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  3. Rule 42.3

Part 4 — When Boats Meet

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.

42.3

Exceptions

(a) A boat may be rolled to facilitate steering. (b) A boat’s crew may move their bodies to exaggerate the rolling that facilitates steering the boat through a tack or a gybe, provided that, just after the tack or gybe is completed, the boat’s speed is not greater than it would have been in the absence of the tack or gybe. (c) When surfing (rapidly accelerating down the front of a wave), planing or foiling is possible, (1) to initiate surfing or planing, each sail may be pulled in only once for each wave or gust of wind, or (2) to initiate foiling, each sail may be pulled in any number of times. (d) When a boat is above a close-hauled course and either stationary or moving slowly, she may scull to turn to a close-hauled course. (e) If a batten is inverted, the boat’s crew may pump the sail until the batten is no longer inverted. This action is not permitted if it clearly propels the boat. (f) A boat may reduce speed by repeatedly moving her helm. (g) Any means of propulsion may be used to help a person or another vessel in danger. (h) To get clear after grounding or colliding with a vessel or object, a boat may use force applied by her crew or the crew of the other vessel and any equipment other than a propulsion engine. However, the use of an engine may be permitted by rule 42.3(i). (i) Sailing instructions may, in stated circumstances, permit propulsion using an engine or any other method, provided the boat does not gain a significant advantage in the race.

Definitions in Context

Rule
  • (a) The rules in this book, including the Definitions, Race Signals, Introduction, preambles and the rules of relevant appendices, but not the Basic Principles or titles;
  • (b) World Sailing Regulations that have been designated by World Sailing as having the status of a rule and are published on the World Sailing website;
  • (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;
  • (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.

Rule 42.2

Without limiting the application of rule 42.1 , these actions are prohibited: (a) pumping: repeated fanning of any sail either by pulling in and releasing the s...

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