The boat hook: We only do it in really light winds 0-4 knots, were talking glassy water on the lake. It's a cinch do undo and it's a cinch to hold.
We do sail under US Sailing rules and there are no stipulation whatsoever about the length of the pole, it's attachment to the mast, or position of the crew as long as we are inside the lifelines. I'm not trying to argue against local rules as I have seen rules for other areas on the web where there were mentions of attachment to the mast etc. On the lake, we don't use local interpretation of the rules, we go strictly by the US Sailing / ISAF document. Here's the actual rule from the ISAF 2013- 2016 document: Rule 50.3 Use of Outriggers (a) No sail shall be sheeted over or through an outrigger, except as permitted in rule 50.3(b) or 50.3(c). An outrigger is any fitting or other device so placed that it could exert outward pressure on a sheet or sail at a point from which, with the boat upright, a vertical line would fall outside the hull or deck. For the purpose of this rule, bulwarks, rails and rubbing strakes are not part of the hull or deck and the following are not outriggers: a bowsprit used to secure the tack of a sail, a bumkin used to sheet the boom of a sail, or a boom of a boomed headsail that requires no adjustment when tacking. (b) Any sail may be sheeted to or led above a boom that is regularly used for a sail and is permanently attached to the mast from which the head of the sail is set. (c) A headsail may be sheeted or attached at its clew to a spinnaker pole or whisker pole, provided that a spinnaker is not set. Important part being part "C" Spinnaker pole or whisker pole but no mention of it's description, attachment, or position of the crew. I guess someone could argue that a boat hook is not a proper whisker pole. Quite a few of us do it on the lake and no one cares. As long a I don't get a protest: In 0-3 knots I don't see any great danger, you can hold it one handed.. It's simply a matter of convenience and ease of use. Also it's much quicker / easier to change the depth / angle of a portable pole instead of a heavy thing attached to the mast, especially in extremely light winds where any sudden move of the crew can upset the sailplan and kill your ever so slight apparent wind. Just to be clear, here's the actual rule on the crew: CREW POSITION; LIFELINES 49.1 Competitors shall use no device designed to position their bodies outboard, other than hiking straps and stiffeners worn under the thighs. 49.2 When lifelines are required by the class rules or the sailing instructions they shall be taut, and competitors shall not position any Part 4 OTHER REQUIREMENTS WHEN RACING 28 part of their torsos outside them, except briefly to perform a necessary task. On boats equipped with upper and lower lifelines, a competitor sitting on the deck facing outboard with his waist inside the lower lifeline may have the upper part of his body outside the upper lifeline. If the class rules do not specify the material or minimum diameter of lifelines, they shall comply with the corresponding specifications in the ISAF Offshore Special Regulations. No mention of holding sails or anything else.. As I learned racing my Mustang.. Reading the rules very carefully and knowing how to interpret them in a fair is just another item on the long list of what makes the difference between the guy out front and the rest.. Here are the rules: http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/ISAFRRS20132016Final-[13376].pdf -Francois Rivard 1990 34+ "Take Five" Lake Lanier, GA
_______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are greatly appreciated!
