I am new to Model Yacht Racing (IOM), but have been racing dinghies for many years.

I've been told that it is not permitted for Skippers (or Observers) to use binoculars during a race.

I have been searching for the appropriate Rule or SI, but can't find anything

Please can you clarify if binoculars are permitted or banned (with link rules)

Thanks

Peter

South Yorkshire

Hi Peter,

That is a very good question and the answer is not as clear as I would like. But basically the idea is that using binoculars gives a visual advantage to you and that view is not freely available to other competitors.

The only rules and interpretations I can find are below.

John

From the RRS Appendix E.

E4.2 Outside Help

Rule 41 is changed to:

A boat or the competitor controlling her shall not receive help from

any outside source, except . . .

© help in the form of information freely available to all

competitors.

E5.3 Rules for Observers and Umpires

Observers and umpires shall be located in the control area. They

shall not use any aid or device that gives them a visual advantage

over competitors.

IRSA Case Book Case R5 after the three specific questions, it ends with . .

As regards competitors:

 a competitor who believes that the race committee's organisation of the control area gives

such a visual advantage to another or other competitor(s), or to the race committee, that

their boat's score has been made significantly worse, may request redress under rule 62.1(a);

 a competitor who knowingly introduces into the control area and uses an aid or device that

gives him a visual advantage over other competitors may break rule 2.

Hi John,

Thanks for your speedy reply

I have searched for 'IRSA Case Book Case R5', but only found

and downloaded IRSA Case Book v1.1 May 2015 & IRSA_Addendum_Q_2014-06-06

I can't find any reference to Case 5 for Competitors

Doesn't your reference to the 'race committee's organisation of the control area gives

such a visual advantage to another or other competitor(s)' refers to where & what competitors can see etc compared to other competitors, rather than the use of equipment by an individual competitor.

I don't believe that use of individual equipment eg starting watch or binoculars, is Outside Help, rule 41 and E4.2 are not applicable

Peter