Saturday was our LaFemme Regatta. My wife was at the helm of our Catalina 34 and we were far ahead of the pack on the first leg of the race on a starboard tack. The time came for us to tack onto a port tack to reach the mark. Sometime after making that tack, it became apparent that the Ultimate 20 on starboard tack was going to force us to fall off the wind a bit in order to go behind him. The U20 yelled starboard as we started falling off the wind the U20 actually pointed his boat at us. The time came that the only way for us to avoid contact was for us to head completely into the wind, causing the genoa to backwind and forcing us into what I call an involuntary tack. I have been told that the term for what the U20 did is called "hunting" and there has been some discussion about it's legality in racing rules. I know that it's too late to protest, but this particular captain is known to play some of these "dirty pool" tactics and I want to know how to react the next time. Any help will be appreciated.
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Steve
Hold your course...
The proper reply to a "Starboard" call is "Hold your course". This acknowleges that you have given the right-away to the other boat and will manuver. He is then obligated to hold his course without coming up or down (hunting as you called it). If he does so, then you can protest. Do that by yelling at him and make sure he acknowledges, and raise your red flag as soon as possible. Watch and see if he then does his 720 (as soon as he is clear of other boats). If not, he should be disqualified form the race and you should get some redress in time no matter what he does. You might want to keep a copy of the rules printed off an on your boat for reference. A protest can be lodged with the wrong rule and upheld under the correct one, but at least you have the reference. I would be happy to E-mail you a copy if you give me your address. Steve sestyles@yahoo.com
The proper reply to a "Starboard" call is "Hold your course". This acknowleges that you have given the right-away to the other boat and will manuver. He is then obligated to hold his course without coming up or down (hunting as you called it). If he does so, then you can protest. Do that by yelling at him and make sure he acknowledges, and raise your red flag as soon as possible. Watch and see if he then does his 720 (as soon as he is clear of other boats). If not, he should be disqualified form the race and you should get some redress in time no matter what he does. You might want to keep a copy of the rules printed off an on your boat for reference. A protest can be lodged with the wrong rule and upheld under the correct one, but at least you have the reference. I would be happy to E-mail you a copy if you give me your address. Steve sestyles@yahoo.com
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Steve
Hold Your Course!
Thanks. I actually have a copy of the rules, and it states that a starboard tack boat cannot change course when a port tack boat is attempting to give way. It's these little things like yelling "hold your course" that aren't covered in the rules book (at least not where I'm looking). I suspected this, and will keep this in mind in the future. Thanks.
Thanks. I actually have a copy of the rules, and it states that a starboard tack boat cannot change course when a port tack boat is attempting to give way. It's these little things like yelling "hold your course" that aren't covered in the rules book (at least not where I'm looking). I suspected this, and will keep this in mind in the future. Thanks.
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Richard
Protest!!
When he says, "starboard" you should reply "Hold your course!" If he starts to "Hunt" or alters course, which requires immediate action on your part to avoid collision or keep clear, you should yell ,"protest!" and fly your red flag immediately. The Rule # is 16.2 If you think you have been wronged yell ,"protest!" and fly your red flag immediately. You can always withdraw your protest later after consulting your rules book(you have one right?!?). Hunting is a dangerous tactic. If you know the guy or he's a member of your club, you might want to point out the rule to him and also the fact that your boat weighs about 3 times what his does. If there was a collision and a protest committee found that he failed to give you room to keep clear. He should be liable for the damages of both boats. If you don't have a rules book go to US Sailing and order one. Don't let skippers like that spoil your fun on the water.
When he says, "starboard" you should reply "Hold your course!" If he starts to "Hunt" or alters course, which requires immediate action on your part to avoid collision or keep clear, you should yell ,"protest!" and fly your red flag immediately. The Rule # is 16.2 If you think you have been wronged yell ,"protest!" and fly your red flag immediately. You can always withdraw your protest later after consulting your rules book(you have one right?!?). Hunting is a dangerous tactic. If you know the guy or he's a member of your club, you might want to point out the rule to him and also the fact that your boat weighs about 3 times what his does. If there was a collision and a protest committee found that he failed to give you room to keep clear. He should be liable for the damages of both boats. If you don't have a rules book go to US Sailing and order one. Don't let skippers like that spoil your fun on the water.
