Racing Rules of Sailing Start to know them

Ralph StanfordWoollahra Sailing Club

Too much to learn!20 definitionsrules 1 to 917 parts15 appendicesrevised every 4 years!

Bare essentials8 definitions

23 rules

current issue good for another 2 years!2013 - 2016

International Sailing Federation (ISAF)

World governing body for sailingRecognised by IOC

1907 - International Yacht Racing Union1960 - truly universal racing rules of sailing139 member nations

Yachting Australia108 international class associations

Mirror Class

RRS structureDefinitions

8Part 1 – Fundamental Rules

1Part 2 – When Boats Meet

15Part 3 – Conduct of a Race

5Part 4 – Other Requirements When Racing

2Part 5 – Protests etc

1Part 6 – Entry and Qualification

0Part 7 – Race Organisation

0

DefinitionsThis is not all of them – look them up!

Starting

Finishing

Racing Warning signal

Finished

Cleared finish line in either direction

AND

Still racing after finishing

Protest!

Clear astern – Clear ahead

Clear astern

Clear ahead

Overlapped Issues:•Always buoy room, rule 18•Does not apply close hauled on opposite tacks•Does apply down-windOverlapped

Overlapped

Overlapped

Overlapped – boat between

Overlapped

Overlapped

Not overlapped – boat not between

Clear astern

Clear ahead

Overlapped – downwind

Ove

rlapped

Overlap

ped

Keep clear

Red did not bear away sufficiently and green (right of way under Rule 10) had to luff to avoid contact.

Keep clear - overlapped

Blue has right of way over orange (Rule 11) and orange did not allow blue sufficient room to change course in either direction

Obstruction

Proper courseThe fastest course

Not the shortest course

No proper course before the start

Zone

Part 1Fundamental Rules

Life saving equipmentFair sailingAcceptance of the RulesDecision to RaceAnti-doping WADA

1.1 Help those in danger

Part 2When boats meet

Critical

We will do all of this section

Part 2 – When boats meetSection A (Rules 10 – 13)

Right of waySection B (Rules 14 – 17)

General LimitationsSection C (Rules 18 – 21)

At Marks and ObstructionsSection D (Rules 22 – 24)

Other Rules

Section ARight of Way10 – Port and Starboard11 – Windward boat keeps clear12 – Keep clear from astern13 – No rights whilst tacking

What is this section about?Establishes right of wayEveryone knows where they standNot a ‘free-for-all’

Rule 10On opposite tacks:When boats are on opposite tacks, a port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard-tack boat.

No requirement to call‘starboard’.

Rule 10

Rule 10

Issue:Keep your eyes open!

Rule 11On the same tack, overlapped:When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat.

Windward boat

Keeps clearIssue:•Luffing

Rule 12On 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.

Clear astern keeps clear

‘Overtaking boat keeps clear’

Rule 13Whilst tacking:After a boat passes head to wind, she shall keep clear of other boats until she is on a close-hauled course. Rules 10, 11 and 12 don’t apply.

“Don’t tack in my water!!”

Section BGeneral Limitations14 – Avoid contact15 – Acquiring right of way, initially give room16 – Changing course17 – Same tack, sailing above proper course

What is this section about?Trying to prevent water borne carnage

Marine dodgem carsSoftens the impact of right of way More enjoyable racingProtection of investment by sailors

Rule 14Avoid contact:A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible.

Best to take avoiding action and protest the boat that got in the way

Rule 15Acquiring right of way:When a boat acquires right of way, she shall initially give the other boat room to keep clear, …..

Rule 16Changing course:When a right of way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.

Green bore away at the last moment and red was unable to keep clear

Rule 17On the same tack; proper course:If a boat clear astern becomes overlapped within two of her hull lengths to leeward of a boat on the same tack, she shall not sail above her proper course…….

Proper course

Section CAt Marks and Obstructions18 – Mark-room19 – Room to Pass an Obstruction20 – Room to Tack at an Obstruction21 – Exoneration

What is this section about?No traffic lights on the waterLike a roundabout

Everyone can keep moving if they obey the rules

Rule 18 Mark-room:Applies to two boats required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is in the zone.

Rule 18 Giving mark-room:•Overlap is established when the first boat enters the zone.•The boat ‘outside and overlapped’ or ‘clear astern’ shall give room.

Orange is overlapped by blue and gives mark-room to blue, even if the overlap is later broken.

Black is clear astern of orange and gives mark-room to orange, even if an overlap is later established.

Rule 18Does not apply at:•Start marks•Between boats on opposite tacks whilst beating to windward

‘At the windward mark on opposite tacks, take the bouy away.’

“No room at the start”

Start

Rule 18 Giving mark-room:•If an outside overlapped boat is unable to give room, she is not required to give it.

Red is not going to be able to give orange mark-room.

Rule 18 An inside overlapped boat should gybe no later than necessary to round the mark.

Red must gybe.

Rule 19Room to pass an obstruction:•Applies between two boats at an obstruction•Right of way boat chooses which side to go•When overlapped, the outside boat gives room

Red could pass to windward or leeward as right of way boat (Rule 11), but has to give black room when passing to leeward of the obstruction because of the overlap.

No zone, just ‘at’.

Rule 19 Room to pass at an obstruction:•No right to push in at a continuing obstruction.

Rule 20Room to tack at an obstruction:When approaching an obstruction, a boat may hail for room to tack and avoid a boat on the same tack.

“Room to tack”

“You tack”

Rule 21 A boat may be exonerated if she has right of

way under Section c, but is compelled to break:Any rule of Section A (Rules 10 to 13)Rule 15 (acquiring right of way, give room)Rule 16 (changing course, give room to keep

clear)Rule 31 (touching a mark)

Section DOther rules22 – Starting errors; Taking penalties; Moving astern23 – Capsized; Anchored or aground; Rescuing24 – Interfering with another boat

Rule 22Starting errors:A boat sailing towards the pre-start side of the starting line shall keep clear of other boats

Keep clear when:

Part 3Conduct of a Race

Starting racesSailing the courseRecallsStarting penaltiesTouching a mark

Rule 26 – starting races5 min – Warning4 min – Preparatory1 min – One minute

to go0 min – Start

Time is taken from visual flag signal

Rule 28 - Sailing the Course

Rule 29 - Recalls

Rule 30 – Starting penaltiesIf over the start line in the final minute:

Go back around the ends of the line20% penaltyDisqualified

Rule 31 – touching a mark is not permitted

•Start mark•Course marks•Finish mark

Part 4Other Requirements When Racing

PropulsionPenalties

Rule 42 - PropulsionBoats should race by use of wind and water

onlyProhibited actions:

PumpingRockingOochingScullingRepeated tacking or gybing

Pumping

Rocking

Ooching

Sculling

Rule 44 – Penalties at the time of an incidentTwo turns for

Section 2One turn for

Rule 31 (touching a mark)

TackGybe

Part 5 - ProtestsRule 61

Inform the protested boat immediatelyHail them ASAP