Racing Rules Corner
John Croydon is writing a series easy-to-read articles on the Racing Rules. The first on the basic port - starboard rule can be read by clicking on 'Read More' at the bottom of this paragraph. It is also published in the Forum section under 'Sailing' - 'Racing at WSC'. In this section you can have your say on the article - congratulate John or get controversial. That is what a Forum is for.
Thank you to John for having this idea. Keep an eye out for future Racing Rules in the Forum section in future weeks.
Racing Rules Corner - Number 1.
Let’s have a look at Rule 10, which is the one we all know about: Port gives way to Starboard. It’s the first of the twelve rules in Part 2, “When Boats meet”, of the Racing Rules of Sailing.
It sounds simple, and it really is, but there might be doubt from time to time about which tack we are actually on and, as usual, the “Definitions” section of RRS will be the place to look. (When a Definition is referred to the title is always given in Italics.) The ruling factor is which is the windward side of the boat, and that is defined as the side opposite to which the boat’s mainsail lies. This clears up the problem of deciding which tack you are on when sailing by the lee. It helps to read the “Tack” and the “Windward and Leeward” definitions together. If your main is on the Port side of the boat you are on Starboard tack, regardless of where the wind is ! It’s important to be clear about this when boats are running dead down wind to a leeward mark!
OK. So, on a beat, we are on Starboard tack and are approaching another boat who is on Port. We are the right-of-way boat but there are still some things which we cannot do and the most important of these is covered in Rule 16, “Changing Course”. The wording of this is very clear and needs no explanation; the basic requirement is that give-way boat must be given room to keep clear as defined. Rules 14 and 15 are also important because they give the right-of-way boat some limits on her rights. Rule 14 says you cannot just bash on regardless but must avoid damage or injury and Rule 15 says that when a manoeuvre taken by you gives you right-of-way you must initially give the give-way boat room to keep clear.
The rules limit the Starboard tack boat’s rights but are all predicated on limits to changing course. The rules say not a word about changing speed ! So, you are on Starboard, and a Port tack boat is on a course to clear your stern. Can you alter speed ? Yes, you can. But you must still give her room to keep clear. However, I think that changing speed might be such an unusual occurence that, if you were very blatant about it, you might be in danger of a protest under Rule 2, “Fair Sailing” or, if you did it very late, you would be breaking Rule 15. On the other hand, you might have a gear failure, such as your jibsheet breaking, and a quick hail to explain might save a lot of aggro ! (But you still have to give room if you alter course.)
Fast forward now to Rule 20 and if you are taking a penalty or returning to the startline after being OCS you must keep clear yourself even though you might be on Starboard tack.
Finally, a word about Starboard tack and Rule 18, “Rounding and passing marks and obstructions”. If it’s a windward mark to be rounded to Starboard the situation of boats on opposite tacks is exactly as if the mark isn’t there. A Port tack boat may be approaching such a mark above the lay-line, with room to spare for a Starboard tack boat on an, otherwise, collision course to tack inside and make the mark. However, there is no obligation for the Starboard tack boat to do so and she is quite entitled to carry on, as long as she gives the Port tack boat room to keep clear. Rule 18 doesn’t come into it nor, indeed, in any other rounding-a- windward-mark-to-Starboard situation. There’s quite a lot more to Rule 18, so I think I’ll leave further discussion to a future article.
J.C.
