Speed & Smarts Issue 153
Expanded answers to the 2021-2024 RULES IQ TEST
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1. T – Rule 14 (Avoiding Contact) says, ‘A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible . . .’ This means when two boats come together, they are both required to avoid contact; it doesn’t matter whether they have the right of way or not.
STARTING
1. No – The definition ‘Mark’ ends with the following sentence: ‘However, an anchor line is not part of the mark.’ So if a boat touches a mark’s anchor line (either above the water or below), she does not have to take a penalty for touching the mark.
2. F – The preamble to the rulebook’s Part 2 (When Boats Meet) says, “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 . . .” So, as soon as you reach the racing area, the racing rules apply between you and any other boats that will be racing.
3. F – In the 2021-2024 rulebook, the definition of ‘Start’ is changed so that a boat starts when ‘any part of her hull crosses the starting line from the pre-start side to the course side.’ A boat’s crew or equipment no longer count for determining whether she has started or whether she was over the line early.
4. F – This is not even close to being True. Many racing rules, sailing instructions and class rules can be broken when a boat is not racing. For example, if a non-racing boat interferes with a racing boat she breaks rule 24 (Interfering with Another Boat). If a boat throws trash overboard between races she breaks rule 55 (Trash Disposal), and so on.
5. F – According to the definition ‘Proper Course,’ “A boat has no proper course before her starting signal.” In other words, as soon as the starting signal is made, all racing boats have proper courses. This includes the time between that signal and when each boat actually starts the race (when they cross the line).
6. F – Nope. Part (c) of rule 90.2 (Sailing Instructions) specifies clear procedures for making changes in the sailing instructions. Oral changes may be given on the water only, so nothing said at the competitors’ meeting can change what is printed in the SIs or posted in writing on the official notice board.
7. F – The definition ‘Mark’ now includes ‘an object intentionally attached to the object or vessel.’ This means objects (e.g. a motorboat) that are not accidentally attached to the committee boat (or any other mark) are considered marks. Therefore, if you touch that motorboat you’d have to make a penalty turn.
8. F – When a boat not yet racing meets a boat that is racing, they are bound by the Racing Rules of Sailing. These rules say which boat must keep clear, and this doesn’t depend on whether a boat is racing or not. For example, if a non-racing boat on starboard tack meets a racing boat on port tack, the non-racing boat has right of way. Of course, if she interferes with the racing boat that’s a separate issue – in that case she would break rule 23 (Interfering with Another Boat).
9. F – See rule 27.2: “No later than the preparatory signal, the race committee may move a starting mark.” So it’s OK for the RC to move a starting mark after the warning signal, as long as they do this before the preparatory signal.
10. F – Rule 31 (Touching a Mark) says “While racing, a boat shall not touch a starting mark before starting . . .” Since a boat begins racing at her preparatory signal, if she touches a starting mark after that she must take a penalty. Of course, she can (and must) take her penalty promptly, so it is often possible to make one turn and get back into the starting procedure.
11. T – Rule 44.1 (Taking a Penalty) does not prohibit a boat from taking a penalty before she starts. In fact, rule 44.2 (One-Turn and Two-Turns Penalties) says a boat must get ‘well clear of other boats as soon after the incident as possible’ and then she must “promptly” make the required number of turns. So if you break a rule two minutes before the start you cannot wait to take it after the start even if you wanted to.
12. T – According to section 1 of rule 42 (Propulsion), “a boat shall compete by using only the wind and water to increase, maintain or decrease her speed.” There is no exception for foot dragging!
13. T – Turning the rudder hard back and forth to increase drag and reduce speed would probably be prohibited by rule 42 (Propulsion), but there is a specific exception listed in rule 42.3 (f): “A boat may reduce speed by repeatedly moving her helm.” So it is permitted to slow down (but not speed up) that way.
14. T – Sculling is specifically prohibited by rule 42 (Propulsion). See section (d) of rule 42.2 (Prohibited Actions). However, there is one exception to this listed in rule 42.3 (Exceptions). Rule 42.3(d) says, “When a boat is above a closehauled course and either stationary or moving slowly, she may scull to turn to a closehauled course.”
15. F – If the RC makes an improper OCS signal, a boat might get redress if this action made her place in the race significantly worse through no fault of her own. However, if a boat knows she was OCS, she is required to return and restart whether or not the RC made the proper signal. In that case she would not be entitled to redress. See World Sailing Case 31: ‘ . . . a boat that realizes that she was on the course side of the line is not entitled to redress, and she must comply with rules 28.1 and, if it applies, rule 30.1. If she fails to do so, she breaks those rules. In addition, she fails to comply with the first Basic Principle, Sportsmanship and the Rules, and breaks rule 2.’
16. F – When rule 30.1 (I Flag Rule) is in effect, a boat that is OCS during the last minute before her starting signal “shall sail across an extension to the pre-start side before starting.” There is no requirement to do this after the starting signal, so that boat can round an end and then get right back into the starting lineup.
17. F – Rule 22 (Starting Errors . . .) is the rule that says a boat sailing back to the line to re-start must keep clear of other boats. However, rule 22 applies ‘after her starting signal,’ so a boat that is sailing back to the line before the starting signal does not lose her rights with respect to other boats.
18. T – Rule 30.2 explains the Z flag rule, which is a 20% penalty for being over the line (in the triangle formed by the ends of the line and the windward mark) during the last minute before a starting signal. The last sentence of rule 29.1 (Individual Recall) says, “If rule 29.2 [General Recall], 30.3 [U Flag Rule] or 30.4 [Black Flag Rule] applies this rule does not.” So if the Z flag has been displayed and boats are over the line at the start, the RC will display flag X, the boats will have to return to start, and they will get 20% added to their score.
19. F – Rule 29.2 (General Recall) says, “The warning signal for a new start for the recalled class shall be made one minute after the First Substitute is removed . . .”
20. F – Most rule breaches during a general recall are forgiven for the re-start of that race. However, there are a few breaches that aren’t forgiven. These include penalties under rule 2 (Fair Sailing), rule 30.4 (Black Flag Rule), rule 30.2 (Z Flag Penalty), rule 69 (Misconduct) and rule 14 (Avoiding Contact) if she caused injury or serious damage. See rule 36 (Races Restarted or Resailed).
21. F – There is no general rule that prohibits boats from sailing through a start or finish line when they are not starting or finishing. Sometimes the notice of race or the sailing instructions include such a restriction, but in the absence of anything in the NOR or SIs, boats don’t have to worry about this.
22. T – Rule 41 (Outside Help) is the rule that limits what kind of help a boat can get and when she can get it. Rule 41 is in Part 4 of the rulebook, which is called ‘Other Requirements When Racing.’ The preamble to Part 4 says, ‘Part 4 rules apply only to boats racing unless the rule states otherwise.’ Since rule 41 does not state otherwise, it applies only while a boat is racing (i.e. after her preparatory signal), so boats are free to get outside help when they aren’t racing (I.e. before their prep signal).
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Starting – Situation A A-1. F – According to the definition of Obstruction, ‘. . . a boat racing is not an obstruction to other boats unless they are required to keep clear of her . . .’ In this case, Boat C must keep clear of B under rule 12 (On the Same Tack, Not Overlapped), but Boat B must keep clear of A under rule 11 (On the Same Tack, Overlapped). Therefore, B is not an obstruction to A and C because they are not both required to keep clear of her.
A-2. T – When C gets a leeward overlap on B we have two boats passing an obstruction (Boat A). According to rule 19.2(a), “When boats are overlapped, the outside boat shall give the inside boat room between her and the obstruction . . .” Therefore B, the outside boat, must give room for C, the inside boat, to pass between A and B. However, the full text of 19.2(b) says, “When 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.” So B must give C room, but if she is unable to do so from the time when C gets a leeward overlap, then B is not required to give room.
A-3. F – It doesn’t matter whether C has room to go somewhere else – if there is room for her to fit between A and B, then Rule 19 gives her the ability to go in there. No contingency on the existence or absence of other options.
Starting – Situation B B-1. F – At position 1 Boat X is clear ahead of Boat Y. Rule 12 (On the Same Tack, Not Overlapped) says, “When boats are on the same tack and not overlapped, a boat clear astern shall keep clear of a boat clear ahead.” Therefore, X has the right of way and Y must keep clear. X might choose to take action at that point for tactical reasons, but from a rules point of view she does not have to do anything until she loses the right of way.
B-2. T – At position 2, Boat Y has established a leeward overlap from clear astern within two hull lengths of Boat X. Therefore, according to rule 17 (On the Same Tack; Proper Course), Y may not sail above her proper course as long as the boats remain on the same tack and overlapped within two lengths. Of course, boats do not have a proper course before the starting signal, so until the starting signal Y can sail above closehauled without breaking rule 17.
B-3. T – According to rule 15 (Acquiring Right of Way), ‘When a boat acquires right of way, she shall initially give the other boat room to keep clear . . .’ When Y gets a leeward overlap on X, Y gains the right of way, so she must initially give X room to keep clear.
B-4. F – If there is contact at position 3, the leeward boat (Y) is definitely at risk of getting a penalty. Y was changing course just before contact, so she was required to give Boat X room to keep clear. Since there was contact, it is very possible that Y did not give X room to keep clear. That’s why it would be smart for Y to curtail her luff before there is contact.
