EXCLUSIVE! RULE CHANGES CONFIRMED FOR 2012 ALPARI WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR
by DOBBS DAVIS
These changes will allow more aggression between teams in the match during mark roundings and starts, and give the trailing boat more power to catch and attempt to pass the lead boat on downwind legs. Double penalties were deemed too
punitive and too subjective, and when applied invariably ended the match, so now they are reduced in severity to red flag penalties, meaning when applied the offending team must do their penalty turn immediately. Tis new policy will leave the offending boat, once exonerated, a greater opportunity to get back into the match. Another change is to limit the redress
POINTS OF DISCUSSION: Race Officials going over the finer points of the rules with a competitor.
requests from teams that may impede the progress of the racing schedule. Officials are also given more power to intervene when there are procedural problems in the match without taking the extra time needed for a redress hearing. “I think these changes are indeed
game-changers,” says reigning World Match Race Champion Ian Williams. “It will take a little time to test these with the umpires, but I can already envision some interesting scenarios. Te downwind legs, for example, will now heavily favor the left side in most conditions, where the lead boat will not want to gybe now until close to the layline to the finish or the bottom mark.” “And the new rule allowing you to
exonerate a penalty quickly by passing astern of your opponent is interesting, but the boats need to be close together when the decision comes from the umpires, which is not often the case.” But Williams has mixed feelings
about the limitations on red flag hearings for redress. “It is good to not encourage any delays in the game, but the competitors need to have a method for holding the Race Committee to account.” Nonetheless, Tour officials think these
are a positive start towards improving the game for all parties.
NOT A HAPPY CAMPER: Ian Williams (right) upset over a rule call. MR360° May 2012 33MR360° May 2012 33
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