52 One-Design Class Sailboat Handbook 



spaced evenly around a circle, and numbered clockwise in succession 

 with the northeast buoy being No. 1, the easterly one being No. 2, etc. 

 The windward legs of the course are always full diameters, i.e., from No. 

 4 to No. 8 in a northerly wind; from No. 5 to No. 1 in a northeasterly 

 wind, etc. The start is always a windward start, at the beginning of such 

 a leg, and the first round constitutes a triangular course; i.e., No. 4, No. 

 8, No. 6 and back to No. 4. The final leg of the course is a third windward 

 leg with the finish at its completion; i.e.. No. 4, No. 8 with finish at No. 8. 

 Thus, barring major wind shifts, the racing will constitute 61 per cent 

 windward sailing, 24 per cent broad reaching and 15 per cent directly 

 downwind. It is unfortunate that the reaches are both rather broad in- 

 stead of one being fairly close— especially in very light air conditions, 

 when they may prove as tedious as the leg of the course that is directly 

 downwind. 



Some races, due to geographic reasons, can't be sailed over a triangle. 

 Such courses may be modified triangular or a variation of the windward- 

 leeward courses. But should you ever have anything to do with arrange- 

 ment of a course, remember that the most successful sailboat races are 

 sailed for the benefit of the skippers. It's the one sport in which the 

 spectator isn't considered and a great many of the biggest regattas are 

 held far away from shore solely with the idea of making the race a fair 

 test of skill and not a matter of knowing all the little slants and vagaries 

 of winds and currents along the shore. Sailboat races are to be won by 

 fair sailing and superior seamanship, and the idea is to give the visitors 

 every possible chance at fair sailing. 



RACING RULES 



Racing rules were invented to keep boats out of trouble with their 

 competitors. Therefore, make certain that you know your class and right- 

 of-way racing rules thoroughly so that you won't be disqualified before 

 you even start, or lose valuable ground having to ponder these rules 

 during the race. A complete set of the Racing Rules of the International 

 Yacht Racing Union may be obtained for a small fee from the North 

 American Yacht Racing Union, 37 West 44th Street, New York 36, New 

 York. Class rules can be obtained from the secretary of the class. By 



