Virtual Skipper

[Ezzy]

There seems to be a problem with penalties. I'm doing the campaign, but quite often I will, for example, lee-bow the computer boat, and I'm lifting up into them, but when they don't tack away and there is contact, the penalty is on me????

[Camster]

If you luff with too much helm on, you will get a Pen 16.1. Or if you make contact too soon after acquiring you right of way, you will get a Pen 15.

The best rules tutorial I know of is here

http://game.finckh.net/indexe.htm

Get a set of the rules themselves here:

http://www.sailing.org/racingrules.php
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Sandy

[kiwi_bardy]

The way the game applies 16.1 and 15 are often seen as a little quirky when you first get into the game. It's just the way it is, and the best thing to do is learn how the game applies these rules (and the other rules) and just accept that that is how the VSK rules apply and sail accordingly.

With 16.1 and rule 15 what the game seems to do is apply a 3 second window from when that rule begins to apply... any contact during that 3 seconds is a 16.1 or 15 pen to the boat concerned.

Classic example:

You are on starboard, sailng upwind, hard on the wind. A port tack boat attempts to cross you, but isn't going to make it. At the last minute you alter course to leeward to avoid hitting them near their stern. If you hit them, it is a 16.1 penalty to you. (unless you began changing course more than 3 seconds before the impact).

Note that every additional time you alter course the 3 second clock begins again... (i.e. if you change course from 0 degrees rudder to 5 degrees rudder, 3 seconds starts then. If after 1 second you alter course again to 10 degrees rudder, a new 3 second period begins.)

The game does not apply rule 14 at all.

What this means is in a situation such as the one above, as the starboard tack boat, either:

( a ) do NOT touch your rudder at all

or

( b ) bear away early and bear away enough so that there is NO CHANCE of a collision.

It's not a perfect implementation of the ISAF rules, but it is how it is. It isn't going to change any time soon. Accept it and sail accordingly, or keep getting pens and getting frustrated.

The same applies with rule 15. From the moment you become the right of way boat, any contact in the next 3 seconds will be a rule 15 penalty to you.

[Richard James]

Thank You, Kiwi.
That is one of the most helpful replies I have read here to date!
It explains many mysteries on how the RRS are handled in VSK5.

Bravo...
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If you can't ride it, fly it or sail it, whats the point?