Racing Rules, ethics and on course etiquette.

[Glenn AUS 719]

Last weekend I thoroughly enjoyed the regatta at Port Stephens, this was in spite of my rather poor results and the average weather.
I have taken a couple of days to think about this post as it is I believe a sensitive issue but one that I to my mind needs to be discussed.
In the short time that I have been with the OK fleet, I have been impressed with the camaraderie and easy going nature of the members and can easily see why people stay in the class for such long periods but I am a bit surprised with some of the behaviour I have observed during the racing.
There is little doubt that the fleet is competitive with members keen to get good results and improve their abilities. For any proof of this, you only need to see the new boats, equipment, how tight the starts can be and the good fleets that turn up to events.
Where I have a problem, and this is from a newcomers point of view, is in the following of the race rules. This last regatta I saw on several occasions people taking penalties for rule infringements, in many cases losing a lot of positions. They have my respect for doing the correct thing when having knowingly made an error on the course. This was unfortunately not consistent with all members racing. On two occasions, both involving the start, I was involved in an incident where a fellow competitor infringed my right at the start line, on both occasions the other helm acknowledged the mistake at the time of the incident and after the racing but neither completed the required penalty.
I realise that I should have by rights filed a protest with the race committee but feel hesitant with this as I have noticed that there are some unwritten rules within the class and people that I mix with. I have also heard through various comments of off the course intense discussions regarding the behaviour of certain individuals on the course. All of this makes for a mix of some humour and lots of confusion.
What action should I have taken?
As someone who is still coming to grips with getting back into racing and a new class of boat, not having a level playing field makes it even harder to regain my skills.
Should I have notified both competitors that I will be lodging protests over their infringements? and giving them the opportunity to honourably retire.
Do we have a different playing field for racing at club level, regattas, Nationals and worlds?
Should I walk away from this discussion so that I do not ruffle too many feathers and allow the status quo to remain?
I think that as much as we talk about the technical aspects of our boats we should also include the technical aspects of racing ie rules and tactics.
One thing is for sure if I make a mistake regarding the rules I encourage other competitors to point this out so that I can make amends. I always come back to Paul Elvstrom's quote, which I hold dear, "You haven't won the race if, in winning the race, you have lost the respect of your competitors."

[Village Idiot]

Well done for bringing this up Glenn. This is an issue that does need attention. What better time to discuss this than with a major championship looming.

I think to sum up your problem in a word it would have to be inconsistency. I am guilty of this too. If i feel i am racing for sheep stations I am more likely to call an infinging boat to do penalty turns. However, sometimes if it was only a minor issue or near miss or if it is someone like Stumpy who i may be feeling sorry for I will let things go.

What I find myself guilty of also is not taking penalty turns unless I am called to do them. I don't want to give anything up unless I can't avoid it. In the past i have hit marks and not circled cos it was not witnessed. I know I will go to hell for this.

Another confusing aspect is when people who have been infringed are happy to pretend it did not happen. On Sunday I badly infringed upon the nicest guy in the fleet. He was severely disadvantage by the encounter and had to do a crash tack and head back in the wrong direction.

I felt so bad about it that despite his silence I took my penalties. As I spun away I heard Mr Niceguy yelling "No Paul! You don't have to do that!"

Now I appreciate this generosity but how is someone new to the class supposed to know under what circumstances favours are given? If a bloke gave you a hand launching from the beach is he entitled to favours? If you are a backmarker having a blinder in the last heat of a series do you duck the other gun boats when they are on Port?

Failure to follow or enforce the rules has in the past lead to angst on shore when guys feel they have been dudded but know that protesting is not ecouraged.

We need to fix this stuff because it is really getting messy at times.

[aus738]

Hi all. I've noticed that a few people have read Glenn's post but only one response so far. I'm returning to OK sailing after many years absence and at this stage I have only sailed in one (small) regatta last March in Adelaide (AIR). The racing was very close and the sportmanship shown was excellent with people taking their penalties when they stuffed up. This was great and added a lot to my enjoyment. I can't comment on the attitudes of OK sailors elsewhere but feel that I can make some general observations. I've been involved in coaching junior sailors for the past couple of years and apart from the technical aspects one of the hardest things to teach them is a clear understanding of the rules, and the appropriate way to deal with infringements on the course. Sailing is unique in that at most events we are entirely self refereed during the race. Almost all other sports that kids have exposure to has someone calling the fouls and blowing a whistle. When they get on a race course they have to learn to do that for themselves in an appropriate manner. As adult sailors we all have a responsibility to set an example for our juniors and help guide them. Having senior and respected sailors flouting the rules on course is not the best way to set that example, especially if they are at the front of the fleet. Glenn's example indicates that a couple of the sailors admitted both on and off the water that they were in the wrong but didn't complete their penalties. What sort of example is that? You guys in NSW have two juniors regularly sailing with you in the modified "Sprint" rigs - is this what you want them to learn?

