Sailboat League Racing Rules
Fundamental Rules
Sail Fast
Race Fair
Provide Assistance
BASIC RULES
1. Opposite Tacks
2. On the Same Tack
A L T E R I N G C O U R S E R U L E S
3. Reasonable Amount of Room
4. Tacking or Jibing
5. Room at the Mark
6. Room to avoid an obstruction
7. Touching a mark
8. Allegations of a rule infringement
9. Exceptions to the Rules
BASIC RULES
1. OPPOSITE TACKS
A port - tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard - tack boat.
2. ON THE SAME TACK
A windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat after;
a) an overlap exists after a tack or a jibe,
b) a windward boat establishes an overlap from clear astern of the leeward boat or
c) an overlap is established between a windward boat sailing a downwind course and the leeward boat sailing a close-hauled course to windward.
2.1 A boat that establishes an overlap to the leeward side of a boat from clear astern shall keep clear of the windward boat. The windward boat shall not sail below the proper course within two boat lengths of the boat clear astern trying to sail to the leeward side.
ALTERING COURSE RULES
3. REASONABLE AMOUNT OF ROOM
A burdened boat shall give a right-of-way boat a reasonable amount of room to alter course within the rule(s) that apply.
4. TACKING or JIBING
A boat tacking or jibing shall keep clear of boats racing. The BASIC RULES still apply when boats are approaching and entering the four-boat length circle around the windward mark.
5. ROOM AT THE MARK
Room at the right* starting mark
a) Before the start signal sounds, a starboard*- tack boat trying to barge can be denied room at the mark by a leeward boat ; only if the leeward boat does not infringe rule 2.1.
b) After the start signal sounds, the leeward boat shall sail no higher than a proper course only if the boats’ movement affects the windward boats’ ability to pass the mark as reasonably close as possible.
c) When boats are overlapped before entering four boat lengths from the mark, the inside boat that can lay the mark shall be given room to round and pass the mark as reasonably close as possible from the outside boat or boats.
d) If the wind shifts causing the rounding and passing of the mark impossible for the inside boat that could have layed the mark before entering the four boat length circle, room to tack or jibe shall be given from the outside boat or boats.
*Substitute; left and port if applicable, respectively
e) A boat that tacks to a leeward position inside the four boat length circle shall be governed by the Radio-Controlled Sailboat Racing League -Racing Rules- i.e. 5d and e.
6. ROOM to AVOID an OBSTRUCTION
When a boat needs to make a substantial alteration of course to avoid an obstruction or a right-of-way boat, but cannot because of another boat racing, the competitor shall hail for room to do so. The boat or boats hailed at shall provide the room for the hailing boat to clear the obstruction and, or the right-of-way boat.
7. TOUCHING A MARK
a) A boat racing shall not touch a mark that begins, bounds or ends the leg of the course the boat is racing.
b) The penalty is a D.N.F.(Did Not Finish) ; which can be exonerated by losing all rights of the racing rules when the boat begins to alter course and safely performs a 360 degree turn ; one tack, then one jibe, continuously from other boats racing.
c) When a boat is wrongfully compelled to touch a mark by another boat racing, she shall be exonerated if the wrongdoer ;
1. Acknowledges the infringement and accepts the penalty points prescribed in the RACING PROTOCOL and continues to race,
2. attempts a safe 720degree turn ; one tack, then one jibe, consecutively, twice and as soon as reasonably possible or
3. loses the protest hearing concerning the alleged infringement.
d) A boat racing that touches a finishing mark shall keep clear of boats racing while returning completely to the course side of the finish line and safely performs a 360 degree turn ; one tack, then one jibe, continuously.
8. ALLEGATIONS of a RULE INFRINGEMENT
a) After a protest committee, from its own observation or report received, believes that a competitor, race committee member or a protest committee member allegedly committed;
1. an infringement of the racing rules and, or the fundamentals,
2. improper administration,
3. an unfair ruling,
4. a violation of Corinthian sailing, or
5. to bringing the sport into disrepute,
it shall inform the party of the time and place of the protest hearing.
b) A protest committee of at least three qualified people shall conduct the hearing. They shall
either;
1. warn the party,
2. exclude the party from the race or regatta,
3. ascribe a penalty prescribed in the RACING PROTOCOL or
4. adjudicate a commensurate penalty or action within its jurisdiction.
9. EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULES
Due to the myriad of modalities propagated by shifty wind and, or different wind speeds that causes different boat speeds and, or courses in a close proximity of other boats and, or marks, the room to round and pass a mark or clear an obstruction shall be given to boats affected by the above anomaly; these are just two of the many situations.