WHAT’S MARINE SPORTS マリンスポーツとは

What are Marine Sports?

A marine sport is a sport that takes place on or in water. The types of activities include scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, bodyboarding, wakeboarding, kiteboarding, kite surfing, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), canoeing, kayaking, sail boating, water skiing, personal watercraft (PWC), fishing and more. New marine sports are also being created one after another. The range of activities varies from those that can be enjoyed on the beach with just one body to those that require equipment such as surfboards and diving gear, as well as boats such as yachts, kayaks, and PWCs, providing so many ways to enjoy depending on your location and budget.
Yanmar has a very close relationship with the sea. With extensive experience and technological prowess accumulated over the years, Yanmar is the provider of various products and services such as high-performing and high-quality marine engines, drive systems, and boat to the marine communities around the world. Especially in engine performance, which are often called 'heart of the boat', durability and reliability of our engines has been highly evaluated, and particularly Yanmar engines for sailboats have gained strong support from sailing enthusiasts across the globe as a top brand.

Sailing

There are many ways to enjoy racing and sailing far away on a boat that runs with the wind in its sails.

Windsurfing

This is a water sport in which the sail attached to the board catches the wind and glides nimbly on the water.

Sea Fishing

Fishing is a very popular ocean activity that can be enjoyed on the bank, rocky shore, or even out on the water in a boat or kayak.

Wakeboarding

A sport in which a board is used to glide over the towing waves of a running motorboat. Hold a rope with grips and have the boat pull you along.

Sailing

A sailboat is a boat that catches the wind with its sails. The exhilaration of sailing in the great outdoors has long been a favorite sport and leisure activity around the world. There are various types of sailboats, large and small. Small sailboats without ballast keels are called sailing dinghies, sailboats with ballast keels are called keelboats, and sailboats with equipment and living space to sail on the open sea are called sailing cruisers. It can be enjoyed in a variety of styles, alone or with friends.

In a two-person sailboat, the helmsman and crew support each other to race against the competitors.

  • Helmsman

    A member who is responsible for steering. Helmsman operates the rudder at the rear of the boat and is also responsible for adjusting the main sail. In sailing dinghies, it is often referred to as the skipper.

  • Crew

    Working at the front of the sailboat, they are in charge of lifting, lowering, and adjusting sails such as jibs and spinnakers, as well as balancing the boat by shifting their weight.

Sailing Race Basics

1. Start

The start of the sailing race is called standard 5 minutes start sequenced by a visual signal of the flag, and sound signals of the countdown. Generally, a warning signal is given 5 minutes before the start (mainly for class flag hoisting), a preparatory signal is given 4 minutes before the start (P flag hoisting), the P flag comes down 1 minute before the start, and the start is made when the class flag comes down.
The start line on the water is between the committee boat and the outer (mark buoy or boat), and the race kicks off by crossing it after the starting signal. Crossing the start line before the signal will be a recall (flying) and disqualified if the penalty is not taken according to the applicable rules. It is important to be able to cross the starting line on the water at the same time as the starting signal at the best speed.

2. Course

A typical course starts from downwind side to upwind side, and goes around a mark (buoy) set up upwind side, and race to the downwind mark or finish line. The number of legs (between marks) and the position of the marks can take many forms depending on the race.

3. Signal Flags

In sailing racing, the committee boat uses the international signal flag to notify the competitors of the rules and to give instructions to them.

The committee boat raising the starting signal flag

P Flag

Preparatory flag is up 4 minutes before the start. If the P flag is hoisted, the competitor can avoid disqualification (OCS) by recalling and going back to the inside of the starting line and starting again. If they do not return, they will be disqualified.

U Flag

In races where the U flag is up, recall will result in disqualification (UFD). However, if the start or race is redone, the disqualification will be rescinded.

Black Flag

In races where the black flag is up, recall will result in a disqualification (BFD). In this case, the disqualification will not be rescinded even if the start or race is redone.

P Flag/First Substitute Flag

If there is a recalled boat at the start when the P flag is hoisted, the X flag will be hoisted on the official boat. If too many boats are recalled, the first substitute flag will be hoisted, and a General Recall will be issued. The start will be redone and any recall penalties other than BFD will be canceled.

Answering Pennant flag and A flag

The answering pennant (AP) may be hoisted before the start. This means a postponement of the start. When the A flag comes up along with the answer flag, the race is over for the day.

Sailing Racing Highlights

1. Magnificent Nature

The speed of a sailboat varies greatly depending on the strength of the wind. On a wide race surface, where to run is one of the most important factors that can make the difference between winning and losing, as winds vary in strength and direction. Athletes compete in races while fully utilizing all five senses to grasp and predict changes in natural conditions, such as wind, waves, currents, and cloud movement. Sailing racing is a sport that is not only against other racers, but also nature.

2. Attack and Defense

Racing is also a highlight of a boat attack and defend against other boats. For example, if there are other boats on the windward side, they will not get good wind and will lose speed. In addition, the priority between other boats is defined in detail by the rules, so it is also an important strategy to use the rules well and how to keep an advantage over other boats.

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