"These rules you quoted are under the heading B4 RULES FOR EXPRESSION COMPETITION."
Hi! there, Nick,
I'm aware RRS 2009-2012 Appendix B is for windsurfing expression.
You're also aware of this:-
B4.1 Right-of-Way Rules
These rules replace all rules of Part 2.
Looking at RRS 2009-2012 Part 2. You won't find any mention of boats leaving from or returning to shore.
So, Appendix B4.1 is the only one that mentions something that's close to it.
As you well know, everyone has to start from somewhere at one time.
The one time is as a beginner in the chosen sport of sailing or windsurfing in this forum.
In my experience when I started windsurfing, I don't have a coach/instructor when I began. I didn't leave the shore until 3 months later, as it was blowing SW at ECSC. Now, here I am trying to get up on the board and sail away from the shore, I'll surely won't be too concern about who's coming in on which tack, as long as I can get clear of the beach.
Fast forward to 6 months later, I've done very well to start to enjoy windsurfing by not falling all the time and sailing away from the shore. When it's time to come back to shore, I remembered how hard it is in the beginning trying to sail out from the shore, so as I'm coming in, I'd keep an eye on the spot to land, at the same time be very aware of anyone along the course that I'm taking. Coming in to the shore at the East Coast Hawker Centre, is like running a gauntlet, as there're windsurfers, swimmers on a family outing, sampans paddling around.
I'd think a w/surfer coming back to shore will have better control of their movement than the one leaving the shore, if at all. Replace it with a beginner, and you'll get the rig falling on top of everyone within range of the length of the mast.
Not everyone is lucky enough to start sailing/windsurfing with a coach to monitor their progress, as I've told my daughter, Audrey, after a month of training under TC Chua over at NSC. I said to her, the very 1st time I watched her training session just before she went to Thailand for her 1st w/surfing race with just a month of training, what she's achieved, is the same as me in 10 months of w/surfing.
Lucky of not, the fundamental rule as stated, RRS 2009-2012 Rule #1 - Safety.
Look a little bit more at Part 2 Section C of RRS 2009-2012.
Rule 19.2
(c) While boats are passing a continuing obstruction, if a boat that
was clear astern and required to keep clear becomes overlapped
between the other boat and the obstruction and, at the
moment the overlap begins, there is not room for her to pass
between them, she is not entitled to room under rule 19.2(b).
While the boats remain overlapped, she shall keep clear and
rules 10 and 11 do not apply.
The shoreline, is a continuing obstruction, but of course it's not mentioned in the rule book.
What's stated though as a fact can be found in the 2010 Supplement to The Case Book for 2009 – 2012.
http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/2010SupplementCaseB-%5B8260%5D.pdfTake a look at the new case 113.
It's not stated when the port & starboard rule will come into effect if a sailor or w/surfer leave the beach, as the beach or shoreline is not mentioned.
Regards
Paul Yong
