sailboat racing barging

BARGING AT THE START

Perhaps the most frequent breach of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) occurs when boats "barge" at the start. This is especially true for starts with lots of novice and less-experienced sailors. The term "barging" isn't used in the 2021-24 RRS and there is no specific "anti-barging" rule. So, the relevant rules that prohibit "barging" can sometimes be a bit confusing.

Part 2 of the RRS sets forth the right-of-way rules that apply when racing, while Section C of Part 2 provides rules that generally entitle boats to "room" or "mark-room" at obstructions (RRS 19) and marks (RRS 18). When the RC boat is one end of the starting line it is a starting mark so you might think RRS 18 would apply. However, that isn't always true. The Preamble to Section C says that "from the time boats are approaching [starting marks] to start until they they have passed them" the Section C rules don't apply. In other words, when a boat is approaching the starting line to start neither RRS 18 nor RRS 19 will apply and the boat will not be entitled to "room" or "mark-room" to sail below the RC boat.

Consider Diagram A . At position 1, there is less than 20 seconds to go to the starting signal. The purple boat (W) is a windward keep-clear boat aiming to go between the RC boat and the red boat (L), a leeward right-of-way boat. Because the boats are "approaching to start" RRS 18 does not apply between them. L is on a straight-line course to start just after the starting signal. L is going to have to turn down to avoid a collision with W. When L turns down then W breaks RRS 11, On the Same Tack, Overlapped , because L had to take "avoiding action" and therefore W did not "keep clear" of her. This is the classic "barging" situation � W is taking or attempting to take room that she is not entitled to and is "barging" between L and the RC boat; W therefore breaks RRS 11 by failing to keep clear of L.

Sometimes the RC boat end of the starting line is favored, either because it is farther upwind or because it is important to be able to tack onto port right after the start. In that case, your best strategy for a good start is to sail a close-hauled course to a point just below the stern of the RC boat, as the red boat is doing in Diagram A . Boats to windward of you won't be entitled to room and are "barging" but to get a good start you are going to have to hail them early or they will ruin your start if you have to turn down to avoid a collision at the last minute.

A slightly different but somewhat similar situation arises when two close-hauled boats are approaching to start just below the RC boat. Consider Diagrams B & C . The red boat (L) and blue boat (W) are each on a close-hauled course to start. W does not need room to sail below the RC boat if she sails a straight-line course. However, L doesn't want W on her windward side when the boats start. Since the boats are approaching the starting line to start, RRS 18 doesn't apply between them and so W is not entitled to "mark-room" to pass below the RC boat. But, if L luffs W then L must comply with RRS 16.1 and give W the "room" W needs to keep clear of L and avoid hitting the RC boat. So, if L wants to luff and force W to tack away or go head to wind then L must luff early and give W "room" (time and space) to tack away and avoid the RC boat in a seamanlike manner. An early hail by L of what she intends to do helps her to establish that W had plenty of room and space to avoid the RC boat when L does luff. Of course, if there is another close-hauled boat to leeward of L then L might be in the same situation as W vis-a-vis that other boat and needs to keep that in mind when planning her approach to start.

Favored End � The RC usually sets a starting line that favors the pin end to spread the boats out along the entire length of the starting line. The advantage at the pin end might be small or it could be significant but it usually exists. However, novice or inexperienced racers tend to start at the RC boat end regardless, even when the pin end is heavily favored (and, at the start, might be 2 or even more boatlengths upwind!). In starts with lots of novice or inexperienced racers, the boats generally all want to start at the unfavored RC boat end and so with most boats trying to start in the same place "barging" is common. When the pin end is favored in a start with mostly experienced sailors, boats will recognize that the RC boat is a less-advantageous place to start so barging happens much less often.

Approaching to Start � The Part C rules, and RRS 18, do not apply when boats are "approaching to start" but can apply at other times during the starting sequence. For example, if two boats are aiming to sail below the RC boat with 2-3 minutes to go so they can sail farther down the starting line before starting then they are not "approaching to start." In that situation, a windward boat would be entitled to "room" from a leeward boat to sail below the RC boat as RRS 18 can apply.

RC Boat as "Obstruction"? � When the RC boat is one end of the starting line it is an official "obstruction" per RRS Definition, Obstruction , however it is also an official "mark" per RRS Definition, Mark . This is true all throughout the starting sequence � the RC boat is both an "obstruction" and a "mark." Per RRS 19.1(a), RRS 19, Room To Pass an Obstruction , does not apply between boats at a mark when RRS 18 applies. When boats are not "approaching to start" then RRS 18 can apply so RRS 19 will not apply. And, when boats are "approaching to start" the Preamble to Part C says that neither RRS 18 nor RRS 19 will apply. The bottom line is that during a boat's starting sequence RRS 19 will never apply at an RC boat that is one end of the starting line.

