We’re racing! We’re racing! Start show Start Section Main Menu

We’re racing! We’re racing! Start show Start Section Main Menu
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Let’s assume we’ve started. We’re getting close to another boat.
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Let’s assume we’ve started. We’re getting close to another boat. Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Let’s assume we’ve started. We’re getting close to another boat. If one of us doesn’t do something, we’ll collide. Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Let’s assume we’ve started. We’re getting close to another boat. If one of us doesn’t do something, we’ll collide. Let’s invent a rule: “Every boat shall avoid contact with every other boat”. Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Let’s assume we’ve started. We’re getting close to another boat. If one of us doesn’t do something, we’ll collide. Let’s invent a rule: “Every boat shall avoid contact with every other boat”. Perhaps that’s not going to work…so we need some better rules. Main Menu Section Start

Safety when two boats meet • One of them must keep clear
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Safety when two boats meet • One of them must keep clear • The other has right of way, but her freedom to manoeuvre is restricted • But if the keep-clear boat does not avoid contact, the right-of-way boat must try to do so • Applies to both • the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) and … • the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCAS) As will be seen, as between two boats, EITHER the RRS OR (sometimes) the IRPCAS will apply – but not both Main Menu Section Start

Italics mean a defined word or term
Start show Start Section We’re racing! When boats meet – it has to be easy for both to know which one must keep clear. Just three criteria: Which tack is each boat on? Are they on the same tack or on opposite tacks? Are they overlapped? So whenever two boats meet, it has to be easy for each boat to know whether she has right of way or must keep clear. For sailboats, you only need to know three things to decide which is which in most circumstances. What tack is each boat on? Are the boats on the same tack or on opposite tacks? Are they overlapped? In this presentation, a word in italics has a precise definition in the Racing Rules. Italics mean a defined word or term Main Menu Section Start

How do you decide which tack a boat is on? Tack is a defined term
Start show Start Section We’re racing! How do you decide which tack a boat is on? Tack is a defined term Tack, Starboard or Port A boat is on the tack, starboard or port, corresponding to her windward side. Leeward and Windward A boat’s leeward side is the side that is or, when she is head to wind, was away from the wind. However, when sailing by the lee or directly downwind, her leeward side is the side on which her mainsail lies. The other side is her windward side… So whenever two boats meet, it has to be easy for each boat to know whether she has right of way or must keep clear. For sailboats, you only need to know three things to decide which is which in most circumstances. What tack is each boat on? Are the boats on the same tack or on opposite tacks? Are they overlapped? In this presentation, a word in italics has a precise definition in the Racing Rules. Main Menu Section Start

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?
We’re racing! Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat? W - windward L - leeward Main Menu Section Start

We’re racing! Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat? And so which tack is she on? W - windward L - leeward Main Menu Section Start

Head to wind but still on same tack
We’re racing! Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat? And so which tack is she on? Head to wind but still on same tack W - windward L - leeward Main Menu Section Start

By the lee, but still on the same tack
We’re racing! Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat? And so which tack is she on? By the lee, but still on the same tack W - windward L - leeward Main Menu Section Start

We’re racing! Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat? And so which tack is she on? Head to wind but still on same tack By the lee, but still on the same tack W - windward L - leeward Main Menu Section Start

We’re racing! Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat? And so which tack is she on? Head to wind but still on same tack By the lee, but still on the same tack Head to wind but still on same tack W - windward L - leeward Main Menu Section Start

Are they on the same tack or on opposite tacks? Are they overlapped?
Start show Start Section We’re racing! When boats meet – it has to be easy for both to know which one must keep clear. Just three criteria: 1. Which tack is each boat on? Are they on the same tack or on opposite tacks? Are they overlapped? Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap One boat is clear astern of another when her hull and equipment in normal position are behind a line abeam from the aftermost point of the other boat’s hull and equipment in normal position. The other boat is clear ahead. They overlap when neither is clear astern. However, they also overlap when a boat between them overlaps both. These terms always apply to boats on the same tack. They do not apply to boats on opposite tacks unlesss rule 18 applies or both boats are sailing more than ninety degrees from the true wind. Main Menu Section Start

