PART 4
The detailed interpretations of this rule as applicable to dinghies and smaller keelboats, and policed afloat by the protest committee, are issued by World Sailing, in both written and video form, and outside the scope of this book. Using a paddle after finishing but before clearing the finishing line and finishing marks breaks rule 42, as the rule applies while a boat is racing, as defined1
. A boat’s momentum gained from the use of her engine before
her preparatory signal does not break rule 42 if it continues to drive her after that signal, as long as the engine was switched off at the signal2
. Rule 42.3(e) sensibly allows the moderate pumping of a sail to uninvert a batten. Use of an engine may be necessary to keep clear and to avoid contact, but it will still break rule 424
passing motor vessel, including rudder actions necessary to establish and maintain the ride, is legal6
. Running an engine while racing, not for battery charging and with no propeller shaft brake fitted, was deemed to break rule 42 when the protest committee was not satisfied that the propeller shaft was not turning3
. Deceleration
by putting a foot in the water is generally thought not to be a permissible act of seamanship – but using double rudders in opposition to each other does not break the rule5
. ‘Hitching a ride’ on the bow wave and wake of a . Rule 42.3(c)
now refers to the front of the wave rather than the leeward side to allow for waves that are not wind-driven. More importantly, the rule now makes clear that the sail may be pumped once only per wave of gust, and so sequential pumping of sheet and guy is not allowed, although pulling both at the same time is permitted.
When a crew member gets out of a small boat that has gone aground to try and refloat her, this will normally be an act of seamanship as envisaged in rule 42.1. After going aground, rule 42.3(h) permits the crew to use any available means that exist within the boat, apart from an engine, to get clear, except as follows7
.
Rule 42 can be changed by class rules, but not by a sailing instruction8 allows the use of an ‘engine or any other method9
, except now in one respect. Rule 42.3(i) ’, but only in ‘stated circumstances’ in the sailing instructions.
Those circumstances could include permitting the use of an engine: • when needing to seek shelter or to make repairs • to cross a shipping channel or traffic separation zone directly or quickly when navigation laws require • to get to a starting area using the engine after the preparatory signal • to keep clear of a dangerous or prohibited area • to get clear after colliding or grounding, as foreseen in rule 42.3(h)
However, there is a proviso that the boat must not gain a significant advantage in the race. It may be that World Sailing had in mind that a boat was not to take advantage of such a sailing instruction to motor towards the next mark after the need for using the engine had ended, but the rule appears to have been drawn more widely: a boat that makes use of the relaxation is likely to gain a significant advantage over a boat in the same situation that does not use her motor. Nevertheless, an RYA guidance note and Q&A M 004 agree that, when an engine is used to get clear as permitted by a sailing instruction, the fact that a boat will be better placed than one that did not use her engine (or had no engine to use) is not gaining a significant advantage.
Knowingly using illegal means of propulsion will break not only rule 42 but also rule 2, and may result in a rule 69.2 hearing.
1 A former RYA case 2 WS 69 3 SC 68: rather harsh, in my opinion 4 RYA 1988/7. 5 US 25 6 WS 8 7 RYA 2007/2 8 Rule 86.1 9 So why not just say ‘by any method’?
156 RYA The Racing Rules Explained
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