© 2018,2021 RacingRules.org (Art Engel)

Rookie move: Barging at the start

Published on July 15th, 2020 by Editor -->

Barging is the most common foul that happens on the starting line, yet there is no “anti-barging” rule in the Racing Rules of Sailing. Barging is when an inside windward boat takes mark room at a starting mark.

Why isn’t the boat entitled to room? That is clearly stated in the preamble to Part C of Section 2 of the rule book. It states:

“Section C rules do not apply at a starting mark surrounded by navigable water or at its anchor line from the time boats are approaching them to start until they have passed them.”

Therefore, rules 18 Mark Room and 19 Room to Pass an Obstruction, do not apply while approaching the starting line to start, the rule that does apply is that a windward boat must keep clear of a leeward boat.

This video shows a great example barging. Watch the Beneteau 36.7 (sail number 52464) set-up above the boats on the layline at the starboard end of the line. The Beneteau proceeded to barge…boldly!

Despite calls of protestation from the leeward boat, the windward boat barreled right around the mark. Foul, Foul, Foul! Having to do turns right after a start is never a game-winner, particularly in a light-air race like this. Getting tossed is even worse.

Now, let’s look at the leeward boat that was so flagrantly fouled. You’ll see that the boats further to leeward probably had left him a hole through which he could have sailed by bearing away from the barging boat. Instead, perhaps out of extreme caution or perhaps to reinforce the fact he was fouled, leeward boat turned sharply. So sharply that he lost a couple of boats.

A solid understanding of the rules can earn you several places in a regatta. Subscribe to the UK Sailmakers newsletter and Facebook page to learn from their rules quizzes, videos, and articles as they get published.

Source: UK Sailmakers

Tags: Racing Rules of Sailing , UK Sailmakers

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BASIC RACING RULES OF SAILING EXPLAINED

Visual interactive webinar.

In this webinar, North Sails experts Zeke Horowitz and Brian Hayes explain and demonstrate basic rules according to the US Sailing “Racing Rules of Sailing”. Using a whiteboard, Zeke re-creates many scenarios that we experience on the racecourse to explain the rules and when they can be applied. The webinar was presented to Flying Scot sailors, but the rules apply to all one-design classes. Below are the timestamps if you want to jump to a specific topic of interest.

Definitions:

4:41 – Clear Ahead and Clear Astern; Overlap 6:57 – Keep Clear 8:45 – Leeward and Windward 10:30 – Proper Course 12:21 – Room 14:08 – Zone

17:01 – Starting Line Situations (Windward/Leeward, Rule 16, Rule 17, “Barging” and Rule 13) 50:04 – Mark Room (Weather and Leeward Mark) 1:22:00 – Open Water (Room to Tack, Room to Duck, Tacking too close, Rule 17, Rule 18)

If you have a question, please don’t hesitate to contact Zeke or Brian.

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Simplified Racing Rules

BEGINNERS GUIDE

Below are some simple right-of-way rules for racing in a very brief and simplified format. These are only intended as a quick simple guide until beginners to racing become more familiar with the Racing Rules of Sailing.

The RYA has produced some helpful videos to explain the primary rules at  rya racing rules youtube - Bing video

This document is not a substitute for the official rules.

PORT/STARBOARD:

When boats on opposite tacks meet (i.e. their booms are on opposite sides of the boat), the port tack boat must keep clear. The starboard skipper may (but can choose not to) assert their right of way by calling "Starboard". If he has right of way you must take action to keep clear (i.e. pass astern or tack/jibe).

The tack is named for the windward side of the boat, i.e. the side opposite the boom. If you face forward and the right hand side of the boat is windward, you are on starboard tack. Otherwise you are on port.

(Diagram shows right of way boat labeled starboard tack)

WINDWARD/LEEWARD:

When boats are on the same tack, i.e. booms on same side the following applies:

Windward boat shall keep clear (boat B),

A boat clear astern shall keep clear (boat C)

This rule also covers upwind downwind boats meeting.

CHANGING TACK:

While you are tacking, you must keep clear of other boats that are not doing so. If you acquire the right of way over a boat near-by with a tack or jibe, you must give that boat reasonable room and time to react. You cannot force a nearby boat to tack because you have no rights until you have completed the tack.

