There's no mention of an onus anywhere in the RRS though it is implied in rule 18. My limited experience with protest committees tells me that, in the absence of an on-the-water judge, they're not going to allow a protest, assuming the parties are not in agreement over the circumstances, without evidence of a violation. I guess that puts the onus on the protestor.
In my experience you do what ever it takes to start in the front row. Timid, law abiding sailors start in the second or third, or fourth row.
So, you advocate cheating your a$$ off to get a front row start. How do you explain that to a junior sailor, perhaps your own son or daughter when ask your advice on starting or better yet, after explaining it, they question you on the legality of that ?
This is pretty simple.
Toss a few cheaters out, and the cheaters will stop cheating. You will also find out if the jury thinks it's cheating or not...
...This is where the sport has lost its integrity. Too many drivers out there that think its Nascar. Rubbin' ain't yacht racing folks....
It is hard to argue that this is not against the letter of the law. It propels the boat. If it didn't, no one would do it. Definitely illegal.
Having said that, no vaguely competent judge will ever penalise you for it, because like someone commented earlier, the judges are looking for the outliers, the extreme cases. They are not going to flag one person for doing something that 95% of the fleet is doing. Most of the time it's too hard for them to call on whether the sailor is rolling to windward to propel the boat, or simply pulling the boat flat. Until it becomes repetitive.
If fact, the ILCA interpretations of Rule 42 (http://www.laserinternational.org/information/rule42.htm) acknowledge this. These interpretations state that more than one roll at the start is prohibited, which implies that one roll is allowed (or at least that one roll isn't enough to get you flagged).
It is hard to argue that this is not against the letter of the law. It propels the boat. If it didn't, no one would do it. Definitely illegal.
That document makes it perfectly clear. One rock at the start is not cheating. I had not seen that page before, and thanks for posting its link.If fact, the ILCA interpretations of Rule 42 (http://www.laserinternational.org/information/rule42.htm) acknowledge this.
Since I first heard a judge stand before a gathered fleet of Laser sailors and make the "stroke of a paddle" comment, I have been tempted to go do EXACTLY as I asked permission to do in that first meeting.
Scenario:
I take a paddle with me and sail near the judges boat well before the race begins. I bring my boat to a stop. I make one full long stroke with that paddle.
I announce to the judges that I have just demonstrated the effect of one stroke of a paddle.
Then I sit as Tracy described on the starting line and do one of the following.
1. Make that same stroke just at the start and see if I can keep up. If I fail I protest.
2. Make the one stroke and shoot ahead...and get tossed.
2. Make only one half of the stroke ande base my claim that it was OK on the fact that cheating just is not cheating unless it propels the boat a full paddle stroke's worth
The paddle stroke concept / explanation / guideline is a bull crap cop out. We have always made various actions illegal based on the action itself...not on its effectiveness.
{ Exception:recently, hitting the weather mark and the related penalties has changed to include an " if you gained by whacking the mark" clause. I have never seen anyone tossed or anyone who retired because the yacht "gained by hitting the weather mark."
refocusing...Either rolling and pumping is illegal or it is not. The rules do not say. "IN-effective rolling and pumping is OK. Klutzes and those who don't understand physics may yank and rock "till they drop."
I think when a Judge opens his mouth and says "stroke of a paddle." you should always hear, "This clown is clueless and a danger to the game of Lasering."
Next time you hear someone say it, try to get him off the jury immediately.
In fact, what you should do with that judge after removing him / her from any position of authority...( not forever. Just for some remedial education)..
is...
Take that judge to a boat and teach that judge how boats work. You may have to show the judge how to paddle a Laser. You will enjoy watching the judge as the difficulty of holding the tiller with the toes while stroking a paddle over the side is reacognized for the first time.
It may take a few weeks or even months to teach the judge how to effectively pum0, ooch, rock and roll and generally develop a decent sense of which kinetics work to propel a Laser and how the moves are accomplished.
Then when the judge has learned how much SAILING SKILL is need to actually use kinetics, it will be fun to watch and listen while the judge tries to explain how proper use of kinetics is not sailing..Ask if it it is bowling, golf or maybe really part of football??
Ask "What is kinetics if it is not using the wind and water to propel the boat??
But I digress and rant...
Stroke your boat
Do it on a Laser
---snip---
So far I've noticed a trend in that the fat old geezers on this forum, the ones that can't keep up, physically, like to bitch and moan about this and call anyone who's ever had a good start a cheater. If you go back and look through all the posts on this topic, all those with ages posted above 35 are kinetics-naysayers.
If their is any "bull crap," it's only to be found in your comment.
1. I know some ISAF judges and they're all better sailors than you.
2. The rules are designed to make sailing fair and keep the sport interesting.
Everyone plays by the same set of rules and the ideas of rules governing kinetics, including the "paddle stroke," are a good way of making sure that physical prowess and athleticism are still a part of the sport while making sure that the sport doesn't digress into a race of kinetics. So far I've noticed a trend in that the fat old geezers on this forum, the ones that can't keep up, physically, like to bitch and moan about this and call anyone who's ever had a good start a cheater. If you go back and look through all the posts on this topic, all those with ages posted above 35 are kinetics-naysayers.
Yes, you may be right. But, I don't think it's because of our age or our fitness (or lack thereof). It's because of our integrity. The rule says you can't do it, so it doesn't get done. You young pups are being trained to "get away with whatever you can", and that's not sittin' well with me. My son is just starting juniors, in a 4.7 . I don't want him taught to be a "rule bender" (PC phrase for "cheater" since calling a spade a spade is no longer PC).all those with ages posted above 35 are kinetics-naysayers.