Rules Question: What is a Mark?
July 25, 2009
Some Thursday night sailors in the Annapolis area seem to be struggling with what is and isn’t a mark, what they have to do if they hit a mark and what they should do if they are compelled by another boat to hit a mark.
For that matter, some Thursday night sailors in Annapolis seem to be lacking the basic respect that we all owe race committees. It is wrong and we should all remember that the RC is volunteer, hard working and capable of making our lives more difficult. A little deference and appreciation makes for better races. I hope we all remember that, and when I forget it – remind me too.
This past Thursday night there was some confusion over what is and isn’t a mark – or part of the mark. Is the anchor line (rode) that holds the mark, or committee boat down a part of the mark? And when you it the mark what should you do? What if the Race Committee (RC) sees you hit the mark, can they protest you? IF you are forced into the mark by another boat – what then?
So, first let’s get clear on what a mark is. As usual, the rule writers have made this crystal clear for us. Turn to the DEFINITIONS section of your ISAF rules or US Sailing (BLUE) Rules Book and you will find the definition of what is a mark.
It goes like this:
Mark An object the sailing instructions require a boat to leave on a specified side, and a race committee boat surrounded by navigable water from which the starting or finishing line extends. An anchor line or an object attached temporarily or accidentally to a mark is not part of it.
OK, that’s pretty clear. In other words it is the mark. Not the anchor rode. It should be pointed out though that the Sailing Instructions can declare a limiting ball attached to the committee boat to be part of the mark. As usual it pays to read, re-read, and carry a laminated copy of the sailing instructions with you.
Now if you hit a mark, what should you do? Well the rules are pretty clear on this too. If you hit a mark, you get clear of the competition and do a one turn (that’s one tack and one gybe in the same direction) penalty. Easy cheesy. Practice your turns and it ain’t no thang but a chicken wing.
Here is the real rule:
31 TOUCHING A MARK
While racing, a boat shall not touch a starting mark before starting, a mark that begins, bounds or ends the leg of the course on which she is sailing, or a finishing mark after finishing.
OK, so touching a MARK (see definition above) is against the rules. Now what?
44.1 Taking a Penalty
A boat may take a Two-Turns Penalty when she may have broken a rule of Part 2 while racing or a One-Turn Penalty when she may have broken rule 31. Sailing instructions may specify the use of the Scoring Penalty or some other penalty. However,
(a) when a boat may have broken a rule of Part 2 and rule 31 in the same incident she need not take the penalty for breaking rule 31;
(b) if the boat caused injury or serious damage or gained a significant advantage in the race or series by her breach her penalty shall be to retire.
But what happens if you are compelled to hit a mark by another boat not giving your room or mark room? What then?
Well if you are forced into the mark by a boat that owes you room or mark room then you MUST protest that other boat – and hope to god they agree that they forced you into the mark. If the offending boat takes their penalty on the water or you win the protest you will be exonerated for hitting the mark. IF you win the protest. Most protests are 50/50 chances. So, I’d recommend you do your turn for hitting the mark and protest the other boat for forcing you into the mark, because if you loose the protest and didn’t turn then you will be tossed for breaking Rule 31 – Hitting a Mark. The turn is simply insurance. Cheap insurance.
An important thing to point out here is that not only can your fellow competitiors claim that you hit the mark, but so can the race committee. If the mark boat see’s you hit the mark – then can protest you. They don’t have to fly a flag, hail protest or do anything else. IF they do come over and say that they think you hit the mark… well, I’d spin. But if you really don’t think you did – then I’d start gathering evidence and witnesses to back you up. The RC is generally a neutral party – so if they say you hit something… I bet you did.
Good luck and good racing.
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