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Rule 18 and Room at the Mark

Rule 18 in a mixed fleet of foiling boards

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Mark Townsend
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • International Umpire
  • International Race Officer
  • International Judge
Several clubs run midweek racing for foiling boards. The NoR defines the various appendices that apply.

 2. RULES
2.1. The event will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing.
2.2. RRS Appendix B applies for windsurfers.
2.3. RRS Appendix F applies for kiteboards.
2.4. Test rule DR21 05 - Appendix WF Wingfoiling Racing Rules available at https://www.sailing.org/racingrules/ applies for wingfoilers.
 
How does rule 18 work when an iQFOIL, Formula Kite, Wingfoil and Parafoil are on starboard tack approaching the weather mark to be rounded to port?

Rule 18.1 differs for each of the class. One class says rule 18 applies another says it doesn't
 
Definitions Zone The area around a mark within a distance of three hull lengths of the boat nearer to it. A boat is in the zone when any part of her hull is in the zone.
 Rule 18.1 When Rule 18 Applies
(a) Rule 18 applies between boats when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is in the zone.
 
Appendix B The definition Zone is deleted.
Rule B2.18.1 When Rule 18 Applies
The first sentence of rule 18.1(a) is changed to:
Rule 18 applies between boards when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is rounding or passing it.
 
Appendix F Zone The area around a mark within a distance of 30 metres. A kiteboard is in the zone when any part of her hull is in the zone.
Rule F2.18.1 When Rule 18 Applies
Rule 18 applies between kiteboards when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is in the zone.

 Appendix WF Zone The area around a mark within a distance of 20 metres. A wingfoil is in the zone when any part of her hull is in the zone.
Rule WF2.18.1 When Rule 18 Applies
 When Rule 18 Applies (a) (b) Rule 18 applies between wingfoils when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is in the zone. 
  
Created: Today 03:22

Comments

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Jim Champ
Nationality: United Kingdom
I read the text of the rule as saying that the relevant appendices only apply between craft of the same type and that if craft are not the same type, eg windsurfer and kiteboard, then unmodified RRS18 is in force. 
Created: Today 04:22
Mark Townsend
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • International Umpire
  • International Race Officer
  • International Judge
Reply to: 21639 - Jim Champ
That is going to confuse the punters.
Created: Today 04:25
Which class says Rule 18 doesn't apply? Reading the definitions you have pasted above, I read that rule 18 applies to each of them.

For the iQ foil, Appendix B replaces the definition of 'zone' with the concept of passing the mark "Rounding or Passing A board is rounding or passing a mark from
the time her proper course is to begin to manoeuvre to round or pass
it, until the mark has been rounded or passed."

As with other mixed class racing, I would presume that the zone/passing area is reached when the inside or ahead board/s reach the edge of it based on each class's definition. So if wing foil is inside & reaches 20m, 18 switches on. But if iQ foil is ahead & starts to bear away to pass the mark, wingfoil cannot push to establish inside overlap in the distance still remaining to 20m. With the additional rule implications of the kiteboarder keeping all of their gear clear of any board clear ahead/reaching the zone(/passing area) before them - even if they are not overlapped. [App F, 18.2 (a) 2] and the Appendix F definition of keeping clear and giving room to keep clear including room to move her kite in all directions without immediately making contact.

In practice, if any of them are getting close enough that distance from the mark; whether they have reached the zone or passing area; or whether they have provided enough mark room per the other class's requirement to round AND there is uncertainty about whether enough room to round has been provided - they are probably too close. Surely any OA organising mixed racing of this kind would want safety and lack of contact to prevail? 

So this is not the scenario for any competitor to be pushing whether the edge of a zone/passing area has been reached, or whether an overlap was established. (if the kite is inside or simply there first, there is no provision for another class to 'nip inside' as she has right of way & mark room, including room to move her gear in any direction she wants....I certainly wouldn't want to be the foiler pushing my luck going inside after being clear astern & then finding a set of kite strings closing on me at 15 knots!

Is there an actual scenario of which class reached a zone/passing area first? Or is it hypothetical? In which case I can't see that your query exists, other than 'passing area' might be quite widely defined for the board depending on wind strength?

Edited to add - I don't see where Jim's comment about reverting to standard rules applies? Can all appendices not apply at the same time? For mixed class racing like this, it certainly might help for the OA to add some clarification to the SIs about how the mark-rounding rules "stack" to avoid precarious situations?
Created: Today 04:34
Capt Tribhuwan Jaiswal
Nationality: India
Certifications:
  • International Judge
  • National Race Officer
Mark it's a tricky situation, especially if you have at least any of the two classes racing on a course together. 
The introduction in the RRS clarifies that when rules of an appendix apply, they take precedence over any conflicting rules in part 1-7 and the definitions, but it is silent on the conflict of rules between appendices. 
So, we could consider the board closure to the mark to decide the size of the zone (as per its appendix) to then apply the RRS 18.
Created: Today 04:36
Dušan Vanický
Nationality: Slovakia
Certifications:
  • International Judge
  • National Umpire
  • National Race Officer
Replaced Zone with Rounding or Passing ( = from the time her proper course is to begin to manoeuvre to round or pass...) for windsurfing, could probably work for some windsurfing events, but for the standard fleet racing, it certainly causes more trouble than the standard concept with the Zone.
I think that more modern (flexible) kite and wing rules recognized the trouble and "moved back" to the Zone concept.
It creates much more predictable and clearer situations and is easier to decide what to do, from the point of view of competitors.
The moment when a windsurfing board starts to manoeuvre to round or pass might be, in some situations, "clear" for the closely positioned observing judges, but it can also be almost impossible to see and establish from the point of view of another competitor.  (Typically, at the leeward mark approached by boards on different tacks from 2 pretty wide angles)
Establishing the moment when a board reaches the zone, together with the concept of  RRS1 8.2e) (=solving the doubt if a boat obtained or broke an overlap in time), offers a predictable and safer solution. 
Created: Today 09:13
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