Max Ebb — Nature vs Nurture
Never quote a racing rule without first taking a look to see what the rule actually says. They change the wording from time to time, and sometimes a subtle word substitution can alter the meaning. Also, your memory of the sacred text may not be entirely accurate, especially if you first studied the racing rules several versions ago. It’s best not to be surprised. I usually carry the US Sailing version of the Racing Rules of Sailing in the hard-copy booklet version, to help clue in my competitors during the usual post-race thrash, and to make sure I have it right. But this was easier to do some years ago, when US Sailing sent every member a new rulebook with each four-year revision. No more. Now you have to order the little book for $34.95.
Just last week I needed to resolve a common newbie misconception: It’s about the proper course of the leeward boat versus the windward boat, when two boats are overlapped, same tack, and the leeward boat came from astern. But all I had was the old rulebook. The new one had been ordered weeks ago, but not yet arrived. This was particularly unfortunate because the US Sailing website appeared to be down, so we could not check the rules online.
Can I see the bar copy of the rule book?” I asked Lee Helm, a graduate student who was moonlighting as the yacht club bartender that evening in return for tips and a free BBQ ticket.
“Bar copy not in yet,” she explained. “And like, I don’t know what’s with those old tars at US Sailing. Their site is down, and I even tried the voice line but just got a recording, even during East Coast biz hours.”
“I guess you didn’t hear,” another yacht club barfly explained, speaking loudly from three stools to my starboard. “The whole staff of US Sailing has been laid off by DOGE. No one’s minding the store back there.”