Three Lengths is a Long Way

We ran a clinic the other night to discuss the changes in the racing rules. The obvious one had jumped out to many of the participants beforehand, but I led with a discussion of 11 and 17 first (windward/leeward, and proper course limitations). I’ve found talking to many people that there’s still a lot of confusion over just whose proper course governs, windwards or leewards. I won’t renew the discussion now, but suffice it to say the deletion of rule 17.2 in the new rules will make for some minor game changes that will affect the higher levels of the sport. I’ll get back to that. The “obvious” change, though, was the change from two lengths to three for buoy room issues.

Leaving aside the more detailed discussions of the “mark-room” and “zone” definitions, I’m struck by how the simple change to the zone length may change the game in unexpected ways. I believe that in light air, slow-moving but still maneuverable boats will have an array of new cards to play.

When the zone changes to three lengths, the greater distance means fifty percent more time for things to happen. A 30-footer moving at three knots in light breezes travels about one length in six seconds, two in 12, and three in 18. At a crowded mark, six seconds is an awfully long time. I understand the intent of the change is to allow sailors more time to plan their rounding, but this power might be used as a sword as well as a shield.

Consider the weather mark. The concept introduced by the 2005-2008 rules remains, discouraging a port-tacker from coming in from the top of the left side and tacking within two lengths at the mark. Today, a boat that completes a tack within two lengths may not, as a result, force a starboard tacker to sail above close-hauled to avoid her. But in light air and bouncy chop, imagine a port tacker completing her tack on the layline in the zone a full length or two in front of an oncoming starboard boat. It’s easy to stop a heavy keelboat with a down-speed tack, especially with a mistimed wave. Picture the starboard boat, coming in at full speed. Even after port’s tack is complete, starboard could easily bear off to the layline, close with greater speed, and then be forced to sail above close-hauled to avoid the slower clear-ahead boat, drawing the foul. This scenario will cause the port-tacker to sail farther to weather of the layline to avoid this sitting duck syndrome, exaggerating the defensive moves used today.

I can think of another example or two of this, where the greater time in the zone allows for more moves to play out, and I’ll add them in a bit, but just wanted to throw this first one up for comment and thought.