B-5. F – Y is a leeward boat and X is a windward boat, which means X must keep clear of Y. Y can luff head to wind and still remain on starboard tack with the right of way. It is not uncommon for the windward boat (X) to have to turn past head to wind to keep clear of the leeward boat.
Starting – Situation C C-1. T – With 10 seconds to go, these boats are considered to be ‘approaching the line to start.’ Therefore, according to the preamble to Section C, rule 18 (Mark-Room) does not apply between Boats W and L, which means L does not have to provide mark-room for Boat W.
C-2. T – According to rule 16, ‘When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.’ Boat L has the right of way as a leeward boat, so if she turns (changes course) she must be sure to give W room to keep clear.
C-3. F – Yes, W is in what we call a barging position. But she will not necessarily be penalized if she goes between L and the RC boat. At positions 1 and 2, W was sailing a course parallel to L so she was keeping clear of L. At position 3 L luffed, but at that point W could not head up without hitting the RC boat. When L changed course she was required to give W room, but if she forced W to hit the RC boat L would not have provided room (and therefore she would break rule 16 – Changing Course). If W failed to keep clear as a windward boat (and thereby broke rule 11), she would be exonerated because L broke rule 16 and forced W to break rule 11.
C-4. T – The committee boat is an obstruction to Boats L and W. If these boats are not approaching the line to start (which would be the case with 3 minutes to go), rule 19 (Room to Pass an Obstruction) applies between them. Rule 19.2(b) says, “When boats are overlapped, the outside boat shall give the inside boat room between her and the obstruction . . .” So if L chooses to pass to leeward of the RC boat, she must also give W room to do so. “
Starting – Situation D D-1. T – According to rule 16, ‘When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.’ Boat L has the right of way as a leeward boat, so if she turns (changes course) she must be sure to give W room to keep clear.
D-2. T – L did not get her leeward overlap from astern (because she tacked into a leeward overlap), so L is not prohibited from sailing above her proper course. This means she can sit head to wind after the starting signal. At that point the boats are still approaching the line to start, so rules 18 and 19 don’t apply, and L still does not have to give room or mark-room to W.
D-3. F – If L got her leeward overlap from clear astern, she cannot sail above her proper course. There is no proper course before the starting signal, but after that signal is made L must fall off to her proper course, which is normally about closehauled. However, L is still not required to give W room or mark-room at the committee boat because the preamble to Section C says rules 18 and 19 do not apply ‘at a starting mark surrounded by navigable water or at its anchor line from the time boats are approaching them to start until they have passed them.’ So it’s true that L has to bear off at the start signal (so she is not sailing higher than her proper course), but she does not have to provide room for W at the RC boat.
Starting – Situation E E-1. T – According to rule 16, ‘When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.’ Boat X has the right of way as a leeward boat, so if she turns (changes course) she must be sure to give Y room to keep clear. The definition ‘Room’ says that it includes ‘space to comply with her obligations under the rules of Part 2 and rule 31 . . .’ In other words, room for Y includes the space that Y needs to comply with the rules. One limit on Y, of course, is that when she changes course she must give Z room to keep clear. So X must give Y room to give Z room to keep clear. Luffing two or more boats takes more time than luffing just one boat!
E-2. F – Z is a windward boat so she must keep clear of Y (and X). Y can luff head to wind and still remain on starboard tack with the right of way. If the windward boat (Z) has to turn past head to wind to keep clear of Y then she is required to do so.
E-3. T – X got her leeward overlap from clear astern so she is not permitted to sail above her proper course (Rule 17). After the starting signal, her proper course is usually to sail closehauled, so she must bear off to that course.
UPWIND
1. Yes – A port-tacker does not need to be aiming behind the starboard tacker in order to be ‘sailing to pass to leeward’ of S. In this photo P has started to bear off in anticipation of passing behind (to leeward of) S. In addition, P has eased her mainsheet in order to bear off. These actions clearly indicate that P is planning to pass behind (to leeward of) S, so S is limited by rule 16.2 if she bears away at all.
2. F – Rule 15 (Acquiring Right of Way) says, “When a boat acquires right of way, she shall initially give the other boat room to keep clear . . .” If that was the end of the rule, then this answer would be True. But rule 15 goes on to say “. . . unless she acquires right of way because of the other boat’s actions.” So, if a boat tacks onto port right in front of a starboard tacker, the right of way has changed hands but S does not have to give P room to keep clear.
3. T – The ‘anti-hunting’ rule (16.2) applies only when a port-tack boat is sailing to pass astern of a starboard-tack boat. It does not apply when the port-tacker is trying to cross in front of S. In that case, S can change course as long as she gives P room to keep clear (rule 16.1), even if P has to take action immediately in order to do so.
4. F – The rulebook used to place a specific onus on a boat that tacked close in front of another boat, but that is no longer the case. Rule 13 (While Tacking) simply says a boat must keep clear from the moment she passes head to wind until she reaches a closehauled course. However, it is risky to make a close lee-bow tack, and if that situation goes to a protest the boat that tacked is much more likely to be penalized than the boat that was sailing straight.
5. F – When two boats are tacking at the same time, right of way has nothing to do with who passed head to wind first. According to rule 13 (While Tacking), when two boats are subject to that rule at the same time, “the one on the other’s port side or the one astern shall keep clear.”
6. F – The definition of ‘Keep Clear’ says a boat keeps clear of a right-of-way boat if the right-of-way boat “can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action . . .” However, that is not the only requirement for keeping clear. The second part of the definition says that if the boats are overlapped, the give-way boat is not keeping clear unless “the right-of-way boat can also change course in both directions without immediately making contact.” So a windward boat may not be keeping clear even when the leeward boat can sail her course without having contact.
7. F – The definition of “Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap” says, “These terms . . . apply to boats on opposite tacks only when rule 18 applies between them or when boat boats are sailing more than ninety degrees from the true wind.” So on downwind legs and near the leeward mark, boats on opposite tacks are often considered to be clear ahead, clear astern or overlapped. But this is almost never the case on upwind legs.
8. T – The very first rule in the rulebook (Rule 1 – Safety) says, “A boat or competitor shall give all possible help to any person or danger.” This means that when you are sailing under the Racing Rules of Sailing, you are required to give ‘all possible help’ to any person or vessel you see in danger. The term ‘vessel’ means “Any boat or ship” (see Terminology in the rulebook’s Introduction), so this means you must help any boat in danger (e.g. a fishing boat), not just one that is racing.
9. F – When a boat hails for room to tack at an obstruction, the hailed boat has a choice – she must either tack as soon as possible or immediately reply “You tack.” This is clearly described in section (c) of rule 20.2 (Responding).
10. T – The first part of rule 20.1 (Hailing) is very clear about this. It says a boat shall not hail unless “she is approaching an obstruction and will soon need to make a substantial course change to avoid it safely.” If a boat needs to make only a slight course change to avoid an obstruction, she is not permitted to hail for room to tack under rule 20.
11. F – Rule 20 (Room to Tack at an Obstruction) describes what happens when a boat hails for room to tack. The second part of that rule (20.2 Responding) says, “(b) A hailed boat shall respond even if the hail breaks rule 20.1.” So even if a hailed boat thinks a hail is clearly made too early, she must reply by tacking or hailing ‘You tack,’ and then she can protest.
12. F – Rule 20.2 (Responding) contains no requirement that the hailed boat sees the obstruction or agrees with the hail. It says, “(b) A hailed boat shall respond even if the hail breaks rule 20.1.” So even if she can’t see any obstruction, the hailed boat still needs to respond to the hail in accordance with the rule. She could then protest if she thinks the hailing boat broke rule 20 (Room to Tack at an Obstruction).
13. F – Rule 16 (Changing Course) says that when a right-of-way boat changes course she must give the other boat room to keep clear. It doesn’t make any exception for why the right-of-way boat might be changing course. So, for example, if a starboard tacker gets a lift right when a port tacker is crossing, S can head up with the lift only if she also gives P room to keep clear.
14. F – Rule 14 (Avoiding Contact) says boats shall avoid contact with other boats when it is reasonably possible. The third part of the exoneration rule (Rule 43 Exoneration) says that a right-of-way boat that breaks rule 14 will be exonerated if the contact does not cause damage or injury. In other words, if the contact causes any damage (not just serious damage), the right of way boat will not be exonerated for breaking rule 14.
15. T – In rule 48 (Limitations on Equipment and Crew), the second part (48.2) says, “. . . A person leaving the boat by accident or to swim shall be back in contact with the boat before the crew resumes sailing the boat to the next mark.” So if a crew member falls overboard (i.e. she leaves the boat by accident), she must be in contact with the boat before the crew continues in the race. She doesn’t have to be fully onboard the boat, but she must at least be in contact with the boat (e.g. holding on to a shroud). This is an update and clarification in the 2021-2024 rulebook.
16. T – True! The first part of rule 50 (Competitor Clothing and Equipment) makes this very clear. Rule 50.1(a) says, “Competitors shall not wear or carry clothing or equipment for the purpose of increasing their weight.”
