Are your roll tacks legal?

Rule 42 looks at propelling your boat in other ways than using wind and water. Roll tacks can often fall foul of this rule.
I highlight 3 common ways in which tacks could be considered to be outside of the racing rules of sailing and how to avoid breaching the rules.

[@PhilbyFavourites]

Ahh the old “no pumping rule”
If memory serves me correctly the windsurfers did away with this rule in the 80’s and the fit gits (and light weight) could glide across the surface in calm winds.

[@Andykerrsailtraining]

Not no pumping, limiting pumping to changes in direction. Unlimited pumping always put me off windsurf racing, just became about who could pump the most rather than strategy and tactics

[@CEJ48]

In practice it is very difficult to pove that a boat is faster exiting a tack and umpires rarely penalize on this basis alone.

[@Andykerrsailtraining]

I agree. Although they will definitely be looking out for delaying righting the boat after the tack and rolling the boat further after the tack is complete before righting it.

[@CEJ48]

@@Andykerrsailtraining true. Though it's probably worth noting that doing that will always be slower than righting immediately on exit anyway, provided you've pulled enough roll on.

[@connorgodfrey]

@@CEJ48 why would they focus on penalizing an unhelpful mistake?! r42 is broken in ILCAs (as is the fleet culture toward r42, I would argue after seeing some egregious stuff among podium finishers at NAs)

[@grantthompsontrades]

As a boat nerd, great video!

[@martinyable]

Thank you Andy

[@connorgodfrey]

it seems to me there is a wide gap between what is technically legal (this video), what judges look for at major ILCA regattas, and how the majority of the fleet at such regattas actually sail, each standard significantly looser than the prior. in reality, eg, every boat is accelerating out of tacks in light air, and its frankly hard not to with a half decent roll. perhaps the class should reexamine its relationship with r42 both in terms of enforcement practices as well as reexamining some interpretations (is getting stuck to leeward really helpful, or just arbitrarily penalizing slow form?)

[@erelocipe]

In my own personal opinion i think that these “no pumping rules” creates a bit of lazyness in some boats. Now people can easily sail some boats with just being overweight and not fit. It also doesnt invite young people at all to start sailing in some boats cos you’re not really using your body that much to speed up the boat.
If these rules would be less strict i think it would be way more fun and physically demanding especially down wind!

[@Andykerrsailtraining]

Interesting opinion. Kinetics, using your body weight to speed up the boat is a difficult skill and very much a part of sailing especially on the sea. Pumping is allowed in the rules and definitely in the tacks but there are limits and sailors need to become skilled at it to use it correctly.

[@SailingTeamTallyHo]

Well explained Andrew