We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap
Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Is one of these same-tack boats clear astern of the other? Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Is one of these same-tack boats clear astern of the other? YES – All of Blue is behind Yellow’s ‘transom line. So they are not overlapped Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Is one of these same-tack boats still clear astern of the other? Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Is one of these same-tack boats still clear astern of the other? No, some of Blue is ahead of Yellow’s ‘transom line’. So they are overlapped. Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Is one of these same-tack boats still clear astern of the other? No, some of Blue is ahead of Yellow’s ‘transom line’. So they are overlapped. Technically, a line abeam from the aftermost point of hull AND equipment, which would include a transom-mounted rudder. Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Is one of these same-tack boats clear astern of the other? No, some of Yellow is ahead of Blue’s ‘transom line’. So they are still overlapped. Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Is one of these same-tack boats clear astern of the other? Yes, all of Yellow is now clear astern of Blue’s ‘transom line’. The overlap has ended. Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap One boat is clear astern of another when her hull and equipment in normal position are behind a line abeam from the aftermost point of the other boat’s hull and equipment in normal position. The other boat is clear ahead. Equipment that is NOT in its normal position cannot create an overlap. For example: a spinnaker allowed to fly forwards by freeing its halyard a retractable ‘sprit’ that is extended when there is no immediate intention of setting a gennaker If a boat astern with such equipment in an abnormal position is catching the boat ahead, then: No overlap until the first piece of hull, or equipment in normal position (such as the spinnaker pole) crosses the transom line and so ( in the case of the spinnaker) the overlap will happen later than if the equipment had been in its normal position Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap One boat is clear astern of another when her hull and equipment in normal position are behind a line abeam from the aftermost point of the other boat’s hull and equipment in normal position. The other boat is clear ahead. Equipment that is NOT in its normal position cannot create an overlap. For example: a spinnaker allowed to fly forwards by freeing its halyard a retractable ‘sprit’ that is extended when there is no immediate intention of setting a gennaker Similarly: a ‘spinnaker-only’ overlap will end if the spinnaker halyard is eased to make the sail fly forwards a ‘sprit-only’ overlap will end if the gennaker is removed but the sprit is left extended if that is not its normal position at that time Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Is any part of Yellow behind Blue’s ‘transom line’? Is any part of Blue behind Yellow’s ‘transom line?’ Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Is any part of Yellow behind Blue’s ‘transom line’? Is any part of Blue behind Yellow’s ‘transom line’? No – so neither is clear astern, so they are overlapped Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Is any part of Yellow behind Blue’s ‘transom line’? Is any part of Blue behind Yellow’s transom line? Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Is any part of Yellow behind Blue’s ‘transom line’? Is any part of Blue behind Yellow’s transom line? No – so neither is clear astern, so they are overlapped Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Is any part of Yellow behind Blue’s ‘transom line’? Is any part of Blue behind Yellow’s transom line? Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Is any part of Yellow behind Blue’s ‘transom line’? Is any part of Blue behind Yellow’s transom line? No – so neither is clear astern, so they are overlapped Each pair is on the same tack, and the term overlap ‘always applies to boats on the same tack.’ (Definition Overlap) Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Are Yellow and Blue overlapped? No. The term does not apply to opposite tack boats sailing to windward and away from marks The terms Clear Astern, Clear Ahead and (especially) Overlap ‘do not apply to boats on opposite tacks unless rule 18 applies or both boats are sailing more than 90 degrees from the true wind.’ (See definition) Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Are Yellow and Blue overlapped? Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Are Yellow and Blue overlapped? Technically YES, because the definition Overlap says that the term applies to boats sailing more than ninety degrees from the wind. However, in open water, this fact has no further significance in the rules. BLUE on port must keep clear of YELLOW on starboard. The 2009 rules describe these boats as ‘overlapped’. This is not very helpful, because it has no relevance away from marks and obstructions. It is only under rules 18, Mark-Room and 19, Room to Pass an Obstruction, that the overlapped status of opposite-tack downwind boats becomes relevant, as in the following slides Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Are Yellow and Blue overlapped? Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Are Yellow and Blue overlapped? Yes, even though they are on opposite tacks, both because rule 18, Mark-Room, applies, and also because they are both sailing more than ninety degrees from the true wind. In this case, BLUE on port still has to keep clear of YELLOW on starboard, but rule 18 puts a limitation on YELLOW, which will have to give mark-room. Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Is Blue clear ahead of Yellow? IS Yellow clear astern of Blue? The terms Clear Astern and Clear Ahead do not apply to boats on opposite tacks away from marks and obstructions. This situation is resolved by rule 10 that deals with opposite-tack boats, and not by rule 12 that deals with same-tack boats where one is clear astern of the other. The terms Clear Astern, Clear Ahead and (especially) Overlap ‘do not apply to boats on opposite tacks unless rule 18 applies or both boats are sailing more than 90 degrees from the true wind.’ (See definition), which is not the case here. Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap Is Blue clear ahead of Yellow? IS Yellow clear astern of Blue? YES. The terms Clear Astern and Clear Ahead apply to opposite-tack boats when rule 18 applies, or when both boats are sailing more than ninety degrees from the wind. Both of these criteria make this a clear-ahead / clear-astern situation. As we will see, BLUE on port still has to keep clear of YELLOW on starboard, but rule 18 requires clear-astern YELLOW to give mark-room to clear-ahead BLUE The terms Clear Astern, Clear Ahead and (especially) Overlap ‘do not apply to boats on opposite tacks unless rule 18 applies or both boats are sailing more than 90 degrees from the true wind.’ (See definition). Here, the terms Clear Ahead and Clear Astern apply, for the purposes of entitlement to room. Main Menu Section Start