17. F – This is a change from the previous rulebook. Rule 42 (Propulsion) prohibits the use of ‘kinetics’ to propel your boat, but it makes an exception for pumping your sails (rule 42.3c) when planing or surfing is possible. Rule (42.3c) used to begin with ‘Except on a beat to windward’ but that language has been removed. Now you are allowed to pump on a beat to windward when this would help you initiate planing, initiate planning, or initiate surfing down the front of a wave (i.e. the wave must be going upwind with you in order to surf down its ‘front’).
18. F – Roll tacking is another exception to rule 41 (Propulsion). Sailors are allowed to roll-tack their boats as long as “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” (see rule 42.3b). The roll tacking rules for normal fleet racing have nothing to do with the movement of the mast (but this is a condition for roll tacking in collegiate racing).
19. F – Part (e) of rule 42.3 (Exceptions) says, “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.”
20. F – The rule that governs the movement of sails (and other equipment is rule 51 (Movable Ballast). It says, “All movable ballast, including sails that are not set, shall be properly stowed. Water, dead weight or ballast shall not be moved for the purpose of changing trim or stability.” In other words, you can’t move your unused sails to the windward rail to help reduce heel in heavy air, or the leeward side to help induce heel in light air.
21. T – A boat on starboard tack may be required to keep clear of a boat on port tack when: a) the starboard tacker was OCS and is returning to start; b) the starboard tacker is in the middle of taking a penalty; or c) the starboard tacker is moving astern by backing a sail.
22. T – The answer to this question is in rule 49 (Crew Position; Lifelines). Rule 49.2 says, “On boats equipped with upper and lower lifelines, a competitor sitting facing outboard with his waist inside the lower lifelines may have the upper part of his body outside the upper lifeline.” This rule used to say ‘sitting on the deck facing outboard’ but the words ‘on the deck’ were removed in the 2021-2024 rulebook because they were hard to interpret or enforce. Now, basically, a crew’s upper body can be outside the upper lifeline as long as his waist is inside the lower lifeline.
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Upwind – Situation A A-1. S – At position 2, PL is in the middle of a tack and has just passed head to wind. At this moment her sails are still luffing, but the wind is coming over the starboard side of her boat. That means starboard is her windward side and port is her leeward side (see Definition: Leeward and Windward). Because starboard is her windward side, she is on starboard tack (see Definition: Tack, Starboard or Port). In the old days, a boat was not considered to be on a tack when she was in the process of tacking, but now a boat is always on either starboard or port tack.
A-2. PW – At position 2, R has turned just past head to wind. This puts her on starboard tack. However, Rule 13 (While tacking) says, ‘After a boat passes head to wind, she shall keep clear of other boats until she is on a close-hauled course.’ So even though PL is on starboard tack and PW is on port, PL must keep clear until the moment when she reaches her closehauled course on starboard tack.
A-3. F – Once PL turns just past head to wind she becomes a tacking boat and therefore must keep clear of PW (according to rule 13 – While Tacking). That means PW has the right of way until PL gets to her closehauled course. Since PW has the right of way she does not have to keep clear of PL. She may want to make a maneuver from a tactical point of view, but from a rules perspective she doesn’t have to anticipate losing the right of way. In other words she doesn’t have to take avoiding action until/if PL gets to closehauled on starboard.
A-4. T– At position 3, PW is on port tack, PL is on starboard tack and rule 13 (While tacking) no longer applies (because PL has reached her closehauled course). Therefore at this moment the riught of way changes from PW to PL. Rule 15 (Acquiring Right of Way) says, “When a boat acquires right of way she shall initially give the other boat room to keep clear . . .” So PL must be sure to give PW room to keep clear.
Upwind – Situation B B-1. T – Rule 16.1 (Changing Course) says, “When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.”
B -2. F – In the 2021-2024 version of rule 16.2, S is limited by rule 16.2 only when she is bearing away. In this case, S was heading up, not bearing away. So even though P had to take action immediately to avoid S, rule 16.2 did not apply. Of course, S was changing course, so she was required by rule 16.1 (Changing Course) to give P room to do that. Since the boats did not have contact and since P did not have to make an unseamanlike maneuver to avoid S (I’m assuming that now), then S did not break rule 16.1.
B-3. T – Rule 10 (Opposite Tacks) says that a boat on port tack must keep clear of a boat on starboard tack. If there is a collision between P and S, then P did not keep clear of S and therefore broke rule 10. However, if S changed course and did not give P room to keep clear, P would likely be exonerated for breaking rule 10 (see rule 43.1b).
B-4. F – There is no onus in rule 13 (While Tacking). See the answer to Question 4 above.
Upwind – Situation C C-1. P – At position 2, P is heading directly into the wind (even though the drawing shows her sails to port of centerline). According to the definition 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.’ So at Position 2 P is on port tack because she is head to wind and her starboard side WAS away from the wind just before she got to head to wind.
C-2. F – According to the rulebook, the completion of a tack has nothing to do with whether a boat’s sails are filled or not. The first sentence of rule 13 (While Tacking) says, “After a boat passes head to wind, she shall keep clear of other boats until she is on a close-hauled course.” In other words, when she tacks she regains her rights at the moment she gets to a close-hauled course, irrespective of whether her sails are filled.
C-3. F – There is no rule that requires a boat to hail ‘Starboard’ when she converges with a port tacker. It is usually courteous for her to make this hail and sometimes it is a good idea tactically – but it is not required – so from a rules perspective, it doesn’t matter whether S hailed ‘Starboard’ or not. As far as safety is concerned, though, it’s a good idea to hail whenever boats get close and there might be a misunderstanding.
C-4. F – Once P gets to position 3 (her close-hauled course on starboard tack), she gains the right of way as a boat that is clear ahead or to leeward. At that point, S is clear astern or to windward and must therefore keep clear of P. If S has to change her course before position 3, P broke rule 13 (While Tacking) because she did not keep clear while she was tacking. If S does not have to change her course until after position 3, neither boat broke a rule.
C-5. F – A hail of ‘Hold your course’ (or any other hail) in this situation does not mean anything as far as the rulebook is concerned, so it does not restrict the course that S can sail. Of course, if S needs to change course to avoid hitting P she should certainly do so. And whenever S changes her course she must give P room to keep clear (Rule 16 – Changing Course).
Upwind – Situation D D-1. T – The definition of Obstruction says, “. . . a boat racing is not an obstruction to other boats unless they are required to keep clear of her . . .” In this case both W and L are on port tack, and they are required to keep clear of S on starboard. Therefore, S is an obstruction to them.
D-2. F – The order of the hails from L and W does not play any part in how this situation is handled. If L chooses to pass behind the obstruction S, she must give room to W who is overlapped to windward of L (and she must do this even if W did not hail for room to duck). However, if L chooses to avoid S by tacking and she hails for room to tack, W must respond to that hail (even if W hailed because she would rather pass astern of S).
D-3. F – Rule 20.1 (Hailing) describes when a boat is permitted to hail for room to tack at an obstruction. However, even if a boat makes a hail that is improper (i.e. it does not comply with rule 201.), the hailed boat must still reply to that hail. Part (b) of rule 20.2 (Responding) makes that clear by saying, “A hailed boat shall respond even if the hail breaks rule 20.1.”
D-4. T – Rule 20.1 (Hailing) says a boat shall not hail for room to tack unless “she is approaching an obstruction and will soon need to make a substantial course change to avoid it.” In this case L is approaching an obstruction (S), but L does not have to make a substantial course change to avoid S. Therefore, when she hailed for room to tack she broke rule 20.1(a).
TOP MARK
1. Yes! Rule 16.1 (Changing Course) says, ‘When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.’ The rule used to make exceptions for places where a boat makes a predictable change of course, like when rounding the windward mark. Now there are no exceptions, so when s starboard-tacker bears off around the windward mark she must be sure to give room to port-tackers that are still sailing upwind.
2. T – In match racing and team racing the zone has a radius of two hull lengths, but in fleet racing the zone is three hull lengths!
3. F – According to the definition Zone, ‘A boat is in the zone when any part of her hull is in the zone.’ So spinnakers, most bowsprits and other equipment parts do not count for being in the zone.
4. T – According to the definition Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap, two boats on opposite tacks are overlapped ‘only when rule 18 applies between them or when both boats are sailing more than ninety degrees from the true wind.’ When two boats on opposite tacks are approaching a windward mark, they are not sailing below 90°. Could rule 18 apply between them? No, because the first part of rule 18.1 (When Rule 18 Applies) says it does not apply ‘between boats on opposite tacks on a beat to windward.’ So two boats sailing on opposite tacks on a beat are not overlapped.
5. T – The first part of rule 18.1 (When Rule 18 Applies) says it does not apply ‘(a) between boats on opposite tacks on a beat to windward.’ So rule 18 does not apply between two boats sailing upwind on opposite tacks.
6. F – At a windward mark, mark-room includes room to tack only when the boat entitled to mark-room is ‘overlapped inside and to windward of the boat required to give mark-room . . .’ (see definition of Mark-Room). If the boat entitled to mark-room is clear ahead when she gets to the mark, mark-room does not include room for her to tack.