AVOIDING COLLISIONS:

Even when you have the right of way, you must try hard to avoid any collision.

BARGING IN:

The buoy room rule does not apply at the start line. Do not barge in there trying to squeeze between a boat to leeward of you and a mark. Note that a Committee Boat that marks the end of a start or finish line is considered a mark.

A luffing boat (A in the diagram opposite) may not pass beyond head to wind if there is another boat there.

OVER EARLY:

If any part of your boat or equipment is across the start line when the start signal is made, you must re-start. You will not be told that you were over the line by the Race Officer and if you believe you were over it is best to re-start. While returning to the start line you must keep clear of the other boats that are not returning.

DEFENDING AGAINST OVERTAKING BOATS:

If a boat tries to pass you to windward, you are entitled to defend your wind by luffing up but must do so in such a way was to give the windward boat room to keep clear. A luffing boat may not pass beyond head to wind while the other boat is there.

If a near-by boat tries to pass you to leeward on a reach or run, you are not allowed to make life even more dificult for that boat by sailing below your proper course to the next mark.

TOUCHING A MARK:

If you touch a mark, you may continue to race only after getting out of the way of other boats and sailing a complete circle (a 360 o turn).

RULE INFRINGEMENT:

You are officially racing and therefore bound by the racing rules from your preparatory signal (4 minute signal) until you have cleared the finish line.

If you break the rules you are required to do two complete circles (720o). You may continue to race after getting out of the way of other boats and completing your turns.

If there is a collision, the rules (usually) require there to be a protest or a 720o Sometimes minor fouls may be forgiven but not if there is damage. If you are fouled and intend to protest you must hail "protest" you do not need to display a red flag unless your boat is over 6m long. If the offending party does a 720 then the matter can be forgotten otherwise inform the Race Officer at the finish line whom you are protesting and once ashore fill out the protest form with in the time period specified in the Sailing Instructions.

OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE:

If you capsize and are separated from your boat and are rescued by the safety boat you can return you to your boat and continue to race without penalty provided your boat does not gain advantage in the meantime.

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Sailboat Racing Starts Done Right

• By Greg Fisher
• Updated: August 11, 2020

A boat that gets off the ­ starting line in a good position and has good upwind speed is probably going to be near the top of the fleet at the first weather mark. That’s easy to say but challenging to do, especially the starting part. However, if you learn to follow a script or plan that makes the starting routine mechanical, you’ll discover that each start becomes better, and your starts, overall, become more consistent. The good news is that plan can be followed wherever you start on the line and whatever the breeze.

How do you know when you’ve managed a good start? Simply put, you’ve gotten off the line in the front row with competitive speed so you can take advantage of the first shift. It’s cool to be able to blast off the line with a boatlength or two lead and have the fleet over your shoulder. But even just one boat hanging on your weather hip eliminates your opportunity to tack on the first header and, as a result, a good start is wasted.

Determine Where to Start

The race committee’s goal is to set a line basically perpendicular to the wind so that no single boat has an advantage, regardless of where it starts. However, the wind almost always shifts, and seemingly does so at the last minute. If the line is fairly short and/or one end is favored by 5 degrees or less, starting in the middle becomes an excellent choice, giving a conservative starter the opportunity to take advantage of a shift from either side of the course. The fastest ­college ­sailors often start near the middle of the line, knowing that they can protect the left side of the course or tack and consolidate the right.

However, in big fleets—50 boats or more—or on a line where one end is heavily favored, say, 15 to 20 degrees, then starting closer to the favored end becomes more advantageous. I emphasize closer , as it can be risky to start right at the favored end because everyone’s trying to start there. Starting a third of the way up or down from the favored end is much less risky and can make it easier to get off the line.

Remember, the angle of the wind relative to the starting line determines which end is favored, and unless the course to the first mark is way off square to the wind or the starting line is skewed by more than 30 degrees, the course to the first mark shouldn’t have any effect on where you start.

Follow Your Pre-start Checklist

While there are several ­different methods in checking which end is favored, unless I am sailing in a small fleet or on a small inland lake, I use the compass. If the line is short and the fleet is small, head into the wind and note which end of the line the bow points closer toward. That’s the favored end. On longer lines with more boats and in more-extreme ­conditions (very light or very heavy winds), the ­compass is much more accurate. Take a compass heading while sailing down the line and compare it to your head-to-wind reading. If more or less than 90 degrees (which tells us if the line is square), not only will you know which end is favored, but also how much it’s favored. In addition, once you have the line compass bearing, you can double check which end is favored anytime, anywhere (and away from all the traffic on the line) just by ­heading into the wind.

