94 UNDE R S TANDING THE RAC ING RUL E S OF SAI L ING THROUGH 2 0 2 4
M is surfing waves in order to increase her speed in an attempt to arrive at the next mark and ultimately the finishing line as soon as possible. Therefore, her luffs are justifiable changes in her proper course; and when she bears away she is keeping clear of L. M has not broken any rule.
AP, flag AP over H (meaning return to the harbor and await further instruc- tions) or flag AP over A (meaning no more races that day). See Race Signals.
P R O P E R C O U R S E
A course a boat would choose in order to sail the course and finish as soon as possible in the absence of the other boats referred to in the rule using the term. A boat has no proper course before her starting signal.
This is the most subjective definition in the book. It is also very important, particularly in applying rule 17 (On the Same Tack; Proper Course). The con- cept is very straightforward: your proper course is the course you think will get you from the starting line to the finishing line as quickly as possible, taking into account all the factors that will affect your speed. Typically, different sailors will have different ideas on what their fastest course is; thus different boats will have justifiably different proper courses.
