You may or may not be aware, but ISAF have published the new RRS that takes effect from Jan 1st on their website. The copy they've included helpfully marks-up the changes. Take a look at http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/ ... 13376].pdf. It's a PDF document so you'll need Adobe Reader.
Anyhow, a while ago one of our monohull sailors at Stewpot who's obsessed trying to pulling people-up on rule infringements approached me (as the club's racing manager) to complain that Sprint 15 Sailors were infringing rule 42 by yanking our sails more than once to pop our battens. "..in light airs...", he said, "it's tantamount to blatant cheating!"
(He overlooks the fact that in light airs the Cat fleet needs a divine miracle to come anywhere but last)
Well, as I was perusing the new RRS this morning I noticed that Rule 42 has been amended with a new clause inserted as Rule 42.3 Exceptions (e) where: If a batten is inverted, the boat’s crew may pump the sail until the batten is no longer inverted. This action is not permitted if it clearly propels the boat.
We all know that flicking a sail to pop the battens rarely results in propulsion (it's never stopped me drifting backwards after I've stuffed-up a tack) so this amendment adds clarity and seems like good news to me.
Karl Pountney
SWSC