Italics mean a defined word or term
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Italics mean a defined word or term Three Main Rules When boats are on opposite tacks, a port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard-tack boat. (Rule 10) When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat. (Rule 11) When boats are on the same tack, and NOT overlapped, a boat clear astern shall keep clear of a boat clear ahead. (Rule 12) Keep Clear One boat keeps clear of another if the other can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action and, when the boats are overlapped on the same tack, if the leeward boat can change course in both directions without immediately making contact with the windward boat. So we now know which tack we are on, and whether we are overlapped or clear ahead / clear astern. Using only these two variables, we can construct three main right-of-way rules. It’s important to note that these three main rules address themselves only to the boat that has to keep clear (the ‘keep-clear’ boat or ‘give-way’ boat). These three main rules put no obligations or limitations on the right-of-way boat. As we will see later, there are other rules that do so. Let’s go back to the situation we started with. From now on, green boats are (or were) on starboard tack, and red boats are (or were) on port tack. Main Menu Section Start

We’re racing! Definition, Keep Clear
Start show Start show Start Section We’re racing! Definition, Keep Clear Is RED keeping clear of GREEN? What is the test for rule 10? When boats are on opposite tacks, the test is whether GREEN, the starboard-tack right-of-way boat, ‘can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action’. Can you make that judgement from this diagram? FACTORS Wind and weather Size and manoeuvrability of the boats Speed of boats, and are speeds different? Eye contact between helms Hail from RED that she will duck – and a duck! Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start show Start Section We’re racing! Definition, Keep Clear Is RED keeping clear of GREEN? What is the test for rule 10? When boats are on opposite tacks, the test is whether GREEN, the starboard-tack right-of-way boat, ‘can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action’. Can you make that judgement from this diagram? FACTORS Wind and weather Size and manoeuvrability of the boats Speed of boats, and are speeds different? Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Keep Clear Is BLUE keeping clear of YELLOW? What is the test for rule 12? When boats are on the same tack but not overlapped, the test is still whether YELLOW, the right-of-way boat, can ‘sail her course with no need to take avoiding action.’ Can you make that judgement from this diagram? FACTORS Wind and weather Size and manoeuvrability of the boats Is BLUE closing on YELLOW? Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Keep Clear In all these cases – opposite tacks, or same tack, not overlapped - the test is whether the right-of-way boat, can ‘sail her course with no need to take avoiding action’. So it’s not just a question of what the keep-clear boat is doing. Rather, it’s the effect of the keep-clear boat’s actions on the right-of-way boat. Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Keep Clear Is BLUE keeping clear of YELLOW? What is the test? The test is first whether YELLOW, the right-of-way boat, can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action. If their courses are parallel, even if BLUE is close, YELLOW can sail her course. Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Keep Clear Is BLUE keeping clear of YELLOW? What is the test? The test is first whether YELLOW, the right-of-way boat, can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action. If their courses are parallel, even if BLUE is close, YELLOW can sail her course. But as they are overlapped on the same tack, the test is secondly whether the leeward boat can change course (hypothetically) in BOTH directions without immediate contact. Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Keep Clear Is BLUE keeping clear of YELLOW? What is the test? …the test is secondly whether the leeward boat can change course (hypothetically) in BOTH directions without immediate contact. If YELLOW were to luff, there may be contact, but probably not immediately. So BLUE passed that part of the test. Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Keep Clear Is BLUE keeping clear of YELLOW? What is the test? …the test is secondly whether the leeward boat can change course (hypothetically) in BOTH directions without immediate contact. If YELLOW were to luff, there may be contact, but probably not immediately. So BLUE passed that part of the test. But if YELLOW were to bear away, and there would be contact, it is more likely to be immediate. If that’s what a protest committee thinks, then BLUE was not initially keeping clear. Main Menu Section Start