If you have GPS technology, ping the ends of the line once the line is set. Luff head-to-wind, close to the committee boat, moving very slowly so it’s easy to get a good reference. At the leeward end, set up outside the line, again head-to-wind and moving slowly, where it’s easy to gauge exactly when on the line. Once you have confidence in your pings lining up, managing the last minute becomes much easier.

I focus on one approach for every start. Therefore, I know exactly how I’ll set up, no matter where I want to be on the line. The only variable becomes the timing.

Without a GPS (and to ­double check your GPS settings), rely on line sights. Start at the weather end, on starboard tack, closehauled, loosely trimmed and moving slowly, four to five boatlengths below the line. Start taking line sights with something onshore through the leeward end of the line. Ideally, you’ll have one at four to five lengths, three lengths and two lengths off the line, as well as the final shot right down line. Those early “safe” line sights are crucial in gauging the speed and timing to the line, because invariably the sights down the actual line become tough to maintain in the last 10 seconds, when the fleet is lined up. Sometimes a line sight to weather through the committee boat by the forward crew can be a valuable check in the last 10 to 15 seconds.

Check for current at all spots on the line, recognizing that there could be current at different speeds and different angles at each end. Practice the laylines at each end to gain confidence in the approach angle to the line, and especially where you ideally would want to start. Finally, practice your actual maneuverability and the speed required to maintain control of your boat. It’s important be able to recognize when you are too slow to be able to head up or bear off, even when using your sails to help control the boat.

Own Your Final Approach

While many sailors develop a series of different approaches to draw on for starts in different conditions in different size fleets and for different positions on the line, I focus on one approach for every start. Therefore, I know exactly how I’ll set up, no matter where I want to be on the line. The only variable becomes the timing. The two most common approaches are starboard luffing, where boats line up several lengths below the line several minutes before the start, and the port-tack approach, which is my favorite.

With the port-tack approach, come in a boatlength or two below the bulk of the fleet; most boats will be luffing on starboard. Depending on the breeze, the waves and the size of the fleet, I’ll look for and then tack into a hole on the line close to one minute before the start, depending on the conditions and fleet lineup. In some ways, this approach might seem risky because you’re sailing on port tack toward a group of starboard tackers. However, remember that one of the most important goals of the starboard tack boats is to develop a hole to leeward. If this hole is big enough and left open, it’s an open invitation for a port tacker.

One of the keys to a ­successful port-tack approach is the tack into the vacant hole. This tack should be slow and controlled so that once around and onto starboard, your bow will be slightly behind that of the boat to weather. Speed after the tack should be slow so that you are immediately in a position to become the leeward controlling boat. Leave yourself the opportunity to accelerate and not be dangerously close to the line. This is one of the major differences between the starboard and port-tack approaches. During the port-tack approach, you are attacking the starboard boat’s position, while those using the starboard approach are usually trying to defend.

If you’re the approaching port-tack boat, you must sail all the way through the tack and onto your starboard closehauled course before you can assume your new, leeward boat rights. And you must give the weather boat room and time to fulfill its new obligation to keep clear. Once the port tacker has completed his tack to starboard, the now windward starboard tack boat must begin to keep clear and assume the port tacker has now become the leeward boat with rights.

What if there isn’t a hole at the spot where you want to tack? In that case, you probably wouldn’t want to start in that pileup of boats anyway. Instead, sail down the line a bit farther until a more inviting hole ­presents itself.

Obviously, the starboard-tack boat will not just sit and wave you on into the hole they have been working hard to create. They should defend by bearing off toward you as you approach. If the hole is small, or the tack from port to starboard becomes rushed, the port tacker most likely will become discouraged with that spot and sail up the line looking for the next hole.

Once you know how you’ll approach the line, the remaining variable is timing. Ideally, you’ve practiced your timing in that five or 10 minutes before the start. When I set up with the port-tack approach, I determine how long it takes to get from the leeward end pin to my spot of choice on the line, unless the line is super long. I sail back and forth several times in order to determine how long it takes, and then add 10 to 15˛seconds for the tack. Usually, I try to complete the tack onto starboard by 55 to 60 seconds before the start, depending on the breeze and the size of the fleet—the lighter the breeze, the lumpier the wave state; the larger the fleet, the earlier the tack. If we know it takes 40 seconds to get to that spot, we’d leave the pin with 1:45 left before the start.