7. T – According to the definition of Mark-Room, a boat entitled to mark-room gets “room to round the mark as necessary to sail the course.” So if jibing at the windward mark is ‘necessary’ to sail the next leg, a boat entitled to mark-room can jibe there. However, the word ‘necessary’ means jibing is required to sail the next leg; in other words, a boat must be able to fetch the leeward mark after jibing. There is a situation where this answer could possibly be ‘False.’ Let’s say a boat has overstood the mark and is to windward of it, not yet at the mark. Mark-room includes room for her to sail ‘to the mark when her proper course is to sail close to it.’ So she would be entitled to jibe and sail to the mark (assuming that is her proper course). Once she gets to the mark (and is no longer sailing ‘to’ it), jibing is protected only if that is necessary to sail the course (i.e. she will be fetching the leeward mark after she jibes).
8. T – Many sailors don’t realize that rule 18.4 (Gybing) applies at the windward mark in addition to the leeward mark. That rule says, ‘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.’ When two overlapped boats on starboard approach the windward mark on starboard tack (and they are rounding it to port), the leeward boat is ‘an inside overlapped right-of-way boat.’ Therefore, if her proper course is to jibe at the mark she must do so. This applies even if she has luffing rights on the windward boat.
9. F – When a boat (P) tacks from port to starboard in the zone, she must be careful about breaking rule 18.3 (Passing Head to Wind in the Zone) with regard to a boat that has been on starboard tack (S) since she entered the zone. That rule says the tacking boat cannot cause S to sail above closehauled to avoid her. But not every course change by S means that P broke rule 18.3. If S was overstanding the mark and headed up to closehauled to avoid P, for example, P did not break this rule.
10. T – According to rule 18.3 (Passing Head to Wind in the Zone), this rule applies only when a boat tacked from port to starboard inside the zone and then meets ‘a boat that has been on starboard tack since entering the zone . . .’ So if both boats entered the zone on port tack, this rule does not apply between them.
11. T – Rule 18.3 (Passing Head to Wind in the Zone) begins, ‘If a boat in the zone of a mark to be left to port . . .’ Therefore, it does not apply between boats that are required to leave the mark to starboard.
12. T – According to the definition Mark, ‘An anchor line . . . is not part of it.’ Therefore, a boat does not break any rule if she touches the anchor line of a mark (and it doesn’t matter if the part she touches is above or under the water). However, if she touches the anchor line and this then pulls the mark itself into contact with her boat, crew or equipment, she is considered to have touched the mark.
13. T– Rule 44.1 (Taking a Penalty) describes a particular situation when a boat fouls another boat and touches a mark at the same time. It says, ‘(a) when a boat may have broken a rule of Part 2 and rule 31 in the same incident she need not take the penalty for breaking rule 31.’ So, she needs to make just two turns, not three. Of course, this assumes she did not cause injury or damage, or gain a significant advantage in the race despite taking her penalty.
14. T – Rule 31 (Touching a Mark) says, ‘While racing, a boat shall not touch a . . . mark.’ According to World Sailing Case 77, ‘A boat touches a mark within the meaning of rule 31 when any part of her hull, crew or equipment comes in contact with the mark. The fact that her equipment touches the mark because she has manoeuvring or sail-handling difficulties does not excuse her breach of the rule.’
15. T – When a boat touches a mark, she must take a One-Turn Penalty including one tack and one jibe. There is no restriction on where this penalty can be taken, except that the boat must get ‘well clear of other boats as soon after the incident as possible.’ If she takes her turn around the mark while keeping well clear of other boats, that is fine because it complies with rule 28 (Sailing the Race’) and the definition Sail the Course (the ‘string rule’), which requires her ‘string’’ when drawn taut, to touch all rounding marks.
16. T – Rule 44.1 (Taking a Penalty) says the sailing instructions may specify the use of the Scoring Penalty, ‘in which case the specified penalty shall replace the One-Turn and the Two-Turns Penalty.’ So if the Scoring Penalty is in effect and you touch a mark, you cannot exonerate yourself with a One-Turn Penalty – you have to take a Scoring Penalty.
17. T – Rule 33 (Changing the Next Leg of the Course) allows the race committee to change the bearing or length of a leg that begins at any rounding mark, which includes the windward mark.
18. F – According to World Sailing Case 129, ‘When the course is shortened at a rounding mark, the mark becomes a finishing mark. Rule 32.2(a) permits the race committee to position the vessel displaying flag S at either end of the finishing line. A boat must cross the line in accordance with the definition Finish, even if in so doing she leaves that mark on the side opposite the side on which she would have been required to leave it if the course had not been shortened.’
19. T – In rule 42 (Propulsion), sculling is specifically prohibited by part (d) of rule 42.2 (Prohibited Actions). However, part (d) of rule 42.3 (Exceptions) says that sculling is permitted to turn to a close-hauled course ‘when a boat is above a close-hauled course and either stationary or moving slowly . . .” This usually happens at the start but could also apply in light air at a windward mark.
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Top Mark – Situation A A-1. F – Rule 18.3 (Passing Head to Wind in the Zone) applies only between 1) a boat that tacks from port to starboard inside the zone, and 2) a boat that has been on starboard tack since entering the zone. Since neither W nor X were on starboard tack when they entered the zone, rule 18.3 does not apply between them.
A-2. N – Neither boat has to give the other boat mark-room. Boat W had an inside overlap when she entered the zone, so X had to give her mark-room under rule 18.2(b). However, when P passed head to wind, rule 18.2(d) says that rule 18.2(b) ‘ceases to apply.’ That means X no longer owed mark-room to W.
Once both boats are on the same tack again (starboard this time), we have a new rule 18 situation. These boats were not overlapped on starboard when the first one reached the zone, and neither was clear ahead of the other when she first reached the zone. So rule 18.2(b) does not apply. If the boats were overlapped here, then rule 18.2(a) would apply. That rule says, “When boats are overlapped the outside boat shall give the inside boat mark-room, unless rule 18.2(b) applies.” But since P and S are not overlapped, 18.2(a) does not apply, so neither owes mark-room (unless they become overlapped).
Top Mark – Situation B B-1. T – Because Boat Z got her leeward overlap from clear astern within two hull lengths of Boat Y, she (Z) is not permitted to sail above her proper course during this overlap (according to rule 17 On the Same Tack; Proper Course). However, if the fastest way for Z to sail the course and finish is to luff head to wind to get around the mark, then that may be her proper course and she is permitted to do so even if she is limited by rule 17.
B-2. F – Boat Y passed head to wind inside the zone and Z was on starboard tack since she entered the zone; therefore Rule 18.3 (Passing Head to Wind in the Zone) applied between them. Rule 18.3 says that if Z becomes overlapped inside of Y, Y must give her mark-room. Rule 18.3 also says that if this rule applies, rule 18.2 (Giving Mark-Room) does not. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if Z gets a late inside overlap here – when she does, Y must provide mark-room because 18.3 says so.
B-3. F – Once Z gets a leeward inside overlap she is entitled to mark-room from Y (according to rule 18.3). As long as Z is sailing within the mark-room to which she is entitled (see the definition Mark-Room), she will be exonerated (by rule 43.1b, Exoneration) if she breaks rule 16 (Changing Course) or any of the other rules listed in rule 43.1b. In other words, Z can turn to round the mark and she won’t be penalized if she changes course without giving Y room to keep clear. Y must anticipate this and make sure she provides Z plenty of room. Note, however, that Z will not be exonerated for breaking rule 14 (Avoiding Contact) if she turns toward Y and there is contact that causes damage or injury.
Top Mark – Situation C C-1. T – When Boat PL reaches the zone she is overlapped with Boat PW. Rule 18.2(b) tells us that the outside boat (PL) must therefore give mark-room to the inside boat (PW).
C-2. T – Rule 20 (Room to Tack at an Obstruction) is the rule that permits a boat to hail for room to tack. PL hails for room to tack because she is on a collision course with an obstruction (Boat S). In rule 20.2 (Responding), section € says, ‘From the time a boat hails until she has tacked and avoided a hailed boat, rule 18.2 does not apply between them.’ In other words, once PL hails for room to tack, rule 18.2 does not apply – this means at that point PW is not entitled to mark-room, so she must respond to PL’s hail by either tacking as soon as possible or immediately replying ‘You tack.’
C-3. F – As long as all the conditions stated in Rule 20 (Room to Tack at an Obstruction) are met (e.g. PL must be sailing closehauled or above, PL must have to make a substantial course change to avoid an obstruction), PL may hail for room to tack in accordance with the rule. It doesn’t matter whether PL has other options or not, she can choose to hail and tack if she wants.
Top Mark – Situation D D-1. F – If A entered the zone clear ahead of B, B must give A mark-room during this rounding ‘until mark-room has been given.’ Mark-room includes room for A to ‘round or pass the mark as necessary to sail the course . . .’ In this situation, jibing is not necessary for A to sail the course (that’s because the mark is dead downwind and A is not aiming at the mark after she jibes). Therefore, at the moment shown in this diagram, B has already given A mark-room, so rule 18 no longer applies. A is on port tack and must keep clear of B.
D-2. T – When D and C entered the zone on port tack, C was overlapped to windward (probably) and so D had to give C mark-room. When C passed head to wind, rule 18.2(b) ceased to apply, so C was no longer entitled to mark-room. Once the boats got on the same tack again, rule 18 turned on. Now rule 18.2(a) says the outside boat (D) must give mark-room to the inside boat (C).