Rule 10 - On Opposite Tacks
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 10 - On Opposite Tacks When boats are on opposite tacks, a port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard tack boat. Which boat would you prefer to be? Which boat would you prefer to be? Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 10 - On Opposite Tacks When boats are on opposite tacks, a port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard tack boat. Which boat you prefer to be? Which boat would you prefer to be? Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 10 - On Opposite Tacks When boats are on opposite tacks, a port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard tack boat. Which boat would you prefer to be? Which boat would you prefer to be? Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 10 - On Opposite Tacks When boats are on opposite tacks, a port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard tack boat. Which boat would you prefer to be? Tactically, it’s usually best to be the right-of-way boat So we use the rules not just for safety, but also to gain tactical advantages. Which boat would you prefer to be? Main Menu Section Start

Rule 11 - On the Same Tack, Overlapped
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 11 - On the Same Tack, Overlapped When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat. In all these pairs, YELLOW is an overlapped windward boat and must keep clear. Main Menu Section Start

We’re racing! SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
Start show Start Section We’re racing! SPOT THE DIFFERENCE BLUE and YELLOW overlapped on the same tack (port). YELLOW keeps clear. (NB a boat running on port has very few rights) RED is on port tack, but GREEN is on starboard tack. RED keeps clear. Main Menu Section Start

Rule 12 - On the Same Tack, Not Overlapped
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 12 - On the Same Tack, Not Overlapped When boats are on the same tack, and NOT overlapped, a boat clear astern shall keep clear of a boat clear ahead. YELLOW is the keep-clear boat in both cases. Main Menu Section Start

We’re racing! Rule 13 - While Tacking
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 13 - While Tacking After a boat passes head to wind, she shall keep clear of other boats until she is on a close-hauled course. During that time rules 10, 11 and 12 do not apply. If two boats are subject to this rule at the same time, the one on the other’s port side or the one astern shall keep clear. ‘Tacking’ is not a defined. The word in the rule title is used in its general sense of going from one tack to the other. However, the words of the rule itself apply to only a part of this action, from when a boat passes head to wind until she is on a close-hauled course. Her sails need not be full at that moment. During that time, a boat shall keep clear of other boats. The previous three rules (10, 11, 12) don’t apply at that time. A tacking boat is always on one tack or the other. The tack changes when passing head to wind. There is an exception to these three main rules. They do not apply when a boat, while tacking, has passed head to wind, until she reaches a closed-hauled course, because rule 13 says so. NB. Rule 13’s title is ‘While Tacking’, but tacking is not a defined term. Rule 13 applies during the process of tacking from one tack to the other, but NOT while luffing from close-hauled to head-to-wind only - after a boat has passed head to wind. Rule 13 stops applying when a boat has reached a close-hauled course, and rules 10, 11 or 12 take over, even if the boat that tacks continues to bear away past the point of a close-hauled course, or even if she is then stationary. Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! So Rule 13 suspends the three main rules when a boat has passed head to wind but is not yet on a close-hauled course There is an exception to these three main rules. They do not apply when a boat, while tacking, has passed head to wind, until she reaches a closed-hauled course, because rule 13 says so. NB. Rule 13’s title is ‘While Tacking’, but tacking is not a defined term. Rule 13 applies during the process of tacking from one tack to the other, but NOT while luffing from close-hauled to head-to-wind only - after a boat has passed head to wind. Rule 13 stops applying when a boat has reached a close-hauled course, and rules 10, 11 or 12 take over, even if the boat that tacks continues to bear away past the point of a close-hauled course, or even if she is then stationary. Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Two boats that have passed head to wind but are neither yet close-hauled There’s then an exception to the exception – when two boats have both passed head to wind but have not yet reached a close-hauled course, the boat ‘on the right’ is ‘in the right’. Does NOT apply if both are tacking, but one has not yet passed head to wind. Before they pass head to wind, BLUE is still on port tack , and YELLOW is still on starboard tack. Once they have both passed head to wind, right of way changes. NB (if the question arises) that BLUE’s ability to bear away further is limited by rule 16 – must give YELLOW room to keep clear. The rule also says that when two boats have both passed head to wind but have not yet reached a close-hauled course, if one is astern of the other she shall keep clear Main Menu Section Start