Once in position, ­control your hole and the boat to windward. This doesn’t demand any sort of attack that requires the use of the rulebook. It requires you to maintain a position where your boat can dictate when the windward boat can trim in and accelerate. Position your bow slightly behind the windward boat’s bow but still in clear air. Your course should be just above closehauled with your sails luffing. Use mainsail trim to help maintain this bow-up position. Try to maintain a boat’s width or slightly less between you and the weather boat. If the weather boat begins to trim and accelerate, trim, gradually head up, and force it to slow down. As long as they’ve been provided the opportunity to keep clear of you, they will also need to luff.

At the same time, work hard to stay off the boat to leeward, if there is one. Constantly watch the leeward boat’s position and speed. If they accelerate and sail higher toward you, react by doing the same to maintain a safe distance—hopefully as much as two to three boat widths. This hole to leeward is key in allowing you to sail slightly below closehauled, in first gear, in order to accelerate in the five to 10 seconds before the gun.

In the last 15 to 20 ­seconds, the GPS pings and/or line sights are important gauges that will give you confidence in your positioning. Pay close attention to your placement relative to the lineup of boats close by. Especially watch the two to three boats to windward, always trying to maintain the same slight bow-back position throughout the entire starting approach. That will give you a runway to accelerate into so you can begin to trim before the competitors above do. If any of those boats to weather trims and begins to accelerate, trim immediately and match its speed, no matter where it is on the line or the time before the gun. If even one of those boats gets the jump and ends up on your wind after the gun, it can be game over.

One tip is how to slow the boat when you find yourself dangerously close to being over early. Our instinct tells us to turn down, away from the line. However, bearing away usually means burning up the valuable hole to leeward and, in fact, you end up accelerating right into it. Instead, head up to near head-to-wind. The boat will slow more quickly and slow the weather competitors. You’ll buy more time and save distance to the line. Most important, you’ll build the hole to leeward and close the ­distance to windward.

Especially for the first minute after the start, boatspeed is king. Fight the urge to point as high as possible until the boat has sailed through all the gears and is at top speed. Definitely do not pinch. A common mistake is to trim the sails too tightly, too quickly. If the sails are trimmed right to the closehauled position before the boat has the time to sail through the gears, the boat will load up and slide sideways. Talk about ­burning up the hole to leeward!

On our boat, we divide all the responsibilities where, in the last 15 seconds, I am simply steering when and where the crew indicates. If we’re sailing with three, the jib trimmer keeps track of the line and our position relative to the boats to weather. That person has control of our final timing and dictates exactly when to pull the trigger. The middle person keeps the time and looks aft and to leeward for boats approaching late on port or behind and low on starboard. Our boat is anything but quiet in these last seconds, but this constant influx of information allows me to concentrate entirely on boatspeed.

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Racing Terms: Glossary for Newer Sailors

Courtesy of SailZing Editor – Racing Terms: Glossary for Newer Sailors

Racing Terms: Glossary for Newer Sailors | If you didn’t grow up sailing, how long did it take you to figure out what sailors mean when they say “put the bow down?” After hearing from newer sailors that the language of racing is hard to decipher, we decided to create a glossary of racing terms and phrases.

We chose about 80 racing terms and phrases that are likely to be obscure to newer sailors. To keep the list manageable, we did not include basic sailing terms, words defined in the racing rules, or racing terms applicable to big boats.

Our list is organized alphabetically. Italicised words have separate definitions. If in doubt, you can always ask your local expert here .

Racing Terms and Phrases for Newer Sailors

ABOUT DOYLE SAILS //  As sailors, our obsession with sailing connects us to the water. The water is our playground, a sanctuary where we seek enjoyment, a competitive playing field where we race; it’s sometimes our home and always a place that unlocks our sense of adventure wherever that adventure might take us.

Our obsession with sailing takes us to every corner of the world and onboard every yacht. We become part of teams, share in the adventures of friends and families, sharing our knowledge and experience with those who have the same passion for sailing as we do. Sailing is in our DNA, where the water unlocks our sense of adventure. We are the custodians of a legacy that has been supporting sailors for close to four decades, and while our world changes around us, our commitment to sailors who seek the same enjoyment and adventure as we do hasn’t.

From our sailors to yours, we are your experts in sailing. Your adventure starts with Doyle.  By sailors, for sailors.