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  • Generally, the interpretation of undefined words within legislation/rules takes the ordinary and natural meaning of the words used in that provision. The Macquarie dictionary is used at the highest level in Australia for this purpose.

    Tongue in cheek for discussion: prosthetics, hearing aids, etc.…

    Today 03:37
  • Nicholas Information paid for before racing

    Case 120, Answer 1 says

    Information for which a fee has been paid ...  is not ‘freely available’.

    Note the use of the past tense.

    Yes, I agree that Navionics will break the rule if it gets updates while racing, which is becoming more likely now that there are improved satellite devices that can enable the internet on a boat to run continuously.

    Windy gets and displays observations continuously:  to the extent that those observations are freely available from other sources (meteorological bureau), I think that's 'freely available', but Windy also interpolates and displays observations between observation stations.  I think that's done on the server side, not on the client app, so that's new information, available only from Windy.  Windy also graphically displays forecasts:  to the extent that those forecasts are simply displays of the models, without further intervention by Windy, that's 'freely available', but if Windy is processing and re-interpreting that data, that's new information not freely available.

    FWIW, I have a hazy recollection that Expedition has an option to turn off updates and downloads while racing, just to enable compliance with RRS 41.  I don't know if Navionics has a similar option.
    Yesterday 21:08
  • From what I have read, if you are using a robot mark, it is in the water during the start sequence and presumably you have signalled or otherwise designated the course by the warning signal. I don’t think you can move the mark. 

    Moving a robot mark is different to laying a mark from a mark set boat and given RRS33 only allows for changes of course from a rounding mark (not a start line) there is no mechanism in the rules for changing the position of mark 1 after the warning signal if it is laid as you have signalled or designated at the warning signal that you shall sail from the start line to mark 1. 

    I’m sure you could write an SI to allow you to move it while boats are sailing towards it but as a competitor, I am not sure how much I like the idea of a moving target. 

    As I say, I think this is different to having a mark sat in a boat, if it’s not laid, it’s not moved. 
    Yesterday 12:19
  • Ang, I guess so.  I'm testing the water.  Maybe people think it's giving race officials a global power that's one more step towards striped shirts, motor boats and whistles.
    Wed 20:20
  • Ang, it's possible you're overestimating the level of skill and athleticism at play here. It is critical at a place like CBI that we teach methods which can be done by anyone who can safely climb onto a centerboard Mercury ranging from ages 10 to at least 85. And also, this is sailing day ~3 on a shifty and gusty Charles River, filled* with other sailors who might be on the water for their first day, or winning a college national championship at MIT -- we don't want them executing any faster at that level.

    For sure, we expect racers to have a level of competence with this maneuver that may well include backing a sail, and of course, to understand that while they're going backwards, they have no rights. However for this beginner lesson, less is more. You wouldn't believe the discussions between education PHD's, world-class sailors, member committees, feedback from instructors and students that have gone into the multi-page teaching rubrics for these classes. They teach thousands to sail every year and for the most part, I think they have it dialed in pretty well for the level.

    Having written that, I'd like to amend my answer to OP Q2: it is the level of execution in getting out of irons that divides beginner, competent, and expert. Watch even an intermediate racer choose when to change from leeward helm to windward, based on when their boat goes from backing, to stopped to forward, and you'll see that only pretty good racers get the timing right.

    *easily 300 watercraft in a square mile on a busy day, ranging from kayaks to Sonars to Duck boats and other powered launches. It's a pretty wild place.
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