Mastering the 2009-2012 Rules John Doerr

Are the rules important? PERFORMANCE Are the rules important? BEHAVIOUR & CULTURE

Focus on Part 2 - Thinking about…..? Situation Options Rules Facts

The rules need to be used together with tactics and execution skills The Rules in Context Knowing the rules alone will not win races May avoid losing some! The rules need to be used together with tactics and execution skills

What do the rules (when boats meet) actually require a boat to do? Focus on Part 2 What do the rules (when boats meet) actually require a boat to do? Keep Clear Give room Sail Proper Course Not interfere/ avoid

The Red Light (Keep Clear) Rules 10 - Port/Starboard 11 - Windward/Leeward 12 - Astern/Ahead 13 - Tacking 19.2(c) Continuing Obstructions 21 - Returning to start, Penalties, Backwards Between any two boats, one must ‘keep clear’ Imagine, that boat has its red light on The red light switches instantly as the keep clear boat (and hence right-of-way) changes

But this can lead to a problem! As the right-of-way changes instantly, a new give-way boat can find herself in an impossible situation. This is solved in the rules, by introducing the concept of ‘room’. However, when a boat is entitled to room, there is no change of right of way - the red light stays where it is.

The Amber Light (Give Room) Rules 15 – Acquiring right of way 16 – Right of way changing course 18 – Passing Marks 19 - Passing Obstructions 20 – Responding to call for ‘Room to Tack’ Sometimes a boat must give room Imagine that boat has a Amber light on The Amber light only stays on for a limited time.

The Need to Give Room In each of these cases, the right-of-way boat must give (mark) room, but the right-of-way does not change - the red light is not switched.

Summary So Far First, we use the keep clear (red light) rules to determine which boat has right-of-way. Then, we use the give room (amber light) rules to determine if a boat must give room. Keep these two steps separate and in order Just because a boat is entitled to room, she does not have right-of-way.

How the Red & Amber lights work

Which rules restrict the course a boat sails? Focus on Part 2 Which rules restrict the course a boat sails? 17 – Not above a proper course 18.4 – Inside boat gybing at a mark

Which rules require avoidance/non interference Focus on Part 2 Which rules require avoidance/non interference (if possible rules) 14 – contact 22 – capsized boat (shall not hinder) 23.1 – boat racing when you are not (in the course area) 23.2 – boats taking penalties or on another leg

Focus on Part 2 Structure RRS Part 2 Keep Clear Give Room Proper Course Avoid/Interfere (if possible) 10 - Port/Starboard 11 - Windward/Leeward 12 - Astern/Ahead 13 - Tacking 19.2(c) - Overlap at continuing obstruction 21.1 - Returning to start, 21.2 - Penalties, 21.3 - Backwards 15 – Acquiring right of way 16 – Right of way changing course 18 – Passing marks 19 - Passing obstructions 20 – Responding to call for ‘Room to Tack’ 17 – Not above a proper course 18.4 – Inside boat gybing at a mark 14 – contact 22 – capsized boat (hindering) 23.1– boat racing when you are not (in course area) 23.2 – boats taking penalties or another leg Other Rule 18.3 - Tacking at Windward Mark

Rule 18 Part 2: Rule 18 - Passing Marks The zone is 3 hull lengths (unless changed in SI) Applies as first boat enters the zone

Mark- Room Mark Room (Definition) - 2 phases. Room to sail to the mark (seamanlike direct course to the mark) Room to sail her proper course while at the mark (including tacking, gybing)

Rule 18 - Marks If you are the outside boat you must give room unless: You were ahead at the three length zone (when about to round), have not sailed out of the zone, and neither boat has passed head to wind [18.2(b & c)] Yellow is not entitled to room as she was clear astern when Blue entered the zone.

Rule 18 - Marks If you are the outside boat you must give room unless: You were ahead at the three length zone (when about to round), have not sailed out of the zone, and neither boat has passed head to wind [18.2(b & c)] Yellow is entitled to room inside Red because Red sailed out of the zone and Yellow was overlapped when she re-entered

Rule 18 - Marks If you are the outside boat you must give room unless: You were ahead at the three length zone (when about to round), have not sailed out of the zone, and neither boat has passed head to wind [18.2(b & c)] Blue looses all entitlement to room as soon as she passes head to wind. She must keep clear while tacking.

