Section N - Protests and Penalties

MR CALL N1

Rule C7.2(a), All Penalties

Question

The required penalties vary depending upon whether a boat is sailing ‘on a leg of the course to a windward mark’ or ‘on a leg of the course to a leeward mark’. Because a boat has sailed beyond a mark, or because of a new wind direction, a boat could be sailing free to a mark that was intended to be a windward mark, or sailing closehauled to a mark that was intended to be a leeward mark. What penalties are then required?

Answer

A boat is to be considered to be sailing on a leg of the course to a windward mark or a leeward mark, at all times when sailing to a mark that has been described in the sailing instructions as a windward or leeward mark. The description could be expressed in words, or shown by a diagram indicating wind direction, or by designating marks as either ‘Mark W’ or ‘Mark L’.

The usual match racing course configuration is two legs to a windward mark and another two legs, either to a leeward mark, or finishing line. A boat sailing the first and third legs is considered to be sailing a course to a windward mark. When sailing the second leg she is considered to be sailing a course to a leeward mark, and the fourth leg to be sailing to the finish line, irrespective of the boat's heading or the wind direction.

Because a boat may have sailed beyond a mark, or because of a new wind direction, it would be possible for the boat to be sailing close-hauled yet be on a leg of the course to a leeward mark or finishing line, or be sailing free on a leg of the course to a windward mark.

Rule C7.2(a) describes the appropriate penalty to take.