Rule 14 - Avoiding Contact
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 14 - Avoiding Contact A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible. However, a right-of-way boat or one entitled to room or mark-room (a) need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear or giving room or mark-room, and (b) shall not be penalized under this rule unless there is contact that causes damage or injury. Keeping clear is more than just avoiding contact. So this rule does not add to the requirements of a keep-clear boat Despite the first line of the rule, it’s safer and fairer for a right-of-way boat to ‘stand on’ until it is clear that the keep-clear boat isn’t doing so Even if a right-of-way or room-entitled boat wrongfully allows a collision to happen, she will be penalized only when damage or injury results So a right-of-way boat or one entitled to room or mark-room can break the first line of this rule - at her own risk Those four main rules (10 to 13) identify the give-way boat. They put no obligations on the right-of-way boat. Without the next four rules (14 to 17), a right-of-way boat could ‘hunt’ a give-way boat. Rules 14 to 17 are titled ‘General Limitations’, but in practice they affect mainly the right-of-way boat. Rule 14, Avoiding Contact, starts off by requiring ALL BOATS to avoid contact with other boats if reasonably possible. As we’ve seen, that’s no use on its own. It’s an additional requirement However, since keeping clear is more than just avoiding contact, this requirement does not add to the obligations of a give-way boat – if a give-way boat has broken rule 14 by failing to avoid contact, she will almost always have failed to keep clear under one of rules 10 to 13 (port-starboard, windward-leeward, clear ahead – clear astern, while tacking). KEEP SCROLLING DOWN Evasive action by a right-of-way boat need not happen until it’s clear that the give-way boat is not doing so – and even then: a right-of-way boat will be penalized only if there is contact resulting in damage or injury. The rule gives the same grace to boats entitled to room. These, as we will see, are usually give-way boats, So rule 14 still makes little difference to give-way boats, who still have to keep clear even if entitled to room. Rule 14 is an addition to the general right-of-way rules. Its main effect is to say ‘don’t push it’ to right-of-way boats. It’s a message from ISAF that sailing is not a contact sport. Main Menu Section Start