D-3. F – Boat D passed head to wind in the zone and boat E is entering the zone on starboard tack. Therefore, rule 18.3 (Passing Head to Wind in the Zone) applies between them. When rule 18.3 applies, rule 18.2 does not, so the boats have to comply with 18.3. That is, D must not force E to sail above closehauled to avoid contact. And D must give mark-room to E if E becomes overlapped inside D.
D-4. F – Boat C passed head to wind in the zone and boat E is entering the zone on starboard tack. Therefore, rule 18.3 (Passing Head to Wind in the Zone) applies between them. When rule 18.3 applies, rule 18.2 does not, so the boats have to comply with 18.3. That is, C must not force E to sail above closehauled to avoid contact. The only time C would have to give mark-room to E is if E becomes overlapped inside C.
D-5. T – When Boat G reaches the zone she is overlapped with Boat F. Rule 18.2(b) tells us that the outside boat (G) must therefore give mark-room to the inside boat (F).
D-6. F – The second sentence of rule 18.2(b) says, ‘If a boat is clear ahead when she reaches the zone, the boat clear astern at that moment shall thereafter give her mark-room.’ In this case, H was clear ahead when the first boat of the pair (G) reached the zone. Because a) G and H were not overlapped when the first one reached the zone, and b) the boat that reached the zone first (G) was not the one clear ahead, rule 18.2(b) does not apply between these boats. Instead, they will be governed by rule 18.2(a), which says ‘When boats are overlapped the outside boat shall give the inside boat mark-room . . .’ Since the boats are not overlapped at this moment, neither owes mark-room. But if they do become overlapped (and that means they’d have to be on the same tack because they’re sailing upwind), the one on the outside would have to give mark-room to the one on the inside.
RUNNING
1. Yes. There is no rule that limits a boat from sailing below her proper course (rule 17 used to do this in certain situations, but that part of the rule was deleted more than 10 years ago). Of course, rule 11 (Windward-Leeward) means a windward boat may not be able to sail low when she is required to keep clear of a leeward boat. However, in this case the photo shows that Boat A is clear ahead of Boat B. That means A has the right of way (see rule 12), so B must keep clear of her. It’s OK for A to sail below her proper course until the point when B becomes a leeward boat and gains the right of way.
2. T – Rule 55 (Setting and Sheeting Sails) contains limitations on sheeting sails. It says that a sail may not be sheeted “over or through any device that exerts outward pressure on a sheet or clew of a sail . . .” However, US Sailing Case 23 explains that, “No part of a crew’s body is a ‘device.’” And World Sailing case 4 says, ‘A competitor may hold a sheet outboard.’ Therefore it is OK to hold a sheet outside the sheerline to trim a sail. Of course, there could be a class rule that prohibits this. And, of course, a crewmember holding a sheet outboard must still comply with rule 49 (Crew Position; Lifelines), which limits how crew can position their bodies outboard.
3. T – The definition of “Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap” says, “These terms always apply to boats on the same tack.”
4. F – The definition of “Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap” also says these terms “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.” So if boats on opposite tacks are both sailing more than ninety degrees from the wind, they are considered to be overlapped even if neither is in the zone at a mark.
5. F – Rule 55 (Setting and Sheeting Sails) contains the requirements for using spinnakers and spinnaker poles. It does not require boats to use spinnaker poles – it just says that if a spinnaker pole is in use “it shall be attached to the foremost mast.”
6. T – Again we turn to Rule 55 (Setting and Sheeting Sails). It does not require the use of a spinnaker pole but says, “When in use, it shall be attached to the foremost mast.”
7. F – In the old days, there was a rule requiring that the spinnaker clew be in close proximity to the end of the pole, but that was removed from the rulebook a long time ago. Now there is no such requirement, and sailors often fly a chute away from the pole tip when running.
8. F – Rule 55.1 (Changing Sails) says, ‘only one mainsail and, except when changing, only one spinnaker shall be carried set at a time.’ However, there is no rule about sailing with a spinnaker and a jib or genoa set at the same time.
9. F – Rule 44 (Penalties at the Time of an Incident) makes no exception for boats that are flying a spinnaker when they break a rule. Its second part (rule 44.2) starts off by saying, “After getting well clear of other boats as soon after the incident as possible . . .” So whenever a boat breaks a rule and intends to take a penalty she must get well clear of other boats as soon as possible and then promptly take a penalty. The only thing different about a boat with a spinnaker is that it may take her a little longer to begin her penalty because she will have to douse the spinnaker first.
10. T – The definition of Proper Course says, “A course a boat would choose in order to sail the course and finish as soon as possible . . .”
11. T – The definition of Proper Course says it is the course a boat “would choose to sail the course and finish as soon as possible in the absence of the other boats referred to in the rule using the term.” So, for example, if a boat got a leeward overlap from clear astern she cannot sail above her proper course (rule 17). In that case her proper course is the course she would sail in the absence of the windward boat (because that boat is referred to in rule 17). However, the leeward boat’s proper course can include the actions or positions of boats other than the windward boat, if her fastest course to the finish is affected by them.
12. F – This question would be true if it read, “the windward boat is protected as long as she keeps clear of the leeward boat.” When two boats are overlapped on the same tack, the windward boat (W) must keep clear of the leeward boat (L). The basic Windward-Leeward rule (rule 11) does not change simply because L got her overlap from clear astern and rule 17 (On the Same Tack; Proper Course) now limits how high L can sail.
13. F – When two boats on the same tack converge, the windward boat must keep clear of the leeward boat (see Rule 11 – On the Same Tack, Overlapped). This applies even if the leeward boat came from behind and has a higher proper course than the windward boat. There is no rule that entitles a windward boat to sail her proper course – just a rule (rule 17) that prohibits a leeward boat from sailing above her proper course when she came from behind.
14. F – The definition of Obstruction describes a hypothetical test that must be used to determine whether an object is big enough to be an obstruction. It says an object is an obstruction only if a boat sailing directly at it and one of her hull lengths from it must change course “substantially” (not ‘slightly’) to pass it.
15. T – Rule 19 (Room to Pass an Obstruction) governs the actions of boats when they pass obstructions. In rule 19.2 (Giving Room at an Obstruction) it says, “A right-of-way boat may choose to pass an obstruction on either side.”
16. T – There are only two rules in the rulebook that have mandatory hails: Rule 20 when hailing for room to tack, and rule 61 when notifying another boat of your intent to protest. Rule 19 (Room to Pass an Obstruction) does not require any hails, so an outside boat has to provide room while passing an obstruction whether or not there is a hail from the inside boat. Of course, as with many other rule situations, it is often safer and smart tactically to hail even when it is not required.
17. F – According to 42.3(c)(1), you are allowed to pull in each sail once ‘to initiate surfing or planning . . .’ There is no exception in rule 42 for pulling in a sail to maintain a plane or surf, so if you do that you will break the basic provisions of the propulsion rule (rule 42).
18. T – To initiate surfing or planning, you can pull in each sail only once for each wave or gust of wind – see rule 42.3(c)(1). With the spinnaker, pulling in both the sheet and guy at the same time counts as pulling in the sail once, so it is OK.
19. T – Rule 42.2 (Prohibited Actions) contains a list of prohibited kinetic actions that includes: ‘(c) ooching: sudden forward body movement, stopped abruptly.’ There is no exception to this rule, which means ooching is always prohibited. Of course, class rules can change this. In the USA, for example, college sailing permits ooching to promote surfing downwind.
20. F – Rule 44.1 (Taking a Penalty) starts off like this: “A boat may take a Two-Turns Penalty when she may have broken one or more rules of Part 2 in an incident while racing . . .” Rule 42 (Propulsion) is in Part 4 of the rulebook, not Part 2. Therefore, the Two-Turns Penalty is not available when a boat breaks a propulsion rule.
21. T – Rule 42.3 (Exceptions) includes the following provision: “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.” So, yes, you can pump the sail to flip the batten, but you must be careful not to do this in a way that propels the boat.
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Running – Situation A A-1. A – At position 1 the boats are on opposite tacks; Boat A is on port tack and Boat B is on starboard tack. Therefore, they are governed by rule 10 (Opposite Tacks), which says the port tacker (A) must keep clear of the starboard tacker (B).
A-2. T – Rule 14 (Avoiding Contact) says, “A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible.” Boat B could have easily avoided contact by heading up or bearing off to avoid Boat A. Since B did not avoid contact when it was reasonably possible to do so, she broke rule 14. (See also answer to A-3.)
A-3. T – Rule 14 says a boat shall avoid contact if possible. It also says, “a right-of-way boat . . . shall be exonerated if she breaks this rule and the contact does not cause damage or injury.” So even if B fails to avoid contact (as in this situation), she will be exonerated for breaking rule 14 unless she causes damage or injury.
Running – Situation B B-1. F – There is only place in the rulebook where the rules place an onus on a boat, and that is in rule 18.2(e) when there is doubt about whether a boat got or broke an overlap in time. In port-starboard crossings there is no onus on the port-tack boat. World Sailing Case 50 is a great, detailed reference on this question.
B-2. T – According to US Sailing Appeal 27, ‘A hail to hold course is not binding on a right-of-way boat.’
