Coaching during the race
The situation
Struggling in fresh breeze, a sailor's coach motors alongside and shouts tactical advice — which way to go and when to tack.
The question
Is taking coaching or other outside help during a race allowed?
The ruling
No. Rule 41 forbids a boat from receiving help from an outside source while racing, with limited exceptions: help for someone ill, injured or in danger; help to get clear after a capsize or grounding; information freely available to all boats; and unsolicited information from a disinterested source. A coach shouting which way to go is outside help and breaks rule 41. Cheering is fine — live tactical coaching during the race is not.
No coaching or outside help while racing (rule 41) — except for safety, or to get clear after a capsize.
Opens the situation on the boat-length grid — scrub it and see exactly how the boats meet. Free, no account needed.
Rules cited
- Rule 41 — Outside Help