Not really a new course, but a strong vote for the offset mark. The offset mark is the second mark located at least 100 ft from the windward mark, slightly downwind. The use of this mark helps avoid collisions at the windward mark, usually caused by boats jibing into the port tackers approaching the weather mark.

In the 1995 Hobie 17 Nationals at Long Beach, I was involved in a collision that would have been avoided with the offset mark. It cost me a new Wing . At the Nationals in Monterey in 2004, two Hobie 17's were destroyed because of a windward mark accident. See the latest Catamaran Sailor page 23 for a picture of one of the damaged boats. I was just ahead of the boats, and heard the collision. The other boat, received similar damage, as they were locked up, and wave action destroyed the second boat also. The safety boat responded quickly, and both sailors were extracted, and the boats towed ashore. This was another race with the favored approach on the port layline to the weather mark. An offset mark would have been used, but the water was quite deep, plus rough weather conditions.

Hopefully we will see more offset marks at future events.

Caleb Tarleton