With regard to the rules, I think there are several different reasons why people don't abide by them. Foremost is ignorance or misunderstanding of the rules. With regard to these people, there are those who genuinely want to learn them and others who incorrectly think they know them, and spend their time defending an untenable position. I like to think that I am among those who want and need to better understand the rules since it will enable me to be a more competitive sailor and better plan strategy.

The key rests in raising everyones' understanding and skill level to a higher level, without diminishing the "fun" quotient. Part of it is to actually protest an action not remedied during a race and discuss and resolve it after -- if and only if we can keep personalities out of it. We need to focus on the action and not the person committing the action. The problems arise when people get angry, resort to name calling and confrontation. We need to mold the mores of the club so that we avoid angry confrontation (which we don't have allot of), to one of considered learning. We have to move from unconsciously incompetent about the rules, to consciously competent. It has to be a part of each and every match.

Those that know the rules, need to explain it to those that don't, as well as the others racing who also may not know, after every race where an "interesting"infraction takes place -- even if the offending party rectified it with a 360 degree turn.

We have to make a commitment as a club to put as much emphasis on learning and abiding by the rules, as we do on building and sailing our boats -- especially if we intend to sail with other clubs and compete in national matches.