Racing Rules of Sailing � Key Components
Part 2 WHEN BOATS MEET
The rules of Part 2 apply between boats that are
sailing in or near the racing area and intend to race, are racing,
or have been racing. However, a boat
not racing shall not be penalized
for breaking one of these rules, except rule 14 when
the incident resulted in injury or serious damage, or rule 23.1.
When a boat sailing under these rules meets a vessel that is not, she shall
comply with the International
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCAS) or
government right-of-way rules. If the notice of race so state, the rules of
Part 2 are replaced by the right-of-way rules of the IRPCAS or
by government right-of-way rules.
Section A RIGHT OF WAY
A boat has right of way over another boat when the other
boat is required to keep clear of
her. However, some rules in Sections B, C and D
limit the actions of a right-of-way boat.
10 ON OPPOSITE TACKS
When are on opposite tacks,
a port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard-tack boat.
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.
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.
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.
Section B GENERAL LIMITATIONS
14 AVOIDING CONTACT
If reasonably possible, a boat shall
(a) avoid contact with another boat,
(b) not cause contact between boats, and
(c) not cause contact between a boat and an object that should be avoided.
However, a right-of-way boat, or one sailing within the room or mark-room to which she is entitled,
need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is
not keeping clear or
giving room or mark-room.
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.
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, on a beat to windward when a port-tack boat is keeping clear by sailing to pass to
leeward of a starboard-tack boat,
the starboard-tack boat shall
not bear away if as a result the port-tack boat
must change course immediately to continue keeping
clear.
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 while they remain on the same tack and overlapped within that distance,
unless in doing so she promptly sails astern of the other boat.
Section C AT MARKS AND OBSTRUCTIONS
Section C rules do not apply between boats when the mark or obstruction referred to in those
rules is a starting mark surrounded
by navigable water or at its anchor line, from the time boats are approaching
it to start until they have
left it astern.
18 MARK-ROOM
18.1When Rule 18 Applies
(a) Rule 18 applies between boats when they are required to
leave a mark on the same side
and at least one of them is in the zone.
However, it does not apply
(1) between boats on opposite tacks on
a beat to windward,
(2) between boats on opposite tacks when
the proper course at
the mark for one but not both
of them is to tack.
(3) between a boat approaching a mark and
one leaving it, or
(4) if the mark is
a continuing obstruction, in which
case rule 19 applies.
(b) Rule 18 no longer applies
between boats when mark-room has been given.
18.2 Giving Mark-Room
(a) When the first of two boats reaches the zone,
(1) if the boats are overlapped,
the outside boat at that moment shall give the inside boat mark-room
(2) if the boats are not overlapped,
the boat that has not reached the zone at
that moment shall give the other boat mark-room
When a boat is required to give mark-room by
this rule, she shall continue to do so for as long as this rule applies, even
if later an overlap is broken or a new overlap begins.
(b) Rules 18.2(a) no longer applies if the boat entitled to mark-room passes head to wind or
leaves the zone.
(c) When rule 18.2(a) does not apply and the boats are overlapped, the outside boat shall give
the inside boat mark-room
(d) If a boat obtained an inside overlap from clear astern or by tacking to windward of the other boat and, from
the time the overlap began,
the outside boat has been unable to give mark-room,rules 18.2(a) and
18.2(c) do not apply between them.
(e) If there is a reasonable doubt that a boat obtained or broke an overlap in time, it shall be presumed
that she did not.
18.3 Tacking in the Zone
If a boat passes head to wind from port to starboard tack in the zone of a mark to be left to port, rule 18.2 does not apply between her and another boat
on starboard tack that
is fetching the mark.
If the other boat has been on starboard
tack since entering the zone,
the boat that passed head to wind
(a) shall not cause the other boat to sail above close-hauled to avoid contact,
and
(b) shall give mark-room if
the other boat becomes overlapped inside
her.
18.4 Gybing in the Zone
When an inside overlapped right-of-way
boat must gybe at a mark to
sail her proper course, until she gybes she shall sail not further from the mark than needed to sail that
course. Rule 18.4 does not apply at a gate mark.
19 ROOM TO PASS AN OBSTRUCTION
19.1 When Rule 19 Applies
Rule 19 applies between two boats at an obstruction except when rule 18
applies between them and
(a) the obstruction is
a mark, or
(b) the obstruction is
another boat overlapped with
each of them.
However, at a continuing
obstruction, rule 19 always applies and rule 18 does
not.
19.2 Giving Room at an Obstruction
(a) A right-of-way boat may choose to pass an obstruction on her port or starboard
side. If a right-of-way boat changes course when choosing on which side
to pass the obstruction, she shall
give the other boat room to keep clear.
(b) When boats are overlapped, the
outside boat shall give the inside boat room between
her and the obstruction, unless
she has been unable to do so from the time the overlap began.
(c) While boats are passing a continuing
obstruction, if a boat that was clear
astern and required to keep
clear becomes overlapped between
the other boat and the obstruction and,
at the moment the overlap begins,
there is not room for her to
pass between them,
(1) she is not entitled to room under
rule 19.2(b), and
(2) while the boats remain overlapped,
she shall keep clear and
rules 10 and 11 do
not apply.
20 ROOM TO TACK AT AN OBSTRUCTION
20.1 Hailing
A boat may hail for room to
tack and avoid a boat on the same tack by
hailing 'Room to tack'. However, she shall not hail unless
In addition, she shall not hail if the obstruction is a mark and a boat that is fetching it would be required to
change course as a result of the hail.
20.2 Responding
20.3 Passing On a Hail to an Additional Boat
When a boat has been hailed for room to tack and she intends to
respond by tacking, she may hail another boat on the same tack for room to tack and avoid her. She may
hail even if her hail does not meet the conditions of rule 20.1. Rule 20.2 applies
between her and the boat she hails.
20.4 Additional Requirements for Hails
Section D OTHER RULES
When rule 21 or 22 applies between two boats, Section A
rules do not.
21 STARTING ERRORS; TAKING PENALTIES; MOVING ASTERN
21.1
A boat sailing towards the pre-start side of the starting
line or one of its extensions after her starting signal to start or to comply with rule 30.1 shall keep
clear of a boat not doing so until her hull is completely on the
pre-start side.
21.2
A boat taking a penalty shall keep clear of one that is not.
21.3
A boat moving astern, or sideways to windward, through the
water by backing a sail shall keep clear of
one that is not.
22 CAPSIZED, ANCHORED OR AGROUND; RESCUING
If possible, a boat shall avoid a boat that is
capsized or has not regained control after capsizing, is anchored or aground,
or is trying to help a person or vessel in danger. A boat is capsized
when her masthead is in the water.
23 INTERFERING WITH ANOTHER BOAT
23.1
If reasonably possible, a boat not racing shall not interfere with a
boat that is racing.
23.2
If reasonably possible, a boat shall not interfere with a
boat that is taking a penalty, sailing on another leg or subject to rule 22.1.
However, after the starting signal this rule does not apply when the boat is
sailing her proper course.