The double standard of sailing etiquette: Why do some of us apply rules but resist exoneration

Sailing, at its core, is a sport of precision, tactics, and—crucially—fair play. Yet within club racing, an odd contradiction often emerges. Sailors who are quick to invoke regulations to their advantage often hesitate when the tables turn, reluctant to acknowledge their own infractions.

The phenomenon isn’t limited to newcomers. Experienced sailors who should know better sometimes wield rules as tools of dominance rather than as mechanisms of fairness. Those transitioning from dinghy racing may bring a more aggressive stance, believing their rule mastery grants them an upper hand. Others, through sheer habit, adopt an approach where enforcement becomes selective—a system that serves convenience rather than integrity.

Much of this is a product of club dynamics. With 80% plus of Model Yachting Association (MYA) members sailing predominantly at the club level, travel is limited and familiar patterns take hold. Cliques develop, behaviors solidify, and unwritten codes override official ones. What emerges is an environment where the social fabric of competition can sometimes trump formal rule enforcement.

Interestingly, parallels can be drawn from golf. There, camaraderie defines the post-match experience—results fade into irrelevance, but adherence to the rules remains fundamental. Miscreants are not merely frowned upon; they are called out, penalized, and, in extreme cases, banned. Golfers accept that fairness underpins the sport’s integrity.

Sailing should be no different. Banter and rivalry are part of the sport’s charm, but allowing habitual rule manipulation breeds resentment. Contact should necessitate a turn, not an argument. Shouting matches should be addressed swiftly, with a clear understanding that repeated breaches warrant intervention.

At the heart of it all, sailing remains a pastime, a pursuit of enjoyment rather than controversy. And if club-level competition truly is about fun, then surely the results—like the infractions—are best left on the water.

One of our best sailors Graham Bantock in 95 leading the way by doing a turn after an infringement at the 10r Nationals which he comfortably won.