B-3. F – The answer would have been true under the old rules when rule 16.2 said, ‘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 starboard-tack boat shall not change course if as a result the port-tack boat would immediately need to change course to continue keeping clear.’ But the 2021-2024 rulebook changed rule 16.2 so it applies only ‘. . . on a beat to windward.’ Therefore, in this situation S may bear off to ‘hunt’ P as long as she (S) complies with rule 16.1 while she is changing course and gives P room to keep clear (which she did).
Running – Situation C C-1. T – Rule 16.1 reads, ‘When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.’ This is a fundamental limitation on any right-of-way boat.
C-2. F – If W and L have contact (at position 3 or anywhere else) it’s true that W breaks rule 11 (Windward-Leeward) because she did not keep clear of L. However, this does not necessarily mean W needs to take a penalty. If L luffed too fast and did not give W room to keep clear, then W would be exonerated by rule 43.1(b) for breaking rule 11. As rule 43.2 says, ‘A boat exonerated for breaking a rule need not take a penalty and shall not be penalized for breaking that rule.’
C-3. F – W is a windward boat and therefore must keep clear of L, a leeward boat. If L luffs until she is head to wind (which she’s entitled to do because she is still a right-of-way boat), W may actually have to go past head to wind in order to keep clear of L. There is no rule that says W only has to turn until she is head to wind.
C-4. T – Rule 16.1 requires L (while she is turning) to give W room to keep clear. As long as L does that, she (L) will not be penalized for this incident. The safe move for L in this situation is to always avoid contact.
Running – Situation D D-1. T – At position 1, the boats are on the same tack and Boat C is clear ahead of Boat D. Therefore, according to rule 12 (On the Same Tack, Not Overlapped), D must keep clear of C (which means C has the right of way).
D-2. F – At Position 2, Boat D has established a leeward overlap on Boat C from clear astern within two hull lengths. Therefore, according to rule 17 (On the Same Tack; Proper Course), Boat D “shall not sail above her proper course while they remain on the same tack and overlapped within that distance . . .” So if D pulls clear ahead of C she (D) can sail above her proper course. But there are also other ways for D to achieve this – by changing tacks or by sailing farther than 2 lengths from C, for example.
D-3. T – A boat’s proper course is a subjective opinion based on her understanding of all the factors that affect how quickly she will make progress toward the finish line. Two boats can have very different opinions on how to finish quickly. According to World Sailing Case 14, “Two boats on the same leg sailing near one another may have very different proper courses.”
D-4. T – Because Boat D got her leeward overlap from astern, she is prohibited by rule 17 from sailing above her proper course. When D gets to her port-tack layline to the next mark, her proper course is usually to jibe and sail to that mark. If she clearly goes beyond that layline, she is considered to be sailing above her proper course and therefore breaks rule 17.
D-5. T – At position 3, Boat C is a windward boat and must keep clear of D, the leeward boat. If the boats have contact, it means the windward boat did not keep clear and breaks rule 11 (On the Same Tack, Overlapped). In this case C will not be exonerated for breaking rule 11 because she was not compelled to break it (even though D was sailing above her proper course). So if there is contact at position 3, both boats would probably be penalized.
D-6. F – When two boats on the same tack converge, the windward boat must keep clear of the leeward boat (see Rule 11 – On the Same Tack, Overlapped). This applies even if the leeward boat came from behind and has a higher proper course than the windward boat. There is no rule that entitles a windward boat to sail her proper course – just a rule (rule 17) that prohibits a leeward boat from sailing above her proper course when she came from behind.
LEEWARD MARK
1. F – The last sentence of rule 18.1 (When Rule 18 Applies) explains when rule 18 no longer applies. It says, ‘Rule 18 no longer applies between boats when mark-room has been given.’ This means rule 18 usually turns off long before the boat entitled to mark-room leaves the zone.
2. F – According to its definition, the Zone is, ‘The area around a mark within a distance of three hull lengths of the boat nearer it.’ So the zone is a function of the length of the boat that’s closer to it, regardless of the relative sizes of the boats.
3. T – Rule 18.1 (When Rule 18 Applies) says that rule 18 (Mark-Room) applies when “at least one of them is in the zone.” So, as soon as the first boat of a pair reaches the zone rule 18 begins to apply between them.
4. T – According to the definition ‘Mark-room,’ a boat entitled to mark-room gets ‘(b) room to round the mark as necessary to sail the course.’ At a windward mark, a boat gets room to bear off to a downwind course. At a leeward mark, she gets enough room to head up to a closehauled course (because that is the course necessary to sail the next leg which is a beat).
5. T – Mark-room is defined as the room a boat needs to leave a mark on the required side, room to sail to the mark, and room to round or pass the mark as necessary to sail the course. In all these cases, the boat gets ‘room’ which is defined as the space she needs ‘in the existing conditions’ and while ‘maneuvering promptly in a seamanlike way.’ ‘Room’ is always a function of the existing wind and sea conditions – in light air and flat water a boat doesn’t need as much space to make a maneuver as she does in heavy air and big seas.
6. F – This statement would be true for a boat entitled to mark-room that does not have the right of way. But when a boat entitled to mark-room also has the right of way, she can always sail at least as wide as her proper course, and she is not limited to a seamanlike rounding. A ‘seamanlike’ rounding is the minimum amount of space guaranteed to any boat that is entitled to mark-room, but it’s a moot concept if and when that boat has the right of way.
7. F – There are several reasons why a boat’s obligation to give mark-room may end before the other boat has left the mark astern. This happens when the boat entitled to mark-room 1) passes head to wind; 2) goes outside the zone, or 3) has been given the mark-room she needs (see rule 18.2d).
8. F – Rule 31 (Touching a Mark) says that “a boat shall not touch . . . a mark that begins, bounds or ends the leg of the course on which she is sailing . . . “ According to the rulebook’s ‘Introduction,’ a boat is “A sailboat and the crew on board.” So if any part of a sailboat, including its equipment, touches a mark, that boat has broken rule 31 and must take a penalty.
9. T – The boat coming from behind must give the other boat mark-room, which includes room to sail to the mark, leave it on the required side and round it as necessary to sail the course. As long as the boat behind provides the required room, she can round the mark however she wants. If the boat entitled to mark-room sails wide enough, the boat behind can often cut inside without interfering.
10. F – A boat entitled to mark-room does not necessarily get room to tack. Mark-room includes room to tack only when tacking is necessary to sail the course AND the boat entitled to mark-room is ‘overlapped inside and to windward of the boat required to give mark-room . . . ‘ (see the definition of Mark-Room).
11. F – Rule 18.4 (Gybing) says that 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.’ So if two boats enter the zone overlapped on the same tack and the leeward inside boat must gybe to sail her proper course around the mark, she is required to do so, even if she has ‘luffing rights’ (i.e. she did not get her leeward overlap from clear astern).
12. F – Rule 43 (Exoneration) describes when a boat may be exonerated for breaking certain rules. Rule 43.1(b) says, “When a boat is sailing within . . . the mark-room to which she is entitled and . . . she breaks . . . rule 16 . . ., she is exonerated for her breach. So an inside boat that’s entitled to mark-room can change her course as needed to round the mark, and if she breaks rule 16 (Changing Course) she will be exonerated (as long as she keeps sailing within the mark-room to which she is entitled).
13. F – In rule 43 (Exoneration), rule 43.1(c) says that if a boat entitled to mark-room
breaks rule 14, she will be exonerated only if the contact does not cause damage or injury. The answer is False because she is not always exonerated for breaking rule 14.
14. T – Rule 43.1(b) (Exoneration) lists rule 31 (Touching a Mark) as one of the rules for which a boat can be exonerated when she is sailing within the mark-room to which she is entitled. A boat will be exonerated for touching a mark only if it is ‘a consequence of an incident with a boat required to give her that . . . mark-room . . .’
15. F – When there is doubt about whether a boat ‘obtained or broke an overlap in time,’ the onus is on the boat that claims to have obtained or broken the overlap. It does not matter which boat is farther from the mark at that moment. (See rule 18.2f.)
16. T – Rule 32 (Shortening or Abandoning After the Start) describes the rules that apply when a race committee shortens or abandons a race. Section 32.2 says, “If the race committee signals a shortened course . . . the finishing line shall be . . . (c) at a gate, between the gate marks.” So when the course is shortened to a gate, boats always finish between the two gate marks – the nearby RC boat is not a mark or end of the line.
17. F – In rule 18.2 (Giving Mark-Room), section (d) says, ‘Rules 18.2(b) and (c) cease to apply if the boat entitled to mark-room passes head to wind or leaves the zone.’ If a boat goes outside the zone for any reason (including giving mark-room to boats inside or ahead of her), she loses her entitlement to mark-room from other boats that were behind her when she reached the zone.
18. T – Rule 18.1 (When Rule 18 Applies) says, ‘Rule 18 applies between boats when they are required to leave a mark on the same side . . .’ When boats are required to leave a mark on different sides (one must leave it to port and the other to starboard), rule 18 does not apply between them and the must abide by the basic right-of-way rules.
19. F – Rule 33 (Changing the Next Leg of the Course) describes the procedures and rules that apply when the RC moves a mark. The rule says the RC must ‘signal all boats before they begin the next leg,’ but ‘The next mark need not be in position at that time.’
