The Racing Rules of Sailing By: Dave Hubbard PJYC Fleet Captain 2020 The RRS is based off the “72 COLREGS”: “International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea” “§ 88.05 Copy of Rules After January 1, 1983, the operator of each self‐propelled vessel 12 meters or more in length shall carry on board and maintain for ready reference a copy of the Inland Navigation Rules. ” (39.4 feet) How to Read the RRS • The Whole Book is treated as the “Rules”. • This includes the “Introduction” with “Terminology” as well as the “Definitions”. How to Read • Includes adherence with all Coast Guard Rules. the RRS • Definitions in the rules are shown in italics when meant to be interpreted according to the definition. These are important! Overview • Some rules apply to Racers, others apply to the Race Committee. A few apply to both. • Some rules MODIFY other rules! Special cases. • Gray Areas –See the ‘Case Book’ Rule (a) The rules in this book, including the Definitions, Race Signals, Introduction, preambles and the rules of relevant appendices, but not titles; (b) World Sailing Advertising Code, Anti-Doping Code, Betting and Anti- Corruption Code, Disciplinary Code, Eligibility Code, Sailor How to Read Classification Code, respectively Regulations 20, 21, 37, 35, 19 and 22; the RRS (c) the prescriptions of the national authority, unless they are changed by the notice of race or sailing instructions in compliance with the national authority’s prescription, if any, to rule 88.2; Overview (d) the class rules (for a boat racing under a handicap or rating system, the rules of that system are ‘class rules’); (e) the notice of race; (f) the sailing instructions; and (g) any other documents that govern the event. • Part 1 –Fundamental Rules Mainly Safety and Sportsmanship. • Part 2 –When Boats Meet How to Read All the “Right of Way” rules! the RRS • Part 3 –Conduct of a Race For both Racers and Committee. Major Parts Start Sequence, Penalties, Time limits, Changes to the While Racing course. • Part 4 –Other Requirements when Racing Equipment, Safety, Propulsion, Outside Help, more on Penalties, Sails (changing, whisker poles, spinnaker poles, definition of Headsails), Trash Disposal. • Part 5 – Protests, Redress, Hearings, Misconduct, How to Read Appeals the RRS What to do in the event of protests etc. • Part 6 –Entry and Qualification Setting up a race. Misc Parts • Part 7 –Race Organization For the Race Committee and Organizing Authority (PJYC) How to Read the RRS Other Sections The rest of the RRS include appendices on: • Scoring • Other types of racing –Match Racing, Windsurfing, Radio Remote Model Boat Racing, Kiteboard Racing, etc. • How to write a “Notice of Race” (NOR) and “Sailing Instructions” (Sis) • Guidelines for setting up courses. • How to hold a hearing. • Race Signals –The flags used and their purpose. Read the Sailing Instructions! Before you Check for “Signals Ashore” Head Out Check the weather! Check in: Do NOT use radio. Sail by Hail with “<boat name> checking in the Committee Boat. (PJYC) with <number> souls onboard” “racing” –See Definition. Begins with division Prep signal. Pre‐Race Rule 24.1 : “If reasonably possible, a I.E. Stay clear of other boats near boat not racing shall not interfere the line until your division begins its with a boat that is racing” sequence. Radio: Race is coordinated on VHF 72 (PJYC). Protests and Penalties • Rule 61 –Red Flag, Hail ‘Protest’ at earliest opportunity. Notify RC within 2 hours after race finishes (unless otherwise stated in the Sis). • Do not protest unless it is very clear and race outcome is affected. • Take your penalty unless convinced you are in the right. • Failure to take a penalty is a likely a DNE. Port/Starboard Overlapped or Clear Ahead/Clear Astern Windward/Leeward if Overlapped Zone at Mark is 3 boat lengths Summary Zone rules don’t apply on final approach to start Positions when first boat reaches Zone sets the rights Avoid Tacking in Zone Avoid racing boats if you are not racing No Crashing Rules Part 2 –When Boats Meet Part 2 –When Boats Meet Preamble 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 24.1. 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 sailing instructions 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. Rules Part 2 –Section A Right of Way (10 –13) Rule 10 ‐ Example 10 ON OPPOSITE TACKS When boats are on opposite tacks, a port‐tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard‐tack boat. Tack, Starboard or Port A boat is on the tack, starboard or port, corresponding to her windward side. Windward See Leeward and Windward. Leeward and Windward A boat’s leeward side is the side that is or, when she is head to wind, was away from the wind. However, when sailing by the lee or directly downwind, her leeward side is the side on which her mainsail lies. The other side is her windward side. When two boats on the same tack overlap, the one on the leeward side of the other is the leeward boat. The other is the windward boat. Keep Clear A boat keeps clear of a right‐of‐way boat (a) if the right‐of‐way boat can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action and, (b) when the boats are overlapped, if the right‐of‐way boat can also change course in both directions without immediately making contact. 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. Overlap See Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap. Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap One boat is clear astern of another when her hull and equipment in normal position are behind a line abeam from the aftermost point of the other boat’s hull and equipment in normal position. • The other boat is clear ahead. They overlap when neither is clear astern. • However, they also overlap when a boat between them overlaps both. • These terms always apply to boats on the same tack. • They apply to boats on opposite tacks only when rule 18 applies between them or when both boats are sailing more than ninety degrees from the true wind. 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. Rules Part 2 –Section B General Limitations (14 –17) 14 AVOIDING CONTACT A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible. However, a right‐ of‐way boat or one entitled to room or mark‐room (a) need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear or giving room or mark‐room, and (b) shall be exonerated if she breaks this rule and the contact does not cause damage or injury. Room The space a boat needs in the Mark-Room Room for a boat to leave a mark on the existing conditions, including space to required side. Also, comply with her obligations under the (a) room to sail to the mark when her proper course is to rules of Part 2 and rule 31, while sail close to it, and manoeuvring promptly in a seamanlike (b) room to round the mark as necessary to sail the course. way. However, mark-room for a boat does not include room to tack unless she is overlapped inside and to windward of the boat required to give mark-room and she would be fetching the mark after her tack. Some Definitions Proper Course A course a boat would sail to finish as soon as possible in the absence of the other boats referred to in the rule using the term. A boat has no proper course before her starting signal. Mark An object the sailing instructions require a boat to leave on a specified side, and a race committee vessel surrounded by navigable water from which the starting or finishing line extends. An anchor line or an object attached accidentally to a mark is not part of it. Fetching A boat is fetching a mark when she is in a position to pass to windward of it and leave it on the required side without changing tack. Course Marks Example 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, when after the starting signal a port‐tack boat is keeping clear by sailing to pass astern of a starboard‐tack boat, the star‐board‐tack boat shall not change course if as a result the port‐tack boat would immediately need to change course to continue keeping clear.