Racing Rules of Sailing Start to know them Ralph Stanford Woollahra Sailing Club

Too much to learn! 20 definitions rules 1 to 91 7 parts 15 appendices revised every 4 years!

Bare essentials 8 definitions 23 rules current issue good for another 2 years! 2013 - 2016

International Sailing Federation (ISAF) World governing body for sailing Recognised by IOC 1907 - International Yacht Racing Union 1960 - truly universal racing rules of sailing 139 member nations Yachting Australia 108 international class associations Mirror Class

RRS structure Definitions 8 Part 1 – Fundamental Rules 1 Part 2 – When Boats Meet 15 Part 3 – Conduct of a Race 5 Part 4 – Other Requirements When Racing 2 Part 5 – Protests etc 1 Part 6 – Entry and Qualification 0 Part 7 – Race Organisation 0

Definitions This is not all of them – look them up!

Starting

Finishing

AND Racing Warning signal Finished Cleared finish line in either direction

Still racing after finishing Protest!

Clear astern – Clear ahead

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

Overlapped – boat between

Not overlapped – boat not between Clear astern Clear ahead

Overlapped – downwind Overlapped Overlapped

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 course The fastest course Not the shortest course No proper course before the start

Zone

Part 1 Fundamental Rules Life saving equipment Fair sailing Acceptance of the Rules Decision to Race Anti-doping WADA

1.1 Help those in danger

Part 2 When boats meet Critical We will do all of this section

Part 2 – When boats meet Section A (Rules 10 – 13) Right of way Section B (Rules 14 – 17) General Limitations Section C (Rules 18 – 21) At Marks and Obstructions Section D (Rules 22 – 24) Other Rules

Section A Right of Way 10 – Port and Starboard 11 – Windward boat keeps clear 12 – Keep clear from astern 13 – No rights whilst tacking

What is this section about? Establishes right of way Everyone knows where they stand Not a ‘free-for-all’

Rule 10 On 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 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. Windward boat Keeps clear Issue: Luffing

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. Clear astern keeps clear ‘Overtaking boat keeps clear’

Rule 13 Whilst 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 B General Limitations 14 – Avoid contact 15 – Acquiring right of way, initially give room 16 – Changing course 17 – Same tack, sailing above proper course

What is this section about? Trying to prevent water borne carnage Marine dodgem cars Softens the impact of right of way More enjoyable racing Protection of investment by sailors

Rule 14 Avoid 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 15 Acquiring right of way: When a boat acquires right of way, she shall initially give the other boat room to keep clear, …..

Rule 16 Changing 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 17 On 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 C At Marks and Obstructions 18 – Mark-room 19 – Room to Pass an Obstruction 20 – Room to Tack at an Obstruction 21 – Exoneration

What is this section about? No traffic lights on the water Like 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. Rule 18 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 18 Does not apply at: Start marks Between boats on opposite tacks whilst beating to windward Start ‘At the windward mark on opposite tacks, take the bouy away.’ “No room at the 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 19 Room 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 Rule 19 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 20 Room 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. “You tack” “Room to 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 D Other rules 22 – Starting errors; Taking penalties; Moving astern 23 – Capsized; Anchored or aground; Rescuing 24 – Interfering with another boat

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

Keep clear when:

Part 3 Conduct of a Race Starting races Sailing the course Recalls Starting penalties Touching a mark

Rule 26 – starting races 5 min – Warning 4 min – Preparatory 1 min – One minute to go 0 min – Start Time is taken from visual flag signal

Rule 28 - Sailing the Course

Rule 29 - Recalls

Rule 30 – Starting penalties If over the start line in the final minute: Disqualified Go back around the ends of the line 20% penalty

Rule 31 – touching a mark is not permitted Start mark Course marks Finish mark

Part 4 Other Requirements When Racing Propulsion Penalties

Rule 42 - Propulsion Boats should race by use of wind and water only Prohibited actions: Pumping Rocking Ooching Sculling Repeated tacking or gybing

Pumping

Rocking

Ooching

Sculling

Rule 44 – Penalties at the time of an incident Two turns for Section 2 One turn for Rule 31 (touching a mark) Gybe Tack

Part 5 - Protests Rule 61 Inform the protested boat immediately Hail them ASAP