The Racing Guidelines of Crusing permit for competitors within the sport, however when there aren’t any parameters to the taking part in subject, the principles should anticipate each state of affairs. That has invariably made them extra difficult, a state of affairs nicely famous in Rule 18.
This rule applies when boats are rounding or passing marks, whether or not it’s marks on a windward-leeward course, or a random leg course, or any conceivable mark rounding. Rule 18 is the Swiss Military Knife of guidelines, which isn’t essentially an excellent factor.
“There is no such thing as a method any weekend warrior may know the specifics of that rule, and all of the others, to sail correctly,” famous Scuttlebutt reader Peter Sutton. “The principles have gotten so detailed due the pushing of professionals and Olympians, and have gotten practically irrelevant for the majority of the game additionally they should serve.”
The excellent news is how World Crusing Racing Guidelines Committee working social gathering is on a mission to simplify Rule 18. Right here’s some pleasant suggestions:
Frederic Berg:
Begin with the target of the principles. Ask any worldwide sailor or guidelines knowledgeable what the target of the principles right now is and they’re going to let you know with a straight face the target of the principles is to make the sport fascinating.
Take into consideration that for a minute, the target of the principles is to make the sport fascinating. As if crusing itself was not fascinating sufficient. I get it, windward-leewards usually are not essentially the most fascinating crusing programs round, and so it’s pure to show to the principles to make the sport fascinating.
The target of rule 18 ought to be to spherical marks effectively, pretty, and with readability of the best of method boat. Nevertheless, I’ve a tough time with rule 18 and so does each decide I’ve ever sat with in judgment on a rule 18 case.
Those self same consultants and worldwide sailors get collectively every year and scratch their collective heads questioning why crusing is in decline. I counsel reaching exterior the tiny neighborhood of guidelines consultants and worldwide sailors for steering.
Peter (PJ) Backshall:
I agree fully with Peter Sutton concerning how the principles have develop into irrelevant for the majority of the game, and take it a step additional by noting how professionals, Olympians, fleet champions, and so forth. make it their responsibility to ‘bend’ the principles when it fits, making them largely liable for bringing the game into disrepute (and decline).
The present system permits some folks to sail exterior the principles within the data they will get away with it. Mediation, protests, and appeals may be gradual, expensive, and infrequently overrun with lies and deceit making ‘honest crusing’ a factor of the previous. One treatment is to impose considerably sturdy penalties for ‘deliberately bending the principles’ equivalent to imposing a ban from competitors.
Simplified guidelines and honest crusing ought to be common and people who wish to ‘bend’ the principles ought to be given discover to take up one other sport.
Editor’s be aware: Different sports activities have ‘flopping’ guidelines to alleviate dishonest. Ought to crusing observe this instance?
