Rules Question of The Week
April 29, 2009
A new series here on the Gale Force Sailing site: The Rules Question of the Week!
Reader feedback and comments are the lifeblood of any good blog, and I can’t thank some of you enough for the content you’ve helped to provide. I am working with several clubs in the region as a rules resource and plan on going through the rules – rule by rule – to help drive a better understanding of the rules and their application.
The basic rules of racing are pretty easy to understand and all you need to get out and start competing. But there is more to it than just the basics, and continuing to learn about the rest of the rules that govern our sport will make anyone a better sailor.
So here is the first Rules Question of The Week:
“As someone new to racing, I wouldn’t mind having a rules lesson of the week, even if no one asks a question, just to learn. However, this week I do have a question. We were wondering if there are restrictions on how racers hike out. Are we allowed to be outside the lifelines?”
And here’s the answer:
Fortunately almost any question you might have about racing can be found in the rules. In the event that it isn’t addressed in the rules you can check the Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions, or class rules. It is all there. In the case of the crew position it is addressed in Part 4 – Other Requirements When Racing, Rule 49 of the rules. Rule 49 states:
49 CREW POSITION
49.1 Competitors shall use no device designed to position their bodies
outboard, other than hiking straps and stiffeners worn under the
thighs.
49.2 When lifelines are required by the class rules or the sailing instructions
they shall be taut, and competitors shall not position any part of
their torsos outside them, except briefly to perform a necessary task.
On boats equipped with upper and lower lifelines of wire, a competitor
sitting on the deck facing outboard with his waist inside the lower
lifeline may have the upper part of his body outside the upper lifeline.
If you would like to use any of the material found on this site, or have a suggestion for a rules question for the week, please feel free to contact me for more details.
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