Controls of water ballast valves

[SloopJohnB]

Can someone tell me if compressed air is allowed for controlling the gate valves ie opening & closing by air solenoid valves? Would this contravene the Racing Rules, "stored energy"?

The compressed air would be supplied from a dive bottle.

This would allow fulling, transferring & dumping of the water from the cockpit, without the need to go below to operate the valves, ideal for shorthanded sailing.


Also which is the best way for tacking with water ballast?

Dump the water before tacking, and then refull when on the new tack, or transfer the water to the leeward tanks before tacking.

Finally what is the best way to ballast up, scoop up, manual pump, electric pump or a pump driven off the motor?