Racing Rules Masterclass

Racing Rules Visual Guides

Five essential Racing Rules of Sailing visual guides — right-of-way rules, mark-rounding sequences, start-line tactics, and protest procedures.

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RRS Rule 10

Port vs. Starboard — Opposite Tacks

When two boats are on opposite tacks, the port-tack boat shall keep clear of the starboard-tack boat. One of the most common scenarios on the race course.

WIND!COLLISION RISKSTARBOARD TACK✓ RIGHT OF WAYWind on starboard sideRRS Rule 10PORT TACK⚠ MUST KEEP CLEARWind on port sidebear away or slowRRS Rule 10 — On opposite tacks, port keeps clear of starboard
Starboard tack — wind on right side — Right of Way
Port tack — wind on left side — Must Keep Clear
RRS Rule 11

Windward / Leeward — Same Tack

When two boats are on the same tack and overlapped, the windward boat shall keep clear of the leeward boat. The leeward boat may luff to protect its wind.

WINDWINDWARD SIDELEEWARD SIDEWINDWARD⚠ MUST KEEP CLEARCloser to wind sourceRRS Rule 11head up /maintain gapLEEWARD✓ RIGHT OF WAYFarther from wind sourceRRS Rule 11may luffCLEAR← OVERLAP EXISTS →RRS Rule 11 — Same tack overlapped: windward keeps clear of leeward
Leeward boat — downwind position — Right of Way / May Luff
Windward boat — upwind position — Must Keep Clear
Required clearance zone between overlapping boats
RRS Rule 18

Mark Rounding — Zone & Inside Rights

Within the 3-boat-length zone around a mark, an inside boat with an overlap is entitled to mark-room. The outside boat must give room for the inside boat to round.

WINDWARD MARKWIND ↓3 BOAT-LENGTH ZONEMARKOVERLAP AT ZONE ENTRY✓ INSIDE — GETS ROOM⚠ OUTSIDE — GIVE ROOMOverlap before zone entry:inside boat has mark-room rightsRRS Rule 18 — Mark-RoomLEEWARD MARKWIND ↓3 BOAT-LENGTH ZONEMARKOVERLAP AT ZONE ENTRY✓ INSIDE — GETS ROOM⚠ OUTSIDE — GIVE ROOMSame rule at leeward mark:overlap before zone grants roomRRS Rule 18 — Mark-RoomRRS Rule 18 — Outside boat gives mark-room to inside boat when overlap established before the zone
Inside boat — overlap before zone — Entitled to Mark-Room
Outside boat — must give room — Cannot barge through
3-boat-length zone — Mark-room rules activate on entry
RRS Rule 29 · Rule 30

Race Start Line — OCS & Black Flag

The start line runs between the committee boat and the pin buoy. A boat that crosses the line before the gun is OCS and must return. Under the Black Flag rule, an OCS boat is automatically disqualified.

WINDSTART LINE← ON COURSE SIDE (OCS) →← PRE-START AREA →PPIN BUOYRCCOMMITTEEFLAG B(BLACK)OCS — OVER EARLYMust return and restart!✓ PROPER STARTCrosses line after gunTiming approachBlack flag: DSQ if OCS at startRRS Rule 29 — Individual Recall (OCS) | Rule 30.3 — Black Flag disqualification
Proper start — crosses line after the starting gun
OCS — over the line early, must return and restart
Timing approach — Black Flag: DSQ if OCS at start
RRS Rule 61

Protest Flag — Lodging a Protest

When a boat believes a rule has been infringed, she must fly Flag B promptly at the incident, hail "Protest" at the time, and inform the protestee. The protest is then heard ashore by a protest committee.

WIND!INCIDENTFLAG B FLYING"PROTEST!"hail at the incidentSTARBOARD TACK✓ RIGHT OF WAYProtestor — files protestRRS Rules 10 + 61PORT TACK⚠ MUST KEEP CLEARProtestee — takes penaltyor do 720° penalty turn(RRS Rule 44 — Penalties)RRS Rule 61 — To protest: fly flag B promptly, hail "Protest", inform the protestee
Starboard tack — right of way — protestor flies Flag B
Port tack — must keep clear — protestee (or take 720° penalty)

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