What can I watch to learn some core racing rules?

Posted by dwkfym@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 5 comments

I'm fairly experienced with cruising, but I've only done a season and a half of casual dinghy racing on flying scots. Though I actually did pretty well for the group of sailors I was racing against, and won a bunch of them.

But this year, I want to try PHRF racing my slow ass boat. I don't really remember most of the rules I had studied to do the dinghy racing. What are some resources I can focus on to quickly gain an understanding of the rules and how they would apply in common scenarios? I've also only done windward mark races, and the club I will be racing with uses triangular courses that should have a beam reach element to it.

Even though I'm not a big fan of learning things through videos, I feel like racing rules are very very well served from learning through animations and videos.

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SVAuspicious@reddit

OP u/dwkfym,

You may remember me for our discussion about canning (not to be confused with cans as racing marks). Automod removed your post. I'll have to figure out why. In the meantime I approved it.

I have a DVD from US Sailing, North U, and North Sails that goes over the racing rules as of 2008. I'd be happy to lend it to you if you're near Annapolis. I'd want it back. I think a Google search might serve you better. The YouTube videos from RYA and from North Sails look best to me.

dwkfym@reddit (OP)

I remember you from a lot of things - thanks! I will look those up.

I gather you live or work in NoVA (scanned your profile before approving your post). Where do you keep your boat? I commuted from Arlington, then Annandale, then Fairfax to Annapolis to race for years before moving here.

Wednesday, Thursday, and many weekends racing until I aged out. I only raced my own boat once, a Governor's Cup with generator running for A/C below the whole way. Best fed boat of the race.

overthehillhat@reddit

Back in the late 70's we purposely stayed back a bit to make sense of the rules

Then by June '81 we were first to the windward mark in A class

No boats to follow --

Strange feeling

Fred_Derf_Jnr@reddit

To help you start with the rules in action have a play around on VirtualRegatta Inshore. Though they are not perfectly implemented they will give you a head start on the key ones, as well as working out how to sail in a fleet.