Racing Catapult: Rules and Tactics Forum


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Catapult racing works on the principle that a friendly group of sailors who know each other can avoid the need for protests.
 
 Racing is strictly within the rules but it is expected that any breaches will be immediately dealt with, in an honour system. A 360’ turn follows any touching of a mark

Most mark touches will be unobserved by other boats, but basically, everyone feels better keeping to this rather than making up excuses at the time.
 
 If boats collide, one or both will do the 360’ immediately. To simplify this, we try to minimise the risk of contact, for instance running downwind, or at marks.

Most clubs where Catapult races can set courses which minimise risk (usually rounding to port, see below) but this may be difficult for some (in tidal or restricted water, or because of shore-based starts)


The photo left shows how rounding the windward mark to port makes the rules clear. The first three boats have come in on starboard and rounded, giving plenty of room between each other and the mark.

The Catapult coming up on port (dark blue hulls) has to give way to the boats ahead on starboard before tacking to the mark.

There should be no confusion here

(Tactically, Dark Blue Hulls may have his reasons for getting into this apparently disadvantaged position. if for instance, wind pressure  seemed better on the left-hand side of the beat.

He can easily judge when to turn onto the final approach to the mark, whereas the distant boats on the right , needing to judge their tacks from further away, seem  to have gone too far before turning to the mark.

If the distant boats have over-stood, but are likely to catch Dark Blue Hulls with starboard right of way, he will be tempted to turn for the mark before and below them. He may succeed.

 He will need to remember that Catapult being so light carries no momentum on through even a quick tack. A slow tack loses a boat length to leeward, and Blue Hulls may find himself pinching up to the mark, stalling and slowing while the other boats come over him to windward, and he drifts down onto the mark. It is too painful to think about.