20. T – A boat entitled to mark-room gets enough space to leave the mark on the required side, sail to the mark and round the mark as necessary to sail the course. If she must jibe to start sailing the course on the next leg, that is included in mark-room. However, mark-room does not include room to jibe if the jibe is done solely so a boat can sail her proper course. Sailing a proper course by itself does not make a jibe ‘necessary to sail the course,’ but if a boat jibes and is heading directly at the next mark, then that jibe was necessary to sail the course.
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Lee Mark – Situation A A-1. F – It looks like C may have to give mark-room to G, at this leeward mark, but neither of these boats has reached the zone, so rule 18 (Mark-Room) does not yet apply between them. As soon as one of them reaches the zone we will see which one is entitled to mark-room.
A-2. T – Boat E is in the zone at the leeward mark, so rule 18 (Mark-Room) applies between E and F (and also between E and each other boat). Since E and F were not overlapped when E entered the zone, the boat that was clear astern (F) must give mark-room to the boat clear ahead (E). See rule 18.2(b). Even though Boat G overlaps both E and F, E is not considered to be overlapped with F because G is not ‘between them’ (see Definition ‘Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap’).
A-3. T – Even though Boat D is behind Boat B, these boats are considered to be overlapped because a boat between (C) them overlaps both (see Definition ‘Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap’). Since B and D are overlapped when the first of them (B) enters the zone, the outside boat (B) must give mark-room to the inside boats (both C and D).
A-4. T – Boat B has reached the zone, so rule 18 applies between her and each other boat, including Boat A. Because A and B are overlapped at this moment, rule 18.2(b) says the outside boat (A) must give mark-room to the inside boat (B).
A-5 T – Boat H has reached the zone, so rule 18 applies between her and each other boat, including Boat G. Because G and H are overlapped at this moment, rule 18.2(b) says the outside boat (G) must give mark-room to the inside boat (H).
A-6. T – Boat H is in the zone, so rule 18 (Mark-Room) applies between her and Boat A. Even though these boats are on opposite tacks and A is sailing above 90° to the true wind, they are considered to be overlapped because rule 18 applies between them and neither boat is clear astern of the other. Therefore the outside boat (A) must give mark-room to the inside boat (H).
Lee Mark – Situation B B-1. T – At position 1, Boat A is in the zone so rule 18 (Mark-Room) applies between the boats. Because A and B were overlapped when the first of them entered the zone, the boat on the outside (A) must give mark-room to the one on the inside (B) – see part (b) of rule 18.2 (Giving Mark-Room).
B-2. F – Boat B is entitled to mark-room. According to the definition of Mark-Room, this means B gets enough room for a ‘seamanlike’ rounding; in other words she can sail to the mark, leave the mark on its required side, and round the mark as necessary to sail the course. Nothing in the definition says B can go wide enough to sail her proper course. B is a windward, keep-clear boat so if she takes more room than is permitted in the definition she will be penalized. If B had the right of way here she could sail her proper course around the mark.
B-3. T – Boats A and B are overlapped with B to windward. According to rule 11 (On the Same Tack, Overlapped), the windward boat (B) must keep clear of the leeward boat (A). Since the boats had contact, B did not keep clear of A; therefore, B broke rule 11 (but she may be exonerated for doing so).
B-4. F – Rule 43 (Exoneration) says that when a boat is sailing within the mark-room to which she is entitled she will be exonerated if she breaks rule 11 (On the Same Tack, Overlapped) or any of several other rules. In this case, B was taking more room than she needed for a seamanlike. In other words, she was not sailing within the mark-room to which she was entitled; therefore, B will not be exonerated for breaking rule 11.
Lee Mark – Situation C C-1. T – At position 1, Boat C is in the zone so rule 18 (Mark-Room) applies between the boats. Because C and D were overlapped when the first of them entered the zone, the boat on the outside (C) must give mark-room to the one on the inside (D) – see part (b) of rule 18.2 (Giving Mark-Room).
C-2. F – In this situation the inside boat (D) has the right of way so she is not limited to taking only enough room for a seamanlike rounding. However, rule 18.4 (Gybing) says that when an inside overlapped right-of-way boat (D in this case) must jibe at the mark to sail her proper course, before she jibes she can sail no wider than needed to sail her proper course. So D is permitted to sail her proper course around this mark (she is not limited to a seamanlike rounding).
C-3. F – At position 2, both boats are in the zone and rule 18 (Mark-Room) applies. Since Boat D is an inside overlapped right-of-way boat and must jibe at the mark to sail her proper course, rule 18.4 (Gybing) says she may not sail any farther from the mark than needed to sail her proper course. Therefore, she is not allowed to luff after position 1 (unless luffing is her proper course for some reason).
C-4. T – The last sentence of rule 18.4 (Gybing) says, “Rule 18.4 does not apply at a gate mark.” So this rule does not place a limit on how wide Boat D can sail around a leeward gate mark.
FINISHING
1. F – The definition Finish says, ‘A boat finishes when, after starting, any part of her hull crosses the finishing line from the course side . . .’ In the drawing shown, the forward crew’s elbow has crossed the line, but not any part of her hull. Therefore she has not yet finished. The old definition said a boat finishes when ‘any part of her hull, or crew or equipment in normal position, crosses the finishing line . . .’ So before 2021 this boat would have been considered to have finished.
2. F – The old definition said a boat finishes when ‘any part of her hull, or crew or equipment in normal position, crosses the finishing line from the course side . . .’ But the current definition omits ‘crew or equipment in normal position.’ So now a boat finishes only when part of her hull crosses the line.
3. F – The definition of ‘Finish’ says nothing about sailing the course properly. If a boat failed to round a mark of the course and later she crosses the finish line, she is considered to have finished. However, she broke rule 28 (Sailing the Course) because she did not sail the course properly, and she will be penalized if there is a valid protest against her.
4. F – This is definitely false. After finishing a race, a boat could be penalized for breaking a rule in that race if there is a valid protest against her. In addition, there are many rules that a boat can break when she is not racing. If she finishes a race and then throws some trash overboard, for example, she could be penalized for breaking rule 47 (Trash Disposal), which applies “at all times while afloat.”
5. F – If at least one boat sails the course and finishes within the time limit, “the race committee shall not abandon the race without considering the consequences for all boats in the race or series.” This is stated in rule 32 (Shortening or Abandoning After the Start). So, the RC can abandon a race after boats have finished, but they first must consider how this would affect all other boats in the race.
6. T – Rule 35 (Race Time Limit and Scores) makes this point clearly. It says, “If no boat finishes within the race time limit, the race committee shall abandon the race.”
7. F – According to the definition ‘Racing,’ a boat is still racing until she “finishes and clears the finishing line and marks . . .” While a boat is racing she must comply with rule 42 (Propulsion), which prohibits sculling and paddling, among other kinetic actions. So even after a boat crosses the finish line, she must comply with rule 42 until she has cleared the line and marks.
8. F – Rule 44 (Penalties at the Time of an Incident) does not place any restriction on where a boat can take her penalty (except that she must be well clear of other boats). The rule’s only requirement is that if a boat takes a penalty at or near the finishing line “she shall sail completely to the course side of the line before finishing.”
9. F – Rule 32 (Shortening or Abandoning After the Start) describes the procedure the race committee must follow when shortening the course. The last sentence in the rule says, “The shortened course shall be signaled before the first boat crosses the finish line.” In other words, the RC doesn’t have to signal a shortened course until just before the first boat gets to the new finish line.
10. F – The answer would be True if we were talking only about boats on opposite tacks because rule 18 does not apply “between boats on opposite tacks on a beat to windward.” However, when boats are on the same tack and approaching a mark at the end of an upwind fish line, rule 18 applies just as it does at a windward mark. The phrase “surrounded by navigable water” (which comes from the Section C preamble) applies only at a starting line and does not make any difference at the finish.
11. F – The answer would be True if we were talking only about an upwind finish because rule 18 (Mark-Room) does not apply “between boats on opposite tacks on a beat to windward.” However, when boats are approaching a downwind finish, rule 18 applies between boats at the ends of the line just as it does at a leeward mark, regardless of whether the boats are on the same or opposite tacks.
12. A,B – Rule 62 (Redress) lists four situations in which a boat may be entitled to redress. One is when the race committee makes an error, and another is when she is damaged (e.g. ripped spinnaker) by a boat that was required to keep clear. However, she cannot get redress when another boat fouls her but does not cause damage or injury (D). Even though she can get redress for helping any person or vessel in danger, she is not entitled to redress when she gives help to her own crew (C – see rule 62.1c). And she cannot get redress from the decision of a protest committee when she was a party to the hearing (62.1a).
13. T – The rulebook’s Appendix A (Scoring) explains how to score a race. Rule A5 says a boat that retires from a race “shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats entered in the series.” Since there are 20 boats entered in this regatta, a retirement (RET) gets 21 points. Rule A5 also says a boat that is disqualified (DSQ) “shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats entered in the series.” Since there are 20 boats entered in this regatta, a DSQ also gets 21 points.
14. T – Rule A1 (Number of Races) says, ‘The number of races scheduled and the number required to be completed to constitute a series shall be stated in the notice of race or sailing instructions.’