Rule 15 - Acquiring Right of Way
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 15 - Acquiring Right of Way When a boat acquires right-of-way, she shall initially give the other boat room to keep clear…. Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 15 - Acquiring Right of Way When a boat acquires right-of-way, she shall initially give the other boat room to keep clear…. BLUE loses right of way at position 4… Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 15 - Acquiring Right of Way When a boat acquires right-of-way, she shall initially give the other boat room to keep clear…. BLUE regains right of way at position 5. BLUE has not given YELLOW room to keep clear. BLUE’s intention to tack may have been clear to YELLOW from the moment BLUE luffed, but YELLOW does not have to anticipate that BLUE will break a rule. YELLOW has to keep clear only at position 5. If she cannot do so, she will have broken rule 10, but will be exonerated because BLUE broke rule 15. Rule 14 also requires YELLOW to avoid contact if reasonably possible. It may not be reasonably possible. If it is reasonable possible, YELLOW, being a boat entitled to room, is not required to act until it is clear that BLUE is not giving room, and even if she does not act, she will be penalized only if there is contact resulting in damage or injury. Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 15 - Acquiring Right of Way When a boat acquires right-of-way, she shall initially give the other boat room to keep clear… unless she acquires right of way because of the other boat’s actions. Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 15 - Acquiring Right of Way When a boat acquires right-of-way, she shall initially give the other boat room to keep clear… unless she acquires right of way because of the other boat’s actions. Before position 4, BLUE held right of way, first under rule 12 then rule 11. The change of rule at position 3 did not invoke rule 15, because BLUE did not acquire right of way – she already had it. BLUE loses right of way at position 4. and now breaks rule 13. YELLOW has gained right of way, but rule 15 now says she is exempt from the requirement to give room because she acquired right away because of BLUE’s actions. Again – YELLOW is not obliged to anticipate that BLUE will break a rule, and: Rule 14, Avoiding Contact, applies to YELLOW as much as to BLUE, but BLUE is clearly in breach only after position 3, at which point collision avoidance may no longer be possible, so rule 14 would not apply to YELLOW. Rule 14 also applies to BLUE, but only in addition to the primary obligation to keep clear under rule 13. Main Menu Section Start

We’re racing! Rule 16 - Changing Course
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 16 - Changing Course 16.1 When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear. The closer the give-way boat, the slower any change of course by the right-of-way boat has to be to give room to keep clear. The meaning of the defined terms Room and Keep clear are important. Room – the give-way boat’s reaction to the change of course is required to be prompt and seamanlike, taking into account the prevailing conditions, and a right-of-way boat that forces an unseamanlike or unsafe manoeuvre on the give-way boat breaks rule 16, even if the give-way boat manages to keep clear. Keep clear – the test of keeping clear on the same tack is based on the outcome of a change of course by the right-of-way boat. It is a hypothetical test – if immediate contact results, W had already broken rule 11, but L independently breaks rule 16. In a protest, both boats would be disqualified. (Neither of them compelled the other to break the rule concerned.) These few words in 16.1 replaced an older more complex rule governing luffing, but it applies to situations in all four of the right-of-way rules 10 to 13. The closer YELLOW is to BLUE, the slower BLUE’s luff has to be. Any luff by GREEN may break rule 16.1, if RED’s only way to keep clear in a strong wind would be a crash gybe, which would be unseamanlike. Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 16 - Changing Course 16.1 When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear. So the rate of any change of course by the right-of-way boat is limited by how close the other boat is, before and during the change of course If the give-way boat responds promptly, and in a seamanlike way in the prevailing conditions, yet is unable to keep clear, the right-of-way boat has not given her room to keep clear There is an exception when boats are rounding a mark, as we shall see later This is the rule that limits luffing and other course changes by the right-of-way boat Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 16 - Changing Course 16.1 When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear. 16.2 In addition, when after the starting signal a port-tack boat is keeping clear by sailing to pass astern of a starboard-tack boat, the starboard-tack boat shall not change course if as a result the port-tack boat would immediately need to change course to continue keeping clear. Rule 16.2 deals with a specific situation where rule 16.1 may not give enough protection to the give-way boat. Main Menu Section Start

After the starting signal - P is keeping clear -
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 16.2 Additional to rule 16.1 After the starting signal - P is keeping clear - by sailing to pass astern of S - Rule 16.2 deals with a specific situation where rule 16.1 may not give enough protection to the give-way boat. It bans the dangerous ‘dial down’ manoeuvre by S. Main Menu Section Start

After the starting signal - P is keeping clear -
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 16.2 Additional to rule 16.1 After the starting signal - P is keeping clear - by sailing to pass astern of S - which alters towards her - and P now needs to change course immediately to keep clear GREEN (S) will not break rule 16.1 if RED (P) has room as defined to duck or tack to keep clear But GREEN breaks rule 16.2 if RED now needs to act immediately to keep clear Rule 16.2 deals with a specific situation where rule 16.1 may not give enough protection to the give-way boat. It bans the dangerous ‘dial down’ manoeuvre by S. Rule 16.2 works in a narrow window – if GREEN changes course before it applies, GREEN breaks no rule But if GREEN changes course after it applies, GREEN breaks rule 16.1 Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 17 An overlap to leeward from clear astern and within two lengths Overlap in lower diagram begins when the boats are more than two of L’s boat lengths apart. No rule 17 limitation on BLUE. Main Menu Section Start

