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On Mon, 12 Apr 2004 13:46:02 UTC, "Garry McGonigal"
wrote: The main question is whether the SIs have to use the word "obstruction" in defining the area to be avoided, or is the fact that it is a prohibited area enough to make it an obstruction for the purposes of Rules 18 and 19? "Obstruction... an area so designated by the sailing instructions...." RRS Definitions. If you are writing the sailing instructions and you want it to be treated as an obstruction, then be sure to use the word "obstruction" in your declaration as well as "prohibited". That way the SIs will communicate clearly to the racers that it is to be treated as an obstruction. It may or may not be a legal requirement, but it never hurts to be explicit. The word 'prohibited' is not strictly actually necessary as it is essence of being an obstruction that requires it to be sailed around (rather than through)... But there is no doubt that adding this word makes the meaning clearer. Of course, making it clear only applies to that subset of the racers who read the instructions, and among those, to the subset who actually understand the instructions....So 24 point bold type might be in order! There are a few other problems associated with a SI that indicates the Finish Line is a 'prohibited area' unless finishing. (1) Light air starts, class just gets across the line, air shuts down, current pushes them back through the start-finish line. Now what? If your SI's are screwed up then this is a problem. If the SI's say 'Except when starting or finishing, the line is ...(prohibited)' then you deserve every problem which arises.... If your SI's say 'When proceeding from mark 1 to 3 or mark 3 to 4, ... the line is (prohibited)' then you have no problem as your recent starters are not yet on a leg when crossing the line is prohibited. In part, this is why I would and did nominate the line ends as marks of the leg when prohibiting passage between them. Under the old rules, marks only had 'sides' when on a leg which that mark began, ended or bounded. And more racers understand room at a mark than understand room at an obstruction... (2) Most of the SI's identify the situation as 'prohibited' or wording to that effect but do not spell out a consequence of going through the finish line before a finish. So, off to the Protest Committee, and the Committee says fine, but what is the penalty -- none spelled out in the SI's. Denominating them as marks provides a penalty through 'sailing the course'.. (3) Due to rough weather, the RC Boat gets moved around and in effect so does one end of the Finish Line. Along come boats on a leg, trying to figure out where one end of the Finish Line is so as to stay clear, but the RC boat is all over the place, perhaps the line 'grew' substantially from when the classes were started, and boats searching for the outer pin, unknowingly cross through this new finish line. It happens. Happened to us two seasons ago, we were in the lead, and we retired once we figured out where the heck the other end of the line was (behind us and maybe a few hundred yards further out and back in relationship to the RC boat). Yes, we could have continued and appealed, but at the time we did not know the RC boat was pulled off its position. And since the Start-Finish line is at times in the middle of some legs, you either take it on the pin or on the RC boat sides. This is the major stupidity involved in having the RC in the middle of the arena. Bad setup, bad result. Realistically, if you figure you absolutely must have the RC in the middle, exactly WHY is it so important that the line be closed? Except for the RC's convenience? If it is because the RC likes it that way, they are not doing their proper job. Geoff |
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