The meetings go on, even out on the water. Saturday, while waiting for the wind to fill in, rules advisors Richard Slater (AUS, BMW ORACLE Racing), Dave Perry (USA, Victory Challenge) and Marco Mercuriali (ITA, Luna Rossa) gathered on a chase boat to continue trying to sort out the application of RRS 18.4 at the gate. The teams and umpires expect agreement on this sticky wicket before the CC's 15 March deadline. And, yes, you can always tell when sailors are having a rules or tactics discussion, in any language -- by the hands.
Regatta Director Dyer Jones has recently circulated Regatta Notice #58 to all teams listing the regatta officials who will serve during some or all of Act 13 and AC 32. RN 58 (.pdf file) is available here.
Recommendations and Next Steps from the summit meeting here in Valencia on rules and umpiring (see previous post) that concluded today:
1. Gate questions (NZL) -- broad recommendation: when a zone light comes on, thereafter that yacht can sail no higher than her proper course to one gate mark or the other. Question remains whether the yacht could change her mind and sail (a proper course) back to the other gate mark. Draft answers coming from Brad Dellenbaugh and Sally Burnett. Ump Call 39 needs to be reviewed as well.
2. Ump 20 (USA) -- accept, language being polished by Brad and Sally.
3. MR 8 (USA) -- accept, and MR 8 to be clarified or a Q&A to be issued accordingly.
4. Leebow Tacking (USA) -- Umpires will discuss whether positioning of ump boats can be improved; not much support for changing tack complete to a VMG (lower) angle, but umpires would discuss further.
5. AC 2007-16 (Act 12 NOR) -- accept in principle the CC racing rules working party (John Cutler's group) concept and language; Brad and Sally to polish the language. Question remains whether it needs to apply at a rounding mark.
6. AC 2007-17 (Act 12 NOR) -- extend through the Match, replacing (delete) Ump 6.
7. Q&As 8 and 10 (SWE) -- accept, and Brad and Sally will amend those Q&A's accordingly.
8. Application of RRS 13.2(Umpires) -- Brad and Sally will draft a new Q&A saying that 13.2 does not apply when the boom does not cross centerline (but the bottom third of the main has filled on the new tack -- gybe completion). See also AC 2007-06.
9. Other existing Q&A's and AC Calls will be reviewed by Brad and Sally but, at this point, no one is aware of other necessary changes.
10. Umpire Blog -- Brad will set up a blog on which future (and, if possible, the current) draft Q&As and Calls will be posted. All teams and umpires will be able to comment on the blog for others to see and react to. Check www.umpblog.blogspot.com for an example, though that may not be the final format or web address.
11. Umpire Signal System -- Brad and Sally to draft the USS addendum to the LVC Notice of Race, amending and updating Ump Notice 10 and the USS powerpoint presentation in accordance with discussions here. Feedback still needed from teams on whether "big problems" (when lights say black and the umpires' call is white) can be somehow fixed (by the umps on the water) or redressed (after the match by the Jury). See TFE email of 9 Feb.
12. Review/feedback from Brad and Sally on the above to come ASAP, but by Sat 17 Feb latest. Teams will have seven more days to give feedback back to all teams and the Umpires. Whether by email or blog Brad will advise. There may be one more reconciliation meeting in VLC on or about 1 March. Goal remains to have all finalized and published by 1 March.
The meeting is over, but the hard work continues in the Jury Room at the ACM Offices: Regatta Director Dyer Jones, umpire Sally Burnett and Chief Umpire Brad Dellenbaugh.
