Okay you guys.... this was lifted from the WSSRC - World Sailing Speed Record Council http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/the-courses-offshore.html
Jessica is simply complying with these rules in her attempt... Your personal definitions are irrelevent, except to you of course. Levin, if you propose to have an intelligent discussion, it would be appropriate for you to investigate the subject first.
21. SAILING RULES
a. (Applies to all records and performances)
i. A vessel shall sail by using only the wind and water to increase, maintain or decrease her speed, except for 21.b and 21.c. below and in exceptional circumstances which shall be reported to and get approval from WSSRC.
ii. The vessel must be capable of floating and supporting its crew when at rest.
iii. Prior to the attempt, the vessel must be at rest, afloat and must accelerate without assistance.
iv. No form of rating, handicap or sail area class is relevant.
b. Manual operation
Unless categorized as 'a vessel using powered sailing systems' (21c), only human power and natural forces may be used to work the vessel during the attempt, with the following exceptions:
i. Electricity may be used for instrumentation, navigation, communication, automatic steering and for domestic purposes such as lighting, heating, cooking etc. Generators including motors, solar panels, wind or water turbines can be used to provide electric power, together with the appropriate batteries and control gear. Mechanical power may be used for charging batteries, pumping bilges, loading, unloading or transferring water-ballast, moving keel and rudder appendages or for weighing anchor. The operation of engines, motors or pumps must not provide any element of propulsion.
ii. In handling the vessel's sails and gear, there is no objection to various forms of power transmission, such as hydraulic, provided there is no element of power storage beyond that associated with materials in their normal sailing applications.
c. Powered sailing systems
Vessels using powered sailing systems can apply for ratification of any record but will be listed as a separate category. A vessel is so categorized if any of the sailsetting, reefing, furling or sheeting functions employ mechanical power. Natural forces must always remain the sole means of propulsion.
d. Crew on board
No person on board shall intentionally leave, except when ill or injured, or to help a person or vessel in danger, or to swim, or go overboard to clean or repair his vessel. A person leaving the vessel by accident or for one of the above reasons shall be back on board before the vessel continues in the attempt. However any change of crew, except the skipper, may be made during an attempt "with assistance"
e. With or without assistance
i 'Without assistance' means that a vessel may not receive any kind of outside assistance whatever except for 21.h. and 21. i. nor take on board any supplies (beyond the harvest of the sea), materials or equipment during an attempt. A vessel may be anchored or beached during the attempt, but any repairs must be made entirely by the crew without outside resources or materials. It is never permitted to take on board stores or equipment or get any other kind of help from another vessel whilst under way (except as 'i' Emergencies below).
ii 'With assistance' means a vessel may enter harbour for repairs, alterations or stores as required with or without the help of persons outside the crew. During any stops, the timing of the voyage continues.
f. Singlehanded
'Singlehanded' means there is only one person aboard. If a singlehanded skipper accepts any kind of outside assistance (see 21e) then the voyage falls into the "singlehanded with assistance" category.
g. Steering
Any type of automatic steering is allowed.
h. Navigation
Any type of navigation equipment is allowed and there is no objection to any type of information or advice being transmitted to or from the vessel. However, the vessel must be sailed and navigated by the crew, without any element of physical 'remote control'.
i. Emergencies
i An engine may be used to recover a man overboard, to render assistance or in any other grave emergency, in which case full details must be recorded in the vessel's log and disclosed to the WSSR Commissioner.
ii In the event of fouling another vessel or manned structure (e.g. an oil rig) it is permitted for the crew of the other vessel or structure to assist the vessel in getting clear.
j. Rounding
When a course includes a mark, beacon or point to be rounded, a string representing the wake of the vessel after starting and before finishing would when drawn taught pass each mark on the required side and touch each rounding mark.
k. Monohulls
In the case of a record or performance for a 'monohull', the definition of a 'single-hulled vessel' follows major rating rules i.e. the section of the hull wherever taken shall not have more than one inverse curve. WSSRC decision on this classification shall be final.
l. Current and distance across the water.
No allowance is made for current in considering any of these records. Logged mileage on board is not considered by WSSRC
