Lunging for a wave
The situation
Trying to drop onto a wave on a reach, a sailor throws his body forward sharply and stops suddenly to jerk the boat ahead.
The question
Is that body-lunge (ooching) allowed?
The ruling
No. A sudden forward body movement stopped abruptly to drive the boat — ooching — is prohibited by rule 42.2(c). Like pumping and rocking, it propels the boat with the body instead of the wind and water. The only sanctioned way onto a wave is the rule 42.3(c) exception: one pull of the sail per wave or gust to start surfing or planing. Lunging the body to ooch forward is a clear rule 42 breach.
Throwing your body forward to jerk the boat onto a wave (ooching) breaks rule 42.2(c).
Opens the situation on the boat-length grid — scrub it and see exactly how the boats meet. Free, no account needed.
Rules cited
See the underlying rule: Rule 42 — Ooching.
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