit. I’m all for that! This has been a great lesson for me and, I think, a lot of other people: When you’re not sure about something ask ahead of time. Both the organizers and the sailors might learn something together.
Brad Nichol and I are heading to South America for the last event of the 2009 season in the Star on Thursday. Standby for updates from Rio. For more information about how to support our campaign in the new class, you can request a funding report from campbellsailing@gmail.com
Chip Mann
New Issue: I am looking for a digital wind direction and speed devise to be used for race committee work. So far the only thing I have found is from Tacktick but the price point is around $2,200 when you add all of the components necessary to get accurate wind readings from an anchored position. What I am hoping for is something that could be moved from boat to boat without a great deal of setup and would come in at a price point around $1,000. If anyone has a suggestion, I would appreciate it.
Chip Mann
Area K Director, US Sailing
Chair Race Management & Judges Committee, ILYA
RRO
