Protest Room10: On Opposite Tacks
When boats are on opposite tacks, a port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard-tack boat.
Part 2 - WHEN BOATS MEET
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 23.1.
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 notice of race so states, the rules of Part 2 are replaced by the right-of-way rules of the IRPCAS or by government right-of-way rules.
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.
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.
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.
Section B - GENERAL LIMITATIONS
14: Avoiding Contact
If reasonably possible, a boat shall
- (a) avoid contact with another boat,
- (b) not cause contact between boats, and
- (c) not cause contact between a boat and an object that should be avoided.
However, a right-of-way boat, or one sailing within the room or mark-room to which she is entitled, need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear or giving room or mark-room.
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: Changing Course
When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.
16.2: Changing Course
In addition, on a beat to windward when a port-tack boat is keeping clear by sailing to pass to leeward of a starboard-tack boat, the starboard-tack boat shall not bear away if as a result the port-tack boat must change course immediately to continue keeping clear.
17: On the Same Tack; Proper Course
If a boat clear astern becomes overlapped within two of her hull lengths to leeward of a boat on the same tack, she shall not sail above her proper course while they remain on the same tack and overlapped within that distance, unless in doing so she promptly sails astern of the other boat.
Section C - AT MARKS AND OBSTRUCTIONS
Section C rules do not apply between boats when the mark or obstruction referred to in those rules is a starting mark surrounded by navigable water or its anchor line, from the time the boats are approaching it to start until they have left it astern.
18: MARK-ROOM
18.1: When Rule 18 Applies
(a) Rule 18 applies between boats when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is in the zone. However, it does not apply
- (1) between boats on opposite tacks on a beat to windward,
- (2) between boats on opposite tacks when the proper course at the mark for one but not both of them is to tack,
- (3) between a boat approaching a mark and one leaving it, or
- (4) if the mark is a continuing obstruction, in which case rule 19 applies.
(b) Rule 18 no longer applies between boats when mark-room has been given.
18.2: Giving Mark-Room
(a) When the first of two boats reaches the zone, (1) if the boats are overlapped, the outside boat at that moment shall give the inside boat mark-room; (2) if the boats are not overlapped, the boat that has not reached the zone at that moment shall give the other boat mark-room. When a boat is required to give mark-room by this rule, she shall continue to do so for as long as this rule applies, even if later an overlap is broken or a new overlap begins. (b) Rule 18.2(a) no longer applies if the boat entitled to mark-room passes head to wind or leaves the zone. (c) When rule 18.2(a) does not apply and the boats are overlapped, the outside boat shall give the inside boat mark-room. (d) If a boat obtained an inside overlap from clear astern or by tacking to windward of the other boat and, from the time the overlap began, the outside boat has been unable to give mark-room, rules 18.2(a) and 18.2(c) do not apply between them. (e) If there is reasonable doubt that a boat obtained or broke an overlap in time, it shall be presumed that she did not.
18.3: Tacking in the Zone
If a boat passes head to wind from port to starboard tack in the zone of a mark to be left to port, rule 18.2 does not apply between her and another boat on starboard tack that is fetching the mark. If the other boat has been on starboard tack since entering the zone, the boat that passed head to wind
- (a) shall not cause the other boat to sail above close-hauled to avoid contact, and
- (b) shall give mark-room if the other boat becomes overlapped inside her.
18.4: Gybing in the Zone
When an inside overlapped right-of-way boat must gybe at a mark to sail her proper course, until she gybes she shall sail no farther from the mark than needed to sail that course. Rule 18.4 does not apply at a gate mark.
19: ROOM TO PASS AN OBSTRUCTION
19.1: When Rule 19 Applies
19.2: Giving Room at an Obstruction
(a) A right-of-way boat may choose to pass an obstruction on her port or starboard side. If a right-of-way boat changes course when choosing on which side to pass the obstruction, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear. (b) When the boats are overlapped, the outside boat shall give the inside boat room between her and the obstruction, unless she has been unable to do so from the time the overlap began. (c) While boats are passing a continuing obstruction, if a boat that was clear astern and required to keep clear becomes overlapped between the other boat and the obstruction and, at the moment the overlap begins, there is not room for her to pass between them, (1) she is not entitled to room under rule 19.2(b), and (2) while the boats remain overlapped, she shall keep clear and rules 10 and 11 do not apply.
20: ROOM TO TACK AT AN OBSTRUCTION
20.1: Hailing
A boat may hail for room to tack and avoid a boat on the same tack by hailing ‘Room to tack’. However, she shall not hail unless
- (a) she is approaching an obstruction and will soon need to make a substantial course change to avoid it safely, and
- (b) she is sailing close-hauled or above. In addition, she shall not hail if the obstruction is a mark and a boat that is fetching it would be required to change course as a result of the hail.
20.2: Responding
- (a) After a boat hails, she shall give a hailed boat time to respond.
- (b) A hailed boat shall respond even if the hail breaks rule 20.1.
- (c) A hailed boat shall respond either by tacking as soon as possible, or by immediately replying ‘You tack’ and then giving the hailing boat room to tack and avoid her.
- (d) When a hailed boat responds, the hailing boat shall tack as soon as possible.
- (e) From the time a boat hails until she has tacked and avoided a hailed boat, rule 18.2 does not apply between them.
20.3: Passing On a Hail to an Additional Boat
20.4: Additional Requirements for Hails
- (a) When conditions are such that a hail may not be heard, the boat shall also make a signal that clearly indicates her need for room to tack or her response.
- (b) The notice of race may specify an alternative communication for a boat to indicate her need for room to tack or her response, and require boats to use it.
Section D - OTHER RULES
When rule 21 or 22 applies between two boats, Section A rules do not.
21: STARTING ERRORS; TAKING PENALTIES; BACKING A SAIL
21.1: Starting Errors
A boat sailing towards the pre-start side of the starting line or one of its extensions after her starting signal to start or to comply with rule 30.1 shall keep clear of a boat not doing so until her hull is completely on the pre-start side.
21.2: Taking Penalties
A boat taking a penalty shall keep clear of one that is not.
21.3: Backing A Sail
A boat moving astern, or sideways to windward, through the water by backing a sail shall keep clear of one that is not.
22: Capsized, Anchored or Aground; Rescuing
If possible, a boat shall avoid a boat that is capsized or has not regained control after capsizing, is anchored or aground, or is trying to help a person or vessel in danger. A boat is capsized when her masthead is in the water.
Related Cases
23: INTERFERING WITH ANOTHER BOAT
23.1:
If reasonably possible, a boat not racing shall not interfere with a boat that is racing.
23.2:
If reasonably possible, a boat shall not interfere with a boat that is taking a penalty, sailing on another leg or subject to rule 21.1. However, after the starting signal this rule does not apply when the boat is sailing her proper course.