Protest Room logoProtest Room
RulesCasesAsk AI
Auth not available
  • Rules Explorer
  • Case Book
  • AI Judge
New protest
  1. Home/
  2. Rules/
  3. Rule 42.2

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.

42.2

Prohibited Actions

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 sail or by vertical or athwartship body movement; (b) rocking: repeated rolling of the boat, induced by (1) body movement, (2) repeated adjustment of the sails or centreboard, or (3) steering; (c) ooching: sudden forward body movement, stopped abruptly; (d) sculling: repeated movement of the helm that is either forceful or that propels the boat forward or prevents her from moving astern; (e) repeated tacks or gybes unrelated to changes in the wind or to tactical considerations.

Definitions in Context

Boat

A sailboat and the crew on board, that are subject to the rules.

Rule

The complete written rules contained in this document, which includes all racing rules including those established by the International Sailing Federation and other governing authorities.

Related Cases

Case 8

Repeated helm movements to position a boat to gain speed on each of a series of waves generated by a passing vessel are not sculling unless they are forceful, and the increase in speed is the result of a permitted use of the water to increase speed.

Rule 42.1

Except when permitted in rule 42.3 or 45, a boat shall compete by using only the wind and water to increase, maintain or decrease her speed. Her crew may adjust...

Rule 42.3

(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...

© 2026 Protest Room. Open source and available under MIT License