Question
The required penalties vary depending upon whether a boat is sailing 'to a windward
mark' or 'to a leeward mark'. Because a boat has sailed beyond a mark, or because
of a new wind direction, a boat could be sailing free to a mark that was intended
to be a windward mark, or sailing close-hauled to a mark that was intended to
be a leeward mark. What penalties are then required?
Answer
A boat is to be considered to be sailing to a windward mark or to a leeward
mark at all times when sailing to a mark that has been described in the sailing
instructions as a windward or leeward mark. The description could be expressed
in words, or shown by a diagram indicating wind direction, or by designating
marks as either ‘Mark W’ or ‘Mark L’.
In the usual match racing course configuration with two upwind and two downwind
legs, a boat sailing the first and third legs is considered to be sailing ‘to
a windward mark’, and when sailing the second leg is considered to be
sailing ‘to a leeward mark’, irrespective of the boat's heading
or the wind direction.
Because a boat may have sailed beyond a mark, or because of a new wind direction,
it would be possible for the boat to be sailing close-hauled yet be on ‘a
leg of the course to a leeward mark’, or be sailing free on ‘a leg
to a windward mark’.