While they remain on the same tack and overlapped and…
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 17 An overlap to leeward from clear astern and within two lengths While they remain on the same tack and overlapped and… BLUE has broken the overlap by getting clear ahead, and could now luff above a proper course if she wanted (subject to rule 16.1) Main Menu Section Start

An overlap to leeward from clear astern and within two lengths
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 17 An overlap to leeward from clear astern and within two lengths While they remain on the same tack and overlapped and… are still within two of L’s lengths… L must not sail above her proper course… In the lower figure, L is initially limited by rule 17.1, but this restriction ends when L, although still overlapped, sails more than two of her lengths from W. When she returns to within two lengths of W, she does not do so from clear astern. Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 17 An overlap to leeward from clear astern and within two lengths While they remain on the same tack and overlapped and… are still within two of L’s lengths… L must not sail above her proper course… In the top figure, L has broken rule 17.1 by sailing above her proper course. It’s L’s proper course that matters, not (if different) W’s. However, there can be more than one proper course for a boat, and in addition L would not be breaking the rule if, for instance, she was luffing to get to windward of an obstruction. In the lower figure, L is still breaking rule 17.1 by sailing above her proper course, even if she is doing it far enough away from W (but still within 2 lengths) that L is not immediately affected. Technically, she could be penalized even if she bore away promptly to a course no higher than a proper course. Rule 17.1 does not remove the obligation on W to keep clear. In the higher figure, if there is a protest, BLUE may be penalized for breaking rule 17.1, but if YELLOW has room to keep clear and does not do so, she will also be penalized, under rule 11. Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 17 An overlap to leeward from clear astern and within two lengths While they remain on the same tack and overlapped and… are still within two of L’s lengths… L must not sail above her proper course… Unless she sails astern Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 17 …This rule does not apply if the overlap begins when the windward boat is required by rule 13 to keep clear. BLUE becomes overlapped while YELLOW is between head to wind and close hauled So here, rule 17 DOES NOT restrict BLUE. She can luff above a proper course at any time during this overlap The overlap begins at position 2 after YELLOW has passed head to wind and before she reaches a close-hauled course. The exception applies, and BLUE can luff above a close-hauled proper course from position 2 onwards. This exception is aimed at deterring a ‘slam-dunk tack’ into a covering position, since at position 2 BLUE can legitimately luff towards YELLOW (subject to rule 16.1) and possibly prevent YELLOW from reaching a close-hauled course. Main Menu Section Start

Start show Start Section We’re racing! Rule 17 …This rule does not apply if the overlap begins while the windward boat is required by rule 13 to keep clear. Here, that hasn’t happened. When rule 13 stopped applying to YELLOW at position 3, BLUE had not yet become overlapped. Only after that did the overlap begin. Rule 17 DOES apply, and BLUE must not luff above a proper course after position 4. Assume that both boats are on the layline for the windward mark, and so there no proper course for BLUE on the opposite tack or to windward of a close-hauled course. At position 2, YELLOW was between head to wind and closehauled, so rule 13 applies, but BLUE at position 2 was well behind YELLOW’s transom line and does not cross it to make the overlap until after YELLOW is on a close-hauled course. In effect, positions 1 and 2 are irrelevant. So rule 17 applies, and BLUE cannot sail above a proper course (unless she tacks off astern of YELLOW). Compare this with the next slide. Main Menu Section Start

We’re racing! Test your Knowledge
Start Section We’re racing! Test your Knowledge Shortly before the starting signal, you in BLUE see YELLOW for the first time. YELLOW is head to wind. Which keeps clear of which? Main Menu Section Start

We’re racing! Test your Knowledge
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Test your Knowledge It depends on which tack YELLOW is on. You need more information. YELLOW is on the tack on which she approached the line and stopped. Main Menu Section Start

