The Rules of Racing

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The Rules of Racing

• Part 2 - When Boats Meet

?Nick Hollis Oct 06
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Part 2 Rules - When Boats Meet

• Why do we need to know these rules?
• We need to know these rules, as these are the
  main ones that are used on the race course. They
  determine who has right of way and who doesnt.
  Knowing these rules will help prevent a lot of
  hassle on and off the water

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• There are 90 rules in total
• (Dont worry we dont have to remember them
  all!)
• The Part 2 rules are used when boats meet
• We are going to concentrate on these rules,
  looking at them in situations you would find on
  the race course. It is hard to be competitive if
  you are not familiar with these rules, so we must
  understand them!

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Definitions we need to know

• 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.
• Windward - The side on which the wind is coming
  from.
• Leeward - The opposite side to which the wind is
  coming over, normally the same side as the sail.
• Proper course - A course a boat would sail to
  finish as soon as possible in the absence of the
  other boats. A boat has no proper course before
  the start signal.
• Racing - A boat is racing from her preparatory
  signal, until she finishes and clears the
  finishing line and marks, or retires. Or until
  the race is abandoned, postponed or general
  recalled.
• Room - The space a boat needs in the existing
  conditions while manoeuvring promptly in a
  seamanlike way.

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Section A - Right of Way

• A boat has right of way when another boat is
  required to keep clear of her

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Rule 10 - On Opposite Tacks

• When boats are on opposite tacks, a port tack
  boat shall keep clear of a starboard tack boat

The Port boat can either Tack or Duck
the Starboard boat as long as It keeps clear
STARBOARD!!
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Who must keep clear??
STARBOARD!!
Yellow must keep clear because it is on port tack
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Rule 11 - On the same tack overlapped(Windward
boat)

• When the boats are on the same tack overlapped, a
  windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat

Windward boat keep clear!
Yellow must keep clear of blue because she is to
windward
Ok!
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Who must keep clear??
Green must keep clear because she is to
windward of blue (This applies even if the
boats are on different legs of the race)
Windward!!
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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 clear ahead (meaning that no-one is
overlapped on her transom)
Red is clear astern (meaning that her bow does
not overlap with yellows transom) Therefore red
must keep clear of yellow
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Which rules apply here??
Rule 11
B
A
Rule 12
In scenario A, red has an overlap with yellow to
windward of her. Yellow must keep clear
In B, green is clear ahead and blue is clear
astern, so blue must keep clear
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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

Tack finishes here when boat is back on close
hauled course (sails do not have to be set)
Tack begins here (Rules 10, 11, 12 do not apply
but she must keep clear)
Red boat heading up (not tacking yet)
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Who must keep clear??
Red must keep clear until it has beared away to
its close hauled course. Blue is safe until red
has completed the tack. Then the rule changes
to??
Rule 10 - Port and Starboard
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Part 2 Rules - Section B

• 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
• Need not act to avoid contact until it is clear
  that the other boat is not keeping clear or
  giving room and
• Shall not be penalized under this rule unless
  there is contact that causes damage or injury.

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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 the right of way because of
  the other boats actions
• So If the red boat (on port) tacks to avoid
  green (on starboard), she can not then luff green
  straight after completing her tack without giving
  green room to keep clear because she acquired
  right of way of her own accord.

Room to keep clear!
Windward!
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Rule 16 - Changing Course

• When a right-of-way boat changes course, she
  shall give the other boat room to keep clear.
• If a port boat is keeping clear by sailing astern
  of a starboard boat, the starboard boat shall not
  change course as if a result the port tack boat
  would immediately need to change course to
  continue keeping clear.

Starboard!
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Section C - At Marks and Obstructions

• In rule 18, room is room for an inside boat to
  round or pass between an outside boat and a mark
  or obstruction, including room to tack or gybe
  when either is a normal part of the manoeuvre.

Yellow had established an overlap on the inside
before blue reaching the 2 boat length circle.
She has water. Blue has not given her room as
yellow cannot round without hitting the mark.
Yellow again has water, but this time blue gives
room for yellow to round without hitting the
mark, or blue
No Room Given
Room Given
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When and when it doesnt apply

• It applies when boats are about to round or pass
  mark or obstruction they are required to leave on
  the same side, until they have passed it.
• However.
• It does not apply
• At a starting mark surrounded by navigable water.
• While the boats are on opposite tacks, either on
  a beat to windward or when the proper course for
  one of them, but not both, to round or pass the
  mark/obstruction is to tack.

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So

• Do these yellow boats have water??

NO
NO
Because Rule 18 does not apply when boats on
opposite tacks are sailing to windward, and when
one (but not both) of the boats needs to tack to
get around the mark
Because there is no water at a starting mark that
is surrounded by navigable water
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Tacking at the Windward Mark

• It is high risk!
• If you complete a tack inside the two-length zone
  and a boat that is fetching the mark has to luff
  above close-hauled, you break rule 18.3.
• If you complete a tack inside the two-length zone
  and a boat that is fetching the mark then
  establishes an overlap inside you, you must
  immediately keep clear and give the other boat
  room.
• This applies even if the other boat was clear
  astern and outside the two-length zone when your
  tack was completed.
• Fetching - coming in from above a close hauled
  course

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19 - Tacking at an obstruction

• When this rule may apply
• When approaching a right-of-way boat i.e a boat
  on starboard
• Or approaching a shore or any area of
  un-navigable water

This boat will either shout Or tack straight
away
You!!
You tack!
Starboard boat
Room to tack!
This boat must then tack straight away after
yellow
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Rule 19 - When doesnt it apply?

• Does not apply at a starting mark surrounded by
  navigable water
• Same as???

Rule 18!!
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And thats about it folks!

• So
• Rule 10?
• Rule 11?
• Rule 18?
• When does a tack start? And finish?
• What is room?
• Where do you not have room at an obstruction??

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Any Questions??

• Contact me
• nick_hollis_at_hotmail.com
• (Dont sign me up to any mailing lists!)
• A copy of the ISAF Rules are also available on
  the ISAF site
• http//www.isaf.org