Backing the sail to hold position
The situation
Holding her spot on the line with twenty seconds to go, Bea pushes her boom out to back the sail, stopping the boat and even edging it backwards to keep a gap to leeward.
The question
Is backing the sail allowed, and does she have rights while moving astern?
The ruling
Backing the sail to slow or stop is a normal, legal start skill — it isn't prohibited propulsion. But while she is moving astern through the water by backing a sail, rule 21.3 (Moving Astern) makes her keep clear of a boat that is not. So she can hold station and back down, but she can't drift astern into the boat behind her and claim rights. (Wagging the tiller to scull the boat backwards would be a separate rule 42 problem.)
Back your sail to hold position all you like — but while moving astern you keep clear of everyone (rule 21.3).
Opens the situation on the boat-length grid — scrub it and see exactly how the boats meet. Free, no account needed.
Rules cited
- Rule 21.3 — Moving Astern
- Rule 42 — Propulsion