The fine art of barging a mark

[Alcan]

In sailboat racing, there are rules which specify who has the right of way. These rules change when rounding a mark. This rounding sequence was shot by one of our club members.

In this first shot, the green 31 footer and white 25 footer are approaching a mark, each trying to gain a tactical advantage:





In the far right, here we come. 22 footer, sail #334:





We didn't exactly have the right of way, but we figured they were busy duelling with each other and didn't see us. If there's a collision, we eat the damage:





It worked! We're the inside boat and didn't get hit! The mark is right at our bow in this shot. Now we have the right of way:





Now we're heading off to the next mark, leaving them both wondering what the h*ll just happened:



That's how small, slower boats can sometimes beat bigger, faster boats.