Rule 18 - Marks If you are the outside boat you must give room unless: You were unable to give room from the time the overlap began [18.2(e)] Yellow is fast and establishes on overlap on Blue before the zone. However, Blue is unable to give the room and so Yellow is not entitled to room.

Rule 18 - Marks If you are the outside boat you must give room unless: You were the inside boat when you entered the zone and have not sailed out of the zone [18.2(b & c)] Blue was outside when Yellow entered the zone, so she is not entitled to mark-room. Yellow may risk breaking rule 18.4.

Rule 18 - Marks There are times when rule 18 does not apply, so, an outside boat does not have to give room. You are on opposite tacks on a beat [18.1(a)] Yellow is not entitled to room. This is just a port-starboard situation.

Rule 18 - Marks There are times when rule 18 does not apply, so, an outside boat does not have to give room. one but not both have to tack [18.2(b)] Even if the boats have over-stood the mark so they are no longer on a beat, Yellow is still not entitled to room

Rule 18 - Marks There are times when rule 18 does not apply, so, an outside boat does not have to give room. You are approaching a starting mark surrounded by navigable water, to start [Section C - preamble] Approaching the line to start, Yellow is not entitled to room to pass the committee boat starting mark.

Rule 18 - Marks - Summary If you are the outside boat you must give room unless: You were ahead at the three length zone (when about to round). You were unable to give room from the time the overlap began. You were the inside boat when you entered the zone and have not sailed out of the zone. You are on opposite tacks on a beat You are opposite tack and one, but not both boats must tack to round the mark You are approaching the starting line to start.

Rule 18.3 Rule 18.3 - Tacking at marks, is affected by the 3LZ but also now applies when the tacking boat changes tack in the zone. (Used to be completes her tack) Fetching - A boat is fetching a mark when she is in a position to pass to windward of it and leave it on the required side without changing tack.

Rule 18.3 Rule 18.3 - Tacking at marks, is affected by the 3LZ but also now applies when the tacking boat changes tack in the zone. (Used to be completes her tack) Even though Blue tacked well clear of Yellow, she broke rule 18.3 when she caused Yellow to sail above close-hauled.

Rule 19 - Obstructions If you are the outside boat you must give room unless: You were unable to give room from the time the overlap began [19.2(b)] Blue has just established an overlap. Yellow only has to give room if she is now able to do so. There is no zone at obstructions

Rule 19 - Obstructions If you are the outside boat you must give room unless: You are on opposite tacks and sailing less than ninety degrees from the wind [Definition of Overlap] Blue is sailing less than 90 deg to the true wind, so is not entitled to room.

Rule 19 - Obstructions If you are the outside boat you must give room unless: You are on opposite tacks and sailing less than ninety degrees from the wind [Definition of Overlap] Blue is sailing more than 90 deg to the true wind, so is entitled to room.

Rule 19 - Obstructions If you are the outside boat you must give room unless: Passing a continuous obstruction and the boat astern established the overlap when there was no room to pass in safety [19.2(c). When Blue established the overlap there was no room for her to pass in safety. She is not entitled to room and remains the boat required to keep clear

Rule 19 - Obstructions - Summary If you are the outside boat you must give room unless: You were unable to give room from the time the overlap began [19.2(b)] You are on opposite tacks and sailing less than ninety degrees from the wind [Definition of Overlap] Passing a continuous obstruction and the boat astern established the overlap when there was no room to pass in safety [19.2(c).] THERE IS NO ZONE AT OBSTRUCTIONS

Analysing a Situation The Diagram - Create a four step diagram of the incident Position at closest point Select the most useful (two) positions before the closest point. Positions as right-of-way changes or first boat enters the zone, for example Position soon after Which Rules Apply - At each step Identify which boats have to Keep Clear at each position Do any of the Give Room rules apply? Do either of the Proper Course rules apply? Has there been any Interference or Contact? Has a rule been broken - test questions: has the boat required to keep clear, caused the ROW to alter course or collide? has a boat required to give room failed to do so? has a restricted boat sailed above her proper course? has a boat interfered or had contact that could have been avoided? Should any boat be exonerated? rule 18.5 or 64.1(c) Did contact result in damage or injury? rule 14