Course Changes

Shorten Course or Change Course?

By Jere Woltz

During a race, the question may arise as whether to Shorten Course or to Change the Course.  The race committee must be vigilant for changes in wind velocity and direction, current, weather, and the time in which a race has to be finished to make the proper decision.  They must also know if the class rules for a class permit courses to be shortened.  Some classes, and regattas, permit a Course Change, but not a Shortened Course. What’s the difference between these two changes? 

Shorten Course (This term is used to describe how a race can be finished before sailing all of the legs as indicated by the RC at or before the warning signal.)

Reference:  RRS 32, the Race Signals and the US Sailing Race Management Handbook.

RRS 32.1 states five reasons that the RC may shorten the course or abandon a race after the starting signal.  Generally only three of the five reasons are involved with shortening course: foul weather, insufficient wind to finish within the time limit and any other reason directly affecting the safety or fairness of the competition.  RRS 32.1 also allows the shortening of the course so that other scheduled races may be sailed.

Shortening the course is a PRO’s decision based on his/her expertise and experience.  However, before making this decision the PRO should be familiar with the requirements of RRS 32 and feel comfortable that the reason for shortening the course is covered by one of the reasons listed.  Shortening course should be avoided unless half of the course has been completed.  A distance less than this indicate the sailing conditions have provided a poor contest and it may have been best to abandon the race.  Some one-design, PHRF, and Portsmouth Handicap classes find it undesirable to shorten a course since it is considered an unfair contest.  However, races can be started in favorable wind and several legs completed, then the wind begins to die quickly.  If the course is not shortened, a race that began and sailed in fair wind may be difficult to complete.  However, if the wind gradually dies during the race the PRO has the option to reduce the length of one or more legs of the course.  (See changing the Course)

RRS 32.2 states that when a course is shortened the finish line shall be at a rounding mark, between the mark and a staff displaying flag S; at a line that boats are required to cross at the end of each lap; at a gate between the gate marks.  The mark and the staff on which the S flag is displayed forms the finishing line and should be set the same width and squareness as it would have been for the expected finish line allowing for wind direction and current.  An orange flag may be flown below the S flag on the same staff, but is not required.

To shorten at a rounding mark the placement of the S flag is critical.  The definition of “finish” states in part “crosses the finishing line in the direction of the course from the last mark”.  If boats are to round the mark to port it is a good practice for the finish boat displaying S to be anchored so that as the boats approach the mark to round to port they will pass between the mark on their port side and the finish boat on their starboard side. 

Changing Course

Reference:  RRS 33, the Race Signals, RRS Appendix L, and the US Sailing Race Management Handbook.

Changing Course usually requires more equipment and personnel than Shortening Course.  Changing Course involves changing the compass bearing and/or the length of a leg or legs of the course.  It is normally performed in shifting and/or dying winds.  For example, during a recent Barcardi Cup Regatta for the Star class, a planned twelve-mile Olympic course had three course changes due to shifting and dying winds on Biscayne Bay.  Legs of the course were shortened (shrinking the course) and compass bearings were changed.  Course changes are usually made at windward and/or leeward rounding marks since these legs are sensitive to slight changes of wind direction.  Reaching legs generally are not as sensitive and course changes are not made at jibe (gybe) marks except in unusual situations.

As a rule of thumb, a shift in true wind of 10 degrees or more on coastal waters, and 15 degrees or more on inland waters would dictate a Course Change.  It is left to the judgment and experience of the race committee as to the length a leg should be shortened or lengthened.  In the 2005-2008 RRS rule 33 covering changing the next leg of the course was completely rewritten.  It is strongly suggested that all PROs ensure that all RC mark boat personnel be knowledgeable of the rule.  If the direction of a leg is to be changed the signal shall be flag C with repetitive sounds and either the new compass bearing OR show a “green triangle flag/board” for a change to starboard and a “red rectangular flag/board to change to port.  If the length is changed use a plus (+) sign to increase the length and a minus (-) sign to shorten the length.

RRS rule 33 (c) states that “Subsequent legs may be changed without further signaling to maintain the course shape.  When the change course signal is given at a windward or leeward mark, the race committee boat should be stationed above or to windward of a windward mark, and below or to leeward of a leeward mark.  The race committee boat needs to be in a position so the display board can be easily read by the competitors as they round the mark, and far enough away from the mark so there is no interference with the competitors.

A GPS is very helpful in changing courses, and is almost a necessity on long courses where the next mark cannot be seen.  In a Change Course operation, the race committee sets the new change mark as soon as practicable, but it does not need to be set at the time of the course change signal.  The original mark should be removed when all boats have rounded, however, with multiple fleets sailing on the same course be sure all boats required to round it have done so before removing it. The change mark must be a different shape, size, color, or design than the original one.  However, a black band can be placed around an original mark signifying it is a “new” mark. Changing the Course is covered in RRS 33.  Recommended wording covering optional procedures for changing the course are found in Appendix L.  It is a good idea that the selected option be included in the sailing instructions.  The change mark must be described in the sailing instructions.