John Ball

I suggest another option for consideration - use a wind mark and offset mark with the addition of a windward approach mark. The approach mark would be set about 6 boat lengths to leeward of the windward mark and have a required side that all boats must pass it to port. The idea is that boats coming in from the left side of the course on port, would be encouraged to get on the stbd lay line sooner, and if possible, outside the zone. John

I recommend against charging Lipo or Life batteries in the boat- risk of explosion or fire. I always use a charging safety bag. John

Try moving the winch plug on the Rx from CH 3 to CH2. Then move the right stick up and down. Has the glitching gone away. If yes, then it could be the pot on left stick of the Tx. If not, then it could be corrosion on the plug on the winch or the winch. John

Outside-in gate at the windward mark - by John Ball Thanks and congratulations to the sailors, IOMICA, MYA, and the volunteers who put on a great show at the 2026 IOM World Championship at Datchet Water, UK. The windward mark. Initially, we saw the conventional windward mark with an offset, but many boats arrived together, on both starboard and port tacks and there were many incidents. The RC switched to an outside-in windward gate. The outside-in gate has one big advantage – it usually splits the fleet over the two marks, reducing congestion, but it also has one big disadvantage – there is no longer an offset mark to separate the boats rounding and bearing away from the boats still approaching each mark. Look at the diagram, below. Boats rounding the right-hand mark – mark to port, is quite conventional, with the proviso that while the boat bearing way is on stbd and has ROW over an approaching port tack boat, the stbd tack boat is subject to R 16.1 as she alters course. Green cannot just turn down and interfere with Blue. As they are on different legs, R 23.2 also applies, and the ROW boat is not interfering IF she is sailing her proper course. Boats rounding the left-hand mark – mark to stbd, has all the issues of a stbd rounding – see my web site https://sites.google.com/site/johnsrcsailingrulesandtactics/ and Chapter 3 bonus item – ‘Weather Mark – the ‘Dreaded Marks to Stbd’, but with no offset, they have the additional problem that they are on port and as they bear away to the run, have to stay clear of any approaching stbd tack boats. Yellow has to stay clear of Pale Blue. As they are on different legs, R 23.2 also applies, and the ROW boat is not interfering IF she is sailing her proper course. John

Many thanks John

It would be nice if the camera control switched to cover the front boats - we get left watching back markers round a mark while Nigel's commentary has moved way down the course. Just watched Race 6 - much better tracking of the lead boats John

I think it is a Triple Crown. Flare at the bow, and max beam aft of the middle of the boat. John

On the results HSM spreadsheet there is a column titled CAT. What do the various entries stand for? Thanks John

How close to the windward mark for the skippers, observers and umpires? Is there a long control area, or a fixed position? John

Hi John949, Yes See R 14. Avoid Contact - and then if you think a rule has been broken, protest. John

Hi RoRo, I suggest you look in the WS Case Book and share with your fellow sailors. Look at cases 15 and especially Case 27 for applying R 13. Case 27 is exactly the described issue. Rule 13, While Tacking CASE 15 In tacking to round a mark, a boat clear ahead must comply with rule 13; a boat clear astern is entitled to hold her course and thereby prevent the other from tacking. CASE 27 A boat is not required to anticipate that another boat will break a rule. When a boat acquires right of way as a result of her own actions, the other boat is entitled to room to keep clear. Also for R 15 see Case 81 however that is a marks to stbd scenario. CASE 81 When a boat entitled to mark-room under rule 18.2(a)(2) passes head to wind, rule 18.2(a)(2) ceases to apply and she must comply with the applicable rule of Section A. John

Hi Colin et al, I cover the subject of boats tacking at the stbd lay line on my web site - scroll to the bottom and look for my Appendix C When is 'tacking too close' too close? John

Hi John949 what you are describing is a clear breach of R 13. In addition, as ROW has changed, R 15 also applies briefly and the port tack boat must be given room to keep clear once STBD reaches close hauled course. Note that the term 'full & by' was dropped from the RRS many many years ago - replaced by 'close hauled course' John

Has Yellow finished correctly? She hits the finish mark as she finishes, so she needs to take a penalty turn and cross from the course side. She gybes to port and rounds up, passes HTW and then crosses the line before reaching a close hauled course. So has Yellow completed her penalty turn? I have written a new short article on what constitutes a tack. It is on my web site near the bottom of the home page - see Appendix D What constitutes a Tack https://sites.google.com/site/johnsrcsailingrulesandtactics/ John

I just received this email. John Sadly Ian Vickers passed away today holding his daughter hand. What an incredible talent, what an amazingly nice person. He will be missed by us all.