Yes that is a good one to get , I have it myself, for it has a little thing in it that has 4 little boats in it with bouys and wind direction markers. To live out the situations. Can be good fun in itself to chek out. Should save on the paint work and gear??
When our group started off sailing, rules didn't really matter that much. But they did as peoples skills improved and we then we started to have informal races, with the most important ones being the port/starboard, overtaking, and buoy rounding rules.
As many in our group, including me, had never sailed before we initially kind of adapted road rules, which we found our very quickly they were not really appropriate to sailing. (Like the first boat to the corner has unhindered right of way). Anyway, with the aid of some experienced sailors, we muddled through. But then that raised other questions when we initially took the experienced sailors' explanation of the rules as gospel. Some that were subsequently found to be incorrect.
As you say, no excuse for not knowing the rules in competition, but in a group like ours, they only assumed more importance as the skills, and therefore the competitiveness improved.
I personally have just ordered on the internet a book by Paul Elvstrom which explains the rules and also provides accompanying illustrations. I was put onto this book by a fellow sailor who emailed me the details. It covers the rules 2005-2008 I think.
But a very basic set of rules that one can put in one's back pocket on the day would be very much appreciated. I look forward to the next newsletter.
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Maverick Model Yachting - The Only Way To Go! Secret Alias - Don Leitis
No , I disagree with your last comments Mav. I think it has everything to do with Maintenance to you boat , perhaps a side issue to it ? It a bit like talking about a certain screwdriver to get the job done. The rules being the"screwdriver"
The RULES. Can be had from most good book stores or at a ship's chandelry store and it is known to boating people as "The Blue Book" . There is a new one out now and everyone has to get a new one now in anycase , so why shouldn't you? This Blue Book is a "HOW TO USE " booklet on sailing. Even if you buy a motor car you get a book. !!! Then if you don't read your car book , who can you blame if something goes wrong??? Same with boats. Now I really wonder about skippers who go to some important regatta and don't have a rudimentry idea about rules? Nobody think you have to be "Einstien" about them but just a working knowledge.
So Mav, if you in to ONE DESIGN racing as you are, there is a difinite advantage in having a WORKING KNOWLEDGE of the rules, even if all you want to do in "keep out of the way". Now I can't force you to read them and if you don't even read the one section in them of a couple of pages called "The Fundimental Rules" , Whose the Monkey then? Hop down to your friendly book store or look it up on the web under "Sailing Rules".
we will be putting out some basic ones in the 12 metre group Newsletter next month. Stay tuned.
My own personal experience is in absolute agreement with your comments.
And that is why I buy a second boat. The first, mine, I will only grudgingly let others sail, and then, only if I trust them.
The second boat is the one that I would be prepared to lend to novices, except that when I build my second boat, it is as good, if not better than the first one, and I get upset if it is involved in collisions, etc., which defeats the purpose of its original purchase. However, I try to be patient.
And you are absolutely 100% correct that you lend your boat to novices only if you are prepared to stay with them. But then, they may feel uncomfortable with you looking over their shoulder, and then that promotion doesn't work out either.
Port tackers. A novice will not have the faintest idea of who has right of way. They will not even know Port from Starboard. Like me, when I took up radio yachting.
My past experiences led me to think Port was something you drank, and Starboard, which I knew was something to do with ships, was a special board you climbed on at night, probably after drinking too much Port, to observe the Stars in some mystical, special way, so you could navigate somewhere. Black Magic.
However, after starting to sail with some other more experienced folks, and having been on the receiving end of "Starboard" calls while sailing, and ignoring those calls during daylight hours, I figured my impressions were incorrect, especially after having been belted around the ears after all boats had reached shore and been retrieved, in addition to much verbal abuse about not giving way. I had no idea what the call "Starboard" meant but by now I was really clued up, and I just high-tailed it out of wherever I was, to seek out the most unpopulated part of the lake. This seemed to appease many sailors. But it didn't help me much.
The serious part of this post. I do not know the rules. Henry, what is this Blue book you speak of, and how may it be obtained?
But more importantly, I have in the past requested on various forums', for those with experience and knowledge to make available a concise set of sailing rules, say that a novice can put in their back pants pocket, but be able to pull out and read quickly in order to meet basic sailing requirements. This knowledge is something that the absolute novice will not know.
And if this sport is to grow, then the absolute novices are the people we need to introduce here. Time and time again, it has been demonstrated that many members of the existing old guard have, out of ignorance and stupidity, adopted superior attitudes that only serve to act as a barrier to newbies coming into this sport. And then they wonder why nobody sails any more.
This has really gotten off the repairs and maintenance topic specifically, but can be vaguely be said is OK here, because knowledge, of even the most basic one or two sailing rules, may hopfully avoid collisions and therefore reduce the need to effect repairs and maintenance after a days sailing.
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Maverick Model Yachting - The Only Way To Go! Secret Alias - Don Leitis
My best tip is to buy all your sailing "mates" a blue (rule) book EACH. Second lend your boat to the least amount of people to sail. Only lend to novices if you're prepared to stay with them. Get rid of PORT TACKERS off the start line. This will save you hours in the bloody workshop and a gallon of paint. I kid you not!!!
Discussion topic affecting the Nautic12 regarding experiences with, and suggestions and help for all things relating to keeping your Nautic12 in tip top operating condition.
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Maverick Model Yachting - The Only Way To Go! Secret Alias - Don Leitis
