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.

Yes, Ian is very ill, and our thoughts are with him and his family. As I understand it, the V12 is identical to the V11 - the V11 mold was damaged and a new mold was made, and boats from the new mold were called V 12. Here is a copy of the V11 guide. John V11 Set Up Guide.docx

Also see the discussion in this topic https://www.mya-uk.org.uk/forums/topic/4366-u-flag-and-black-flag-starts-and-world-sailing-case-140-an-issue-for-radio-sailing/?do=getNewComment John

As far as I know in HMS, any DSQ is Fleet plus 1 except the seeding race. See HSM 3.3 and 3.4 HSM 3,4(d) says (d) Boats recorded as DNC in the lowest heat and WDN, UFD, BFD, DSQ or DNE in any heat, shall score one more point than the last boat in the lowest heat would have scored if all the boats competing in the event had finished correctly. However if a boat is DSQ for black flag, and there is a general recall, and the boat starts in that restart, then the BFD is upgraded to DNE (non-droppable). John

HI Terry, There is no rule restricting when to deploy either 30.3 (U flag) or 30.4 (Black Flag). except that it must be shown prior to the 2 minute warning. This is to give time to boats on the course to get out of the 'forward triangle' before the Warning when the boats are 'racing'. My comment would be to prefer the use of 30.3 U Flag - it has the same effect as Black Flag, but allows any OCS boats back into the heat if there is yet another general recall. John

Great news - World Sailing has issued the corrections. Visit https://www.sailing.org/racingrules/ to download both the 2025-2028 RRS with corrections and the detailed document listing the specific changes. These is one item in this list of corrections that affects radio sailing and Appendix E. After the RRS was published for 2025, we noticed an error in E6.3 in that the requirement to hail 'Protest' promptly had been dropped. This is now corrected by putting back the words that were already there in the 2021-2024 version. E6.3 now reads Appendix E, Rule E6.3 Change rule E6.3 to: Rule 60.2(a)(1) is changed to: (1) If the protestor is a boat, she shall inform the other boat at the first reasonable opportunity by hailing ‘(Her own sail number) protest (the sail number of the other boat)’. John

The American Model Yachting Association sponsored a free online rules webinar for model sailing enthusiasts on March 25, 2026. This is the recording of the event. Dave Perry is well known for his enthusiastic and engaging teaching style for sailors and race Sailing. He is one of the sport’s leading coaches and rules experts, serving on the US Sailing Appeals Committee and being the Rules Advisor for the US Sailing Team at the 2024 Olympic Games. Dave Perry Racing Rules Webinar Mar. 25, 2026 Part 1 of 2 https://youtu.be/fCuJD0LUzbI Dave Perry Racing Rules Webinar Mar. 25, 2026 Part 2 of 2 https://youtu.be/KahN5d3x4Wc John

This usually refers to the hull registration number assigned by your National Authority. John

Hi Gary, this is a question for your IOM class measurer or Class Secretary. My opinion is that it should not be compliant with the class rule - the slash is not part of the font and is used to differentiate an O from a 0 where there may be confusion. However the sail number is only numeric, so the slash serves no purpose and as you say, may be confused with an 8 John.

The Consumer Protection laws may differ from country to country, but we have a law in Canada that refers to ‘suitability to purpose’. I take that to mean that if the seller says that are selling you IOM sails, those sails have to be compliant with the class rules. If the sails fail to measure in, they are not class legal IOM sails and the seller has failed to comply with the ‘contract’. So if the sail maker advertises IOM sails, they are obligated to provide class legal sails. John

Here is the discussion on this topic copy/pasted from the IOMICA forum. John Certified sailmakers Post by Art Prufer » Sun Feb 15, 2026 9:02 am According to this rule: G.2.2 CERTIFICATION (a) Except where sails are certified as in (b) the official measurer shall certify sails in the tack and shall date each with the date of certification control. (b) An MNA may appoint one or more persons at a sailmaker to certify sails produced by that manufacturer. A special licence shall be awarded for that purpose. AND ON THE RIG MEASUREMENT FORM: MAINSAILS 31. G.2.2(b) If the sails have been certificated by a manufacturer awarded a special license, then omit steps 32 to 60 HEADSAILS 60. G.2.2 (b) If the sails have been certificated by a manufacturer awarded a special licence, omit steps 62 to 86 Where can we get the list of manufacturers who have been awarded this special licence, and what sail markings are required to indicate that they have been 'pre-certified' ? Last edited by Art Prufer on Mon Feb 16, 2026 12:53 pm, edited 1 time in total. Art Prufer CRYA #1189 Can 42 https://westcoastradiosailing.ca Top Andrew Crocker Vice-chairman (Technical) Re: Certified sailmakers Post by Andrew Crocker » Sun Feb 15, 2026 2:14 pm Hi Art - thanks for the question. It is an interesting one. I will do some follow up on this and post a response once I have it clarified. Regards Andrew VC Technical Re: Certified sailmakers Post by Andrew Crocker » Thu Feb 19, 2026 1:45 pm Hi Art, Thanks again for your question. The short answer is that there are no licensed IOM class sailmakers in the terms of Class Rule G.2.2(b). G.2.2(b) was adopted into the IOM Class Rules from the World Sailing Standard Class Rules (SCR) and refers to the World Sailing In-House Equipment Certification (IHC) programme – see https://www.sailing.org/inside-world-sa ... ification/. At present, the International One Metre class is not a participating class association and, given the way in which the IHC programme operates, it is difficult to see how it would be feasible. As a result, there are no certified IOM sailmakers. The VC Measurement is reviewing this process with a view to making it more relevant for IOM sailmakers and owners. Regards Andrew