Need to brush up on your rules?

Then insert this disc...

The days of sitting through rules post mortems after racing and digressing about that start and or that mark rounding with pen and paper or using the salt and pepper pots at the dinner table could be over. The American sail loft UK Sailmakers have devised a brilliant easy-to-use CD-ROM of rules quizs' demonstrated with animated races of all the usual protest scenarios and rule infringements, plus a comprehensive answer and explanation.

The Real Time Racing Rules Quiz (first edition) is the brainchild of UK Sailmaker President Charlie Ulmer and web wiz Tim Longow, who devised the graphics to demonstrate a rule question to Ulmer. "We believe this will appeal to all racers," UK Sailmakers’ Adam Loory explained to madfor sailing. "We have picked situations that are from everyday mark rounding and start line situations, the ones that you run into frequently."

The quizzes are currently available on the UK Sailmakers’ website but due to practical downloading times, only in a low-resolution form. The disc allows you to view the different scenarios in a high resolution (full screen), pause and re-start so you can really ponder the problem - who has right of way and which rules apply.

UK Sailmakers’ have paid a licence fee to The ISAF so the complete and latest Racing Rules of Sailing are on the disc and can be referred to at the click of a button. An updated quiz will be available in the future and those who initially subscribe to the disc for $40 (via UKSailmakers.com) will be able to receive updates at a discounted rate.

They aim to transfer the concept to VHS in the future.