Friday 2 May 2008

Winging it | 3

Some practical notes on Winging at a Match Race.
Go here for part 1 and go here for part 2

When on the run in a match race the overlap between two boats can be essential for the rules. If the boats use spinnakers it is sometimes very hard for the umpires to see the exact moment the overlap begins. At that moment not only rule 12 switches off and rule 11 on, but also the limitation under rule 15 starts. Rule 15 has a short "shelf-live" therefor it is important to know when it starts.
When winging on this leg the wing stays perpendicular to the front boat always at stern "hight." They start with communication at a distance of about one boat length apart calling the overlap.

Besides the overlap or clear ahead and clear astern, there's another position the wing communicates on the run. This is just between those two. This is called a technical overlap and the Wing communicates this with the word "TECHNICAL". It is an overlap, for instance with the spinnaker, but the trailing boat can change course from leeward to windward or visa versa without touching the leading boat.

This is especially important for rule 17. If the trailing boat gets a technical overlap to windward, then manages to change to leeward without breaking the overlap, rule 17 is never applicable and the trailing boat has luffing rights. If the overlap is broken and then again established to leeward the trailing boat has the limitation on luffing up to its proper course.


Overlap is also important approaching the leeward mark. Because of it's perpendicular position the zone distance is can much better be judged by the Wing. They call "clear at Zone" or "overlap at Zone" when the leading boat enters the two boat length zone.
The wing also - as with the windward mark - watches for rule 31.1 infringements.
Once boats have rounded the mark the Wing goes again to the right side of the beat to follow the boat on the right side.

Like earlier written, the Wing will follows (mostly) the leading boat, speccially when boats are far apart. If that is the case, then they also signal the umpire about anything they see in that boat, red flag penalty, yankee flag, rule 42 infringement etc. etc. They however never give the penalty. It is always the umpire of that match who decides if a penalty should be given.

Finally, as a Wing boat you do have all the flags with you. In case the umpire boat is unable to continue - because of mechanical problems for instance - the Wing takes over as umpire immediately, when asked to do so.

This concludes our three part series on "winging."
If you have additional material or useful tips on winging, please don't hesitate to comment.

4 comments:

  1. Hi Jos,

    regarding the "If the trailing boat gets a technical overlap to windward, then manages to change to leeward without breaking the overlap, rule 17 is never applicable and the trailing boat has luffing rights."

    I'd point out Call UMP 28. The overlap was established from clear astern, so 17.1 applies.

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  2. Andraz: Rule 17.1 only applies if the overlap form clear astern is established to leeward!
    If you do it first to windward and then - without breaking the overlap - manage to get to leeward, the conditions of 17.1 haven't been met, and you have luffing rights above proper course.

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  3. I've looked up UMP 28, and you are right, that is what it says.
    Should have looked it up before starting to type.
    I think the call is not correct, but that is what the calls says. I have to follow the call, so I stand corrected.

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  4. I am with you, Jos, I don't agree with the call, but have to apply it nevertheless.

    ReplyDelete

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