If she came in on port tack, she is still on port.
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Test your Knowledge It depends on which tack YELLOW is on. You need more information. YELLOW is on the tack on which she approached the line and stopped. If she came in on port tack, she is still on port. Which keeps clear, and under which rule? Main Menu Section Start

If she came in on port tack, she is still on port.
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Test your Knowledge It depends on which tack YELLOW is on. You need more information. YELLOW is on the tack on which she approached the line and stopped. If she came in on port tack, she is still on port. YELLOW keeps clear, rule 10 (port & starboard) Next Section Main Menu Section Start

If she came in on starboard tack, she is still on starboard.
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Test your Knowledge It depends on which tack YELLOW is on. You need more information. YELLOW is on the tack on which she approached the line and stopped. If she came in on starboard tack, she is still on starboard. Which keeps clear, and under which rule? Main Menu Section Start

If she came in on starboard tack, she is still on starboard.
Start show We’re racing! Test your Knowledge YELLOW is not clear ahead of BLUE, BLUE is not clear ahead of YELLOW. As they are on the same tack, they are also overlapped. Rule 11, Windward and Leeward. There is in fact another scenario, and top marks to anyone who spots it. Yellow could have come in on either tack, then passed head to wind, but never reached a close-hauled course, and then luffed back to head to wind. She is still the keep clear boat under rule 13, required to keep clear of all non-tacking boats until she reaches a close-hauled course on either tack. If this doesn’t come up, try the scenario orally and see if anyone gets it. It depends on which tack YELLOW is on. You need more information. YELLOW is on the tack on which she approached the line and stopped. If she came in on starboard tack, she is still on starboard. Same tack, overlapped, windward (BLUE) keeps clear under rule 11 Main Menu Section Start

For each YELLOW - BLUE pair, which keeps clear of which?
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Test your Knowledge For each YELLOW - BLUE pair, which keeps clear of which? Main Menu Section Start

We’re racing! Test your Knowledge Start show Start Section Main Menu
Section Start

BLUE (11) BLUE (11) YELLOW (10) BLUE (10) - are the keep clear boats
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Test your Knowledge BLUE (11) BLUE (11) YELLOW (10) BLUE (10) - are the keep clear boats Main Menu Section Start

Start show We’re racing! Test your Knowledge After start, RED will clear GREEN, then a windshift lifts GREEN and backs RED. There is a protest. RED’s case: GREEN broke rule 16.2 because I had to luff immediately after her course change. GREEN’s case. Simple port / starboard – and I was entitled to take advantage of the windshift. Main Menu Section Start

Test your Knowledge Both are wrong.
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Test your Knowledge Both are wrong. Not rule 16.2, as RED was passing ahead, not astern. GREEN has to comply with rule 16.1, even when being lifted on a shift. Main Menu Section Start

Test your Knowledge Both are wrong.
Start show Start Section We’re racing! Test your Knowledge Both are wrong. Not rule 16.2, as RED was passing ahead, not astern. GREEN has to comply with rule 16.1, even when being lifted on a shift. When GREEN was lifted, RED now had to act to keep clear Did RED have room to keep clear by tacking promptly in a seamanlike way in the prevailing conditions? If so, GREEN did not break rule 16.1, and RED broke rule 10 (port and starboard) by making the wrong decision and bearing away. If not, then GREEN altered too close to RED and broke rule 16.1 It will all depend on the conditions. There’s no right answer on the information given. It will depend on boat speed and conditions. In general, however, RED is in the wrong under rule 10, port and starboard, unless no other avoiding action could have been taken successfully (in a seamanlike way, manoeuvring promptly, depending on the conditions) when GREEN was lifted to a collision course – in which case GREEN broke rule 16.1. Main Menu Section Start

GOING BY THE RULES What’s cooking? THE MAIN COURSE
Basically and Fundamentally… We’re racing! We’re starting! We’re rounding! We’re taking turns! We’re finishing! We’re unhappy! STARTERS What’s new for 2009 – quick guide What’s new for 2009 – in detail INGREDIENTS Reading the signals Major definitions in action The Racing Rules of Sailing The Definitions

We’re racing! We’re racing! Start show Start Section Main Menu

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We’re racing! We’re racing! Start show Start Section Main Menu

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