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Claude L.-Auger
Amendment to the rule
I have not done much racing this year and only in Club Races on someone else boat, but I remember reading last winter that Changes were talked about to allow hunting. Your club or Association should be able to track that info for you. Further to the "Hold your course", not only should the starboard boat keep its course (unless the rule was changed), but if port boat judges that it can still cross in front of the starboard boat, it too can keep its course. Understanding that the ultimate responsibility in this case is on the port boat. Obviously, the main rule that everybody must keep in mind at all times is that one must take every action needed to avoid a collision. That being said, it is rather unfortunate that some people forget that the type of racing most of us do falls under what used to be call "a gewntleman's sport". Good luck in the remainder of the Season
I have not done much racing this year and only in Club Races on someone else boat, but I remember reading last winter that Changes were talked about to allow hunting. Your club or Association should be able to track that info for you. Further to the "Hold your course", not only should the starboard boat keep its course (unless the rule was changed), but if port boat judges that it can still cross in front of the starboard boat, it too can keep its course. Understanding that the ultimate responsibility in this case is on the port boat. Obviously, the main rule that everybody must keep in mind at all times is that one must take every action needed to avoid a collision. That being said, it is rather unfortunate that some people forget that the type of racing most of us do falls under what used to be call "a gewntleman's sport". Good luck in the remainder of the Season
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Don Alexander
ISAF Rule 16 Changing Course
ISAF Rules 2001 - 2004 16 CHANGING COURSE 16.1 When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear. 16.2 In addition, when after the starting signal boats are about to cross or are crossing each other on opposite tacks, and the port-tack boat is keeping clear of the starboard-tack boat, the starboard-tack boat shall not change course if as a result the port-tack boat would immediately need to change course to continue keeping clear. Steve, I interpret this to mean that there is no need to hail the other boat. Also see the very first statement in the rule book which reads:- BASIC PRINCIPLE SPORTSMANSHIP AND THE RULES Competitors in the sport of sailing are governed by a body of rules that they are expected to follow and enforce. A fundamental principle of sportsmanship is that when competitors break a rule they will promptly take a penalty or retire.
ISAF Rules 2001 - 2004 16 CHANGING COURSE 16.1 When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear. 16.2 In addition, when after the starting signal boats are about to cross or are crossing each other on opposite tacks, and the port-tack boat is keeping clear of the starboard-tack boat, the starboard-tack boat shall not change course if as a result the port-tack boat would immediately need to change course to continue keeping clear. Steve, I interpret this to mean that there is no need to hail the other boat. Also see the very first statement in the rule book which reads:- BASIC PRINCIPLE SPORTSMANSHIP AND THE RULES Competitors in the sport of sailing are governed by a body of rules that they are expected to follow and enforce. A fundamental principle of sportsmanship is that when competitors break a rule they will promptly take a penalty or retire.
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james rohr
16.2 says it all!
1st. hunting was not repealed. After the last rule changes it was found that there was a loophole in the ROW rules that allowed it and now one was breaking a rule. It was quickly closed when it became evident just how dangerous a practice this was. the hail back to the starboard boat is more an affirmation that you see him and are aware that he is on starboard. if after the port tacker bears of to duck, if thats what his intent is, the starboard boat changes coarse to require the port tacker to again change coarse then that is grounds for a protest. the same goes if the port boat lee bows starboard and starboard bears off to again make port to change coarse again. Once Port makes a move to keep clear starboard can't change coarse to require port to make another move. Some one that pulls such a move should have rule #69 invoked. this is the gross misconduct rule. HUNTING IS DEFINATELY A GROSS MISCONDUCT. If found guilty of this rule then a mere 720 won't exonerate.
1st. hunting was not repealed. After the last rule changes it was found that there was a loophole in the ROW rules that allowed it and now one was breaking a rule. It was quickly closed when it became evident just how dangerous a practice this was. the hail back to the starboard boat is more an affirmation that you see him and are aware that he is on starboard. if after the port tacker bears of to duck, if thats what his intent is, the starboard boat changes coarse to require the port tacker to again change coarse then that is grounds for a protest. the same goes if the port boat lee bows starboard and starboard bears off to again make port to change coarse again. Once Port makes a move to keep clear starboard can't change coarse to require port to make another move. Some one that pulls such a move should have rule #69 invoked. this is the gross misconduct rule. HUNTING IS DEFINATELY A GROSS MISCONDUCT. If found guilty of this rule then a mere 720 won't exonerate.
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