In the Zone – a third of a second sooner

I got the new rule book and after a cursory examination I read that the “zone” around marks and obstructions has been increased to three lengths. Great. So since a boat going twenty knots travels a tad over 33 feet in a second, we now have a third of a second longer to claim or deny that overlap. It seems to me that in foiling conditions Rule 18 is close to completely useless. How about 18.4: “When an inside overlapped right-of-way boat must gybe at a mark to sail her proper course, until she gybes she shall sail no farther from the mark than needed to sail that course.” How may folks postpone their gybe for a second or two (or five?) Well, at 20 knots five seconds is 15 boatlengths. I’m glad that we are all cognizant of seamanlike boat handling and understand the limitations of our fellow competitors. Personally when approaching the wing mark at speed, I’m “about to round” halfway down the leg. Mentally it takes me that much time to prepare for a smooth turn. On Try-Foil, crash tacks and gybes inevitably end in a capsize. So, please, give me just a little more time.

Give Me Just a Little More Time, by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland. (1970), covered by Kylie Minogue (1992)

Chorus:
Give me just a little more time
And our love will surely grow
Give me just a little more time
And our love will surely grow

Life's too short to make a mistake
Let's think of each other and hesitate
Young and impatient we may be
There's no need to act foolishly
If we part our hearts won't forget it
Years from now we'll surely regret it

[Chorus]

You're young and you're in a hurry
You're eager for love but don't you worry
We both want the sweetness in life
But these things don't come overnight
Don't give up cos love's been slow
Boy, we're gonna succeed with another blow

Give me just a little more time
And our love will surely grow
Baby please baby
Baby please baby

Love is that mountain we must climb
Let's climb it together your hand in mine
We haven't known each other too long
But the feeling I have is oh so strong
I know we can make it there's no doubt
We owe it to ourselves to find it out

Just,
[Chorus]

Give me just a little more time
And our love will surely grow
Baby, please baby
Baby, please baby

[Chorus]