Dancing with Wolves

From 1998

Many sailors are now aware of the big gains that can be made through the development of a Kinetic based sailing technique – one that fits within the Propulsion Rules.

One approach is for judges and competitors to work together in this regard. To some competitors it may seem like dancing with the wolves, but in my view the competitors can gain a real insight into how the Propulsion rules are interpreted, and how on-the-water judging works in a general sense. The judges learn a lot, too.

As a quick litmus test on your on technique, if you haven’t been penalised recently, by an on-the-water judge, then you can probably be more energetic in the way you sail.

The reality of Propulsion rule enforcement is that the chances of picking up a penalty are quite remote. But more of that later.

As an on-the-water judge, you become a student of body movement. After all you do have the best seat in the “stadium” - much closer to the action than the coaches. You soon notice that there is a tremendous variation in the styles, and some particularly vigorous actions actually slow the boat – quite appreciably at times.

It is quite evident that the proper use of kinetics and manual propulsion techniques can really gain places at crucial points of the race – usually at the start, rounding marks, a close crossing situation upwind, the finish and of course, downwind. A good judge will concentrate on the first four aspects, because that is where breaking RRS42 for just a few seconds will yield a significant and ill-gotten gain.

Downwind, the actions are split into two phases – firstly, what is done to initiate/promote surfing or planing; and secondly, what is done to extract the maximum benefit from the gust or wave.

In the first phase, your actions will only determine whether or not you catch the wave, or start planing in the gust.

The big gains are in the second maintenance phase. It is obvious that competitors who use the minimum amount of tiller movement do better than those who are more vigorous with the body and sheet. The latter group inevitably has to make a correction with the tiller to control the boat/course at the end of a planing/surfing sequence – and this is just pulling on the hand-brake. The trick is to get the maximum “run”, or milk the most, out of the wave or gust.

Downwind, competitors who use their bodies to steer the boat (heel to leeward to steer the boat up, heel to windward to steer down) make big gains compared to those who steer the same course using a maximum of rudder and minimum of body movement. In short, the successful sailors handle their boats like a surfboard – driving for the steepest part of the wave to pick up speed, then coming up across the wave, and back down the face again.

Many competitors don’t have a clear understanding of what is/is not permitted under the propulsion rules.

Let’s look at some parts of Rule 42 (Propulsion) in a little detail:

42 PROPULSION

 

42.2 Prohibited Actions

(a) pumping: repeated fanning of any sail either by trimming and releasing the sail or by vertical or athwartships body movement;

Fanning is always easy for a judge to spot and quite illegal. Competitors need to understand the difference between fanning and pumping. Repeated fanning generally works best in flattish water, in marginal planing conditions. If you are going to fan a little, then be careful to do it no more than those around you. And “mask” the action by using an irregular rhythm – however even so, fanning is easily spotted by an astute judge. 

The rule also talks of using body movement to effectively fan the sail. But note the word “repeated” is used, meaning that you can do one action by a body pump, but not more than one, out of a tack or start. Excessive body movement is the easiest action to spot from a jury boat, and you will almost certainly be penalised if you try a few quick flicks.

(b) rocking: repeated rolling of the boat, induced either by body movement or adjustment of the sails or centreboard, that does not facilitate steering;

Rocking – however it is caused, is illegal, except when it is being done to  steer the boat – in which case there is no restriction. This is very difficult for a judge inexperienced in dinghy racing to assess and very easy to make a mistake – as the eye is always drawn to the obvious body and mast movement, and not whether the tiller is “locked-off”. Clearly if the tiller is being held centrally and the body is moving, then it is likely that the body is being used to steer the boat.

The type of rocking that is quite illegal is when the boat’s mast rolls through a wide regular arc downwind, without any change in course. The sailor must do something to stop this - either trim the sheet or drop the centreboard. The test used by judges is usually to compare the rolling action of the boat with that of others in the near vicinity, as well as being cognisant of the sea and wind conditions.

(c) ooching: sudden forward body movement, stopped abruptly;

 

Ooching is fairly easy to spot, and is usually always illegal. Many competitors rolle their bodies forward upwind, - claiming they are trying to restrict the pitching of the boat. If there is an abrupt stop – then it’s illegal.

(d) sculling: repeated movement of the helm not necessary for steering;

 

The test of sculling is a double tiller movement. You can repeatedly slam the tiller to one side to try and force the course of the boat (typically when the boat is stopped an stalled at a start). You cannot flick the tiller from side to side – which has no effect on the course of the boat - but does generate a small amount of boatspeed at a critical point of the race. As the ISAF Judges manual says “ If the course alters, no infringement, otherwise yes”.

 
(e) repeated tacks or gybes unrelated to changes in the wind or to tactical considerations.

Again, this practice is very easy to spot, typically occurs in light winds. You are at risk after your second quick tack.

42.3 Exceptions

(a) A boat's crew may move their bodies to exaggerate the rolling that facilitates steering the boat through a tack or a gybe,……”

This rule effectively allows the crew to use two vigorous body pumps during the tack. The explanation is that you allow the boat to heel to leeward (to facilitate the round up), then do the first body pump to throw the boat through head-to wind. On the new tack, allow the boat to heel to leeward, before again doing a body pump to pull the boat upright. However you can’t do a third pump, without infringing Rule 42.2(a). 

(b ……the boat's crew may pull the sheet and the guy controlling any sail in order to initiate surfing or planing, but only once for each wave or gust of wind.

The wording of this rule has changed slightly from the old Rule 54.3(b). The mistake most competitors still make is that the rule requiring “…only the part of the sheet between the crew member handling the sheet and the first block on the boom….” was dropped from the rulebook, four years ago.

You should pump by the most direct means possible. The reason being that you are allowed only one pump per wave or gust. The reach of your arm limits the amount of sheet you can pull in one pump. Therefore if you can pull that same pump of the sheets through only one or two mainsheet block, then the pump will be a lot more effective than a competitor who pulls through the all the blocks including the floor block. Remember that the objective is to get the most movement possible on the outer-end of the boom. Direct sheeting onto the boom also gives you much more feel and control downwind – however the transition from full sheet to reduced or direct sheeting can be tricky, in fresh winds.

Judging the Judges

At any serious regatta, as a competitor, I’d do the following:

Firstly, you need to be very clear on the judging system being used. Are the judges working alone or in pairs?

When the judges are required to act in concert and agree on a decision, then decision making will be slower, and probably, fewer penalties may be issued as a result. However when they do make a decision, it will be very difficult to overturn under Rule 62 (Redress), as you will have two careful, independent and considered opinions to try and counter - which will be very difficult to shake in the Jury Room. (Under the new rules you are not automatically entitled to a Hearing for an infringement of RRS42).

Secondly, be very clear about how the Jury boats will be identified. Often they will be flying large flags and are easy to spot. However other regattas use unmarked boats, and if so then you should treat all craft as “hostile”.

A prudent competitor should  be aware of the position of judge boats all the time, and exercise caution if one is near. If so, then it is usually a good idea to tone down your actions, unless you are keen to find out his/her view of your sailing technique. (In a practice race, this makes a lot of sense, as both parties are really sounding each other out on what can be quite a subjective call.)

Finally, if you are protested or penalised for an infringement under Rule 42 (Propulsion), then always go up to the judge after the race and find-out what part of the rule you have infringed. If you do this in a clear, calm manner, without being argumentative then you’ll probably learn something.

Next time there’s a great sea-breeze blowing, go out and practice your Downwind Dancing. And in your next big regatta keep an eye out for the Wolves!

KS 120705