If there is some doubt about the incident then we should be taking it to protest. If not then take the flaming penalty and get on with it!

[Deleted]

Over the years we have been a generally well disciplined and usually self regulating class with little history of problems in this area. Protests are seldom lodged even at International level and any problems are mostly sorted out on the race course to the satisfaction of competitors. Of course sometimes discussion is carried over into the bar and any offending member is soon brought into line by the majority opinion on the matter.

Some incidents do occur where there is a fine line on who is in the right and who is not. A skilled protest committee can be a valuable tool to assist with competitors understanding of the rules in such instances. Unfortunately, at most of our events we generally do not have the services of a skilled protest committee and any protests become an unwanted chore for hard working race committees. However, this is an important part of our sport and we do have to ensure that we are resourced sufficently to cover such situations. At our World Championships we are required to pay for the services of an International Jury. For National Championships and other State Association events we need to form protest committees at the local level.

With the forthcoming Nationals we will again need to ensure that we have an experienced protest committee available to assist if and when required.

This does not excuse your problems from last week-end that were not satisfactorily resolved. It is disappointing that the other blokes acknowledged their fault in your incidents but did not follow through with their penalty turns. This might have been a result of you being seen as a new bloke in the fleet and just testing you out. Maybe be a bit more vocal in future if such incidents occur again and then follow through with protest action if your request for penalty turns is ignored.

I find that this course of action usually works for me!

I was not there for the after race discussion on this subject so do not know what was or was not said in this regard. I think most blokes would accept that some of our members do push their luck a little and it may well be that it is time for formal protest action to resolve any issues that are not satisfactorily sorted out on the course. This is the only way that a positive solution can be obtained to overcome this problem without causing negative unrest within the fleet.

Brent has said it all, we do have a responsibility to set a good example for junior members coming into our fleet.

[Glenn AUS 719]

Thanks for the response guys, I personally do not want to win or place with the knowledge that Some one knows I do not deserve it.
Paul is correct a consistent level playing field is what we should be aiming at and the best way is to learn the rules and apply them to the race in an honest and ethical manner.
This is not a tilt at OK's in any way, in fact many sailing organisations have been facing this very same issue, just type in your search engine 'Sailing Ethics' and you will find many articles attempting to promote standards for the betterment of sailing.

[Deleted]

I was one of the guilty persons who fowled Glen on the weekend of the port stephens regatta.
My boom clipped his mast as the gun went off.
I personally think this is a minor incident and had no effect to your position at the time the gun went off.
I believe a bit of give and take is required on the racecourse at certain times.
It is up to ones personal judgement to make a call on whether or not he asks for a penalty or not,allowances have been made by everyone at one time or another.
Thats fine if you love your rules,but people have long memories in OK s and one day when you need a bit of slack you might find you dont get it.
This is by no means having a go a Glen, just my thoughts on this topic.

[Glenn AUS 719]

Long memories noted. However considering you were to windward of me and I had nothing but bad air on the start line, I consider that you were interfering my racing in a major way. However there is the consideration that at present I am not one of the top racers in the fleet and perhaps some people feel that back markers are ok to fringe, please note I am not saying this was the case here and this is no personal attack.
The rules are there to create a level playing field for all participants and should be abided by at all times. It is very easy to quick judge people and so to help in the good nature of the class it is important you are known by doing the right thing, this is very important.
They say you should train as if you are competing and this applies to the rules, casual attitudes to the rules in minor competitions could easily create big problems in major competitions.

[Village Idiot]

The problem is that the line in the sand is blurred, the waters have been muddied and a shade or grey has been cast over the racing rules.

I think Cracker's notion of the "gentleman's arrangement" is a nice idea but when you are new to the gentleman's club how do you know when to use discretion.

