CASE 36
Rule 49.2, Crew Position; Lifelines
Positioning of crew members relative to lifelines.
Facts
A boat in an offshore class, while close-hauled, had a crew member
positioned, for several minutes on two occasions, next to the shrouds with
his feet on the deck and his legs inside but touching the lifelines. While his
torso was substantially upright, part of it was outboard of an imaginary line
projected vertically from the top of the lifelines. The boat was disqualified
under rule 49.2 and appealed.
Decision
The appeal is dismissed. To clarify the rule, the drawing shows possible
crew positions. Position 6 is the position of the appellant’s crew member.
Positions 1, 2 and 3 do not break the rule; positions 5 and 6 break it. On
boats equipped with one lifeline, position 4 breaks the rule. On boats
equipped with two lifelines, a crew member sitting facing outboard with his
waist inside the lower lifeline and the upper part of his body outside the
upper lifeline, as shown in position 4, does not break the rule.
USA 1976/194