What happens when 2 guys disagree about the "gentleman's club arrangement" and want to punch on in the rigging area as calling someone on an infringement or daring to protest is against the gentleman's code???

This has happened already and was not a good look for the class.

[aus716]

"line in the sand is blurred, the waters have been muddied and a shade of grey has been cast over the racing rules."

VI ever considered writing the Great Australian Novel?

[aus738]

I believe a bit of give and take is required on the racecourse at certain times.
It is up to ones personal judgement to make a call on whether or not he asks for a penalty or not,allowances have been made by everyone at one time or another.

I'm with VI on this one. I don't think there is much to gain by going on any further about the specific incident that started this discussion, but in general terms I think it is a trap to endorse some sort of "League of Gentlemen" when it comes to the rules. Sure we need to be careful when and where we call someone on an infringement, but I think it's a slippery slope if we start to accept a "code" of allowances. The rules are known by everyone and should be applied as best we can. We shouldn't forget that there are a couple of fundamental principles at the front of the blue book which state "Competitors in the sport of sailing are governed by a body of rules that they are expected to follow and enforce. A fundamental principle
of sportsmanship is that when competitors break a rule they will
promptly take a penalty, which may be to retire."

That's pretty clear to me. If we accept the "give and take" as a principle where does it end. If I just brush a mark with my boom is that ok? No - to my mind it's far better if we try to sail by the rules as best we can, and accept when we f*** up and do our turns, or go to protest if needed.

[Deleted]

Glenn your nuts second row start would have been just as nuts as it was without me touching you.
It is quite clear that you would like the rules applied 100 % of the time,thats your personal choice and thats fine.
Please next time be clear in what you expect from somebody,I didn't hear a peep from you when it happened.
For all i know you could have sailed into my boom.
But my first instinct was to look back and say sorry.
I like the casual nature of our sailing, i do not wish to spend my time sailing yelling at people for thier indescretions.
But when i think someone deserves they will know about it.
Please everyone in the OK fleet be clear on what you expect from someone when it is happening not 2 hrs later wingeing to your mates at the bar on how youve been hard done by.
This will save a lot of confusion
I Hold no grudges to the people that like the rules to be adhered to 100 % of the time , let me know if you think i have wronged you and if i decide that im guilty i will do my penalty no questions asked, and will hold no grudge against you.

[Glenn AUS 719]

I think some good points have been made but I also think we are losing a bit of perspective in relation to the nature of sailing OK's. We all like the idea of a relaxed, easy going and friendly association of sailors who love to race. Where it is breaking down to my mind is that people are asking the infringed sailor to relax and give a bit, where I think it should be the infringing sailor who should relax, realise that a mistake has been made and do the right thing, irrespective of how good or what the position of the other sailor is.
Cracker, I was in a bad position only because you were giving me bad air and not keeping clear, I could have made life a lot worse for you but had decided to give you some room to make good, if that was my mistake so be it. I will have to work harder to ensure I am in a better position.

[aus716]

Hmmm, don't seem to remember seeing a protest flag on an OK since Billy was a young bloke. Do we still need them? Guess I'll know after tomorrow nights Racing Rules Of Sailing refresher course and update nite at DSC. 6pm I think.

A lot of what AUS692 said makes sense, and others too. I don't know, go and play boats, have fun, have a beer, protest if you like, come back the next week and do it again.

I've been to only 2 worlds seen no protests yet, but I did get pinged twice, same race , same buoy, different rounding, by a one eyed International Juror who was clearly out to get me. Kinda like that about OK's.

Hey I'm pretty sure that I've infringed once. If I do it to you sorry, yell loud at me because I am deaf (seriously) and if I hear you and IF I think I'm in the wrong I'll bend over and take it.

I know I know pot calling the kettle black and all that.
See you on the water, soon I hope.

[Village Idiot]

I guess it comes down to this:

If you feel you have been infringed either cop it or call 720. If still not satisfied, protest. Or forever hold your peace.

[Deleted]

OK sailing is a beautiful self regulating thing (except when F@#king Juries get in the way).
The self regulation works because things are sorted out on the water. In worlds and nationals, true, there are very few competitor initiated protest hearings. But there are plenty of 720s being taken, and lots of "discussion" on the water.

VI's comments above are totally correct - Deal with the issue at the time, or hold your peace. Let the other guy know you're not happy with something, and SORT IT OUT. The flag is there if you can't