15. F – Boats A and B are tied on points at 18. To break the tie we have to look at Appendix A rule A8 (Series Ties). Rule A8.1 says “If there is a series-score tie between two or more boats, each boat’s race scores shall be listed in order of best to worst, and at the first point where there is a difference the tie shall be broken in favor of the boat with the best score . . .” If we do this with Boats A and B we get:
Boat A 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, (8)
Boat B 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, (10)
These boats have exactly the same race scores until we get to their throwout scores. However, rule A8.1 says, “No excluded scores shall be used [when breaking the tie].” So the boats are still tied and we have to go on to A8.2, which says “If a tie remains between two or more boats, they shall be ranked in order of their scores in the last race.” Since A got a 4 in the last race and B got a 2, B wins the tie-breaker and the regatta overall. Note that A8.2 uses each boat’s score in the last race even if this was her excluded score.
16. T – Boats C and D are tied on their series score at 32, so we go to the first tie-breaker which is to list each boat’s scores from best to worst (rule A8.1).
Boat C 2, 6, 8, 8, 8, (12)
Boat D 2, 6, 6, 8, 10, (14)
Because Boat C has a 2, 6, 8 and Boat D has a 2, 6, 6, Boat D wins the tie-breaker and third place overall. In this case we don’t have to go to rule A8.2, and it doesn’t matter that Boat C had a better throwout or beat Boat D in the last race.
17. F – The preamble to Section C turns off rules 18, 19 and 20 when boats are approaching the starting line to start. But it does not do this at the finish. So if a boat is approaching an obstruction at one end of the finish line (e.g. the race committee boat), and she will have to make a substantial course change to avoid that obstruction safely, she may hail for room to tack and avoid another boat on the same tack. One exception explained at the end of rule 20.1 (Hailing): ‘. . . 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.’
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Finish – Situation A A-1. T – According to Rule A5 (Scores Determined by the Race Committee), ‘A boat that did not start, sail the course or finish, or comply with rule 30.2, 30.3, 30.4 or 78.2, or that retires or takes a penalty under rule 44.3(a), shall be scored accordingly by the race committee without a hearing . . .’ So if the committee sees a boat fail to sail the course correctly, they SHALL be scored accordingly. In other words, the boat should receive a score of NSC (Did not sail the course), and the race committee should do this without a hearing. Of course, if the boat thinks her score of NSC is an error she can always request redress.
A-2. F – Rule A5 (Scores Determined by the Race Committee) lists a number of times when the race committee can score a boat as RET, DSQ, etc. without a hearing. Touching a mark is not one of those times. If the RC thinks they see a boat touch a mark, they cannot score them DSQ without a hearing. Of course, they do have the option of protesting that boat for breaking rule 31 (Touching a Mark).
A-3. T – Rule 60.3 says, A race committee may (a) protest a boat . . .’ So if the RC sees two boats have contact during a race, they can (but they don’t have to) protest one or both of them.
Finish – Situation B B-1. T – According to the definition of racing, a boat is racing “until she finishes and clears the finishing line and marks . . .” So in this situation Boat A is still racing because she has not yet cleared the finish line and marks. Rule 31 (Touching a Mark) says, “While racing, a boat shall not touch . . . a mark . . .” So, because Boat A touched a mark while she is still racing, she must take a penalty.
B-2. T – Boat B has complied with the definition of Finish because she “crosses the finish line from the course side.” She does not need to sail all the way across the finish line because the first part of rule 28 (Sailing the Course) says, “After finishing, she need not cross the finishing line completely.”
B-3. F – Rule 44.1 (Taking a Penalty) says, ‘A boat may take a Two-Turns Penalty when she may have broken one or more rules of Part 2 in an incident while racing . . .’ So a boat can take a Two-Turns Penalty only if she is racing at the time she breaks a rule. In this case, the boat had finished, cleared the line and then interfered with a boat that was still racing. Since the boat that broke rule 23 (Interfering with Another Boat) was not racing, she cannot take a Two-Turns Penalty; her only option is to retire from the race nearest in time to the incident.
Finish – Situation C C-1. X – At position 2, Boat X has completed her tack by getting to a closehauled course. Boats X and Y are then on the same tack and overlapped. Therefore, according to rule 11 (On the Same Tack; Overlapped), the windward boat (Z) must keep clear of the leeward boat (X). This means X has the right of way at position 2.
C-2. F – Although Boat X is overlapped inside of Boat Z within the zone at the pin end mark, rule 18.2 (Giving Mark-Room) does not apply between them. That’s because X tacked inside the zone and Z has been on starboard tack since entering the zone. Therefore, rule 18.3 (Passing Head to Wind in the Zone) applies between them. The last sentence of rule 18.3 says, “When this rule applies between boats, rule 18.2 does not apply between them.”
C-3. F– Because Boat X tacked inside the zone and Boat Z has been on starboard tack since entering the zone, rule 18.3 (Tacking in the Zone) applies between them. That rule says, among other things, that X shall not cause Z to sail above close-hauled to avoid contact. Since Z had to luff above closehauled to keep clear of X, X broke rule 18.3. Many sailors do not realize that this rule applies at the pin end of a windward finish, not just at a windward mark.
Finish – Situation D D-1. F – Boat S and Boat P are sailing toward a mark at one end of the finish line, which they are required to leave to starboard. When the first of them reaches the zone, the boats are overlapped with P on the inside. According to rule 18.2 (Giving Mark-Room), “If boats are overlapped when the first of them reaches the zone, the outside boat at that moment shall thereafter give the inside boat mark-room.” Therefore, S must give P room to pass on the required side of the mark.
D-2. F – Rule 44 (Penalties at the Time of an Incident) does not place any restriction on where a boat can take her penalty (except that she must be well clear of other boats). The rule’s only requirement is that if a boat takes a penalty at or near the finishing line “she shall sail completely to the course side of the line before finishing.”
D-3. F – The definition Finish says, “A boat finishes when . . . any part of her hull crosses the finishing line from the course side.” So Boat S finishes when the first part of her hull crosses the line. The position of the spinnaker has no bearing on when the boat finishes.
PROTESTS
1. F – Rule 61 (Informing the Protestee) requires a protesting boat to display a red FLAG. This flag must be recognized by other boats as a flag. A PFD or ‘any other red object’ would not qualify as a flag. See Question #2 for the opinion in World Sailing Case 72.
2. T – Rule 61.1 (Informing the Protestee) describes the requirements for protesting. It says you must display a ‘red flag’ but it does not require any particular shape for that flag. However, World Sailing Case 72 has a discussion of the word ‘flag’ in rule 61.1. It says, “Only if the object used as a flag communicates that message, with little or no possibility of causing confusion on the part of those on competing boats, will the object qualify as a flag. A flag must be seen primarily to be a flag.”
3. F – Rule 86 (Changes to the Racing Rules) lists the rules that can be changed by various racing documents. The first two sections describe what rules can (and cannot) be changed by the national prescriptions, notice of race and sailing instructions. The third section says, ‘Class rules may change only racing rules 42, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55.’ None of those rules is the one that says a boat who wishes to protest must display a protest flag. So class rules cannot make that change. However, the notice of race for any regatta is allowed to change the protest requirements for that event (see rule 86.1 a and b).
4. F – In most cases, it’s true that a boat cannot be penalized without a hearing. That right is protected by rule 63.1 (Requirement for a Hearing), which starts out by saying, “A boat or competitor shall not be penalized without a protest hearing . . .” However, rule 63.1 goes on to say “. . . except as provided in rules 30.2, 30.3, 30.4, 64.4(d), 64,5(b), 69, 78.2, A5.1 and P2.” When a boat breaks any of those rules she CAN be penalized without a hearing. Of course, when a boat is penalized without a hearing she can usually request redress if she thinks that decision was made in error.
5. F – ‘Beyond a reasonable doubt’ is not the standard of proof used in sailboat racing protest hearings. According to rule 64 (Decisions), ‘A protest committee shall make its decision based on a balance of probabilities . . .’ A ‘balance of probabilities’ is nowhere near as rigorous a requirement as ‘beyond a reasonable doubt.’ It allows protest committees to make decisions much more easily.
6. T – In addition to requiring the display of a red flag, rule 61.1 (Informing the Protestee) says a boat that intends to protest “shall hail ‘Protest’ . . . at the first reasonable opportunity . . .” This is almost always within a few seconds after the incident.
There is an argument for an answer of ‘F’ here: Rule 61.1 goes on to say that ‘if the other boat is beyond hailing distance, the protesting boat need not hail but she shall inform the other boat at the first reasonable opportunity.’ So this is one situation where, if you want to protest a boat that is far away (too far to hear a hail), you don’t have to hail ‘Protest’ at the first reasonable opportunity.
7. F – The rulebook’s basic principle called ‘Sportsmanship and the Rules’ says, “A fundamental principle of sportsmanship is that when a boat breaks a rule and is not exonerated she will promptly take an appropriate penalty . . .” It doesn’t matter whether anyone else saw or protested the rule infringement.
8. T – This is a change in the 2021-2024 rules. According to the preamble of Appendix J (Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions), ‘A rule in the notice of race need not be repeated in the sailing instructions.’ This means that sailors must now read and be familiar with both the notice of race and the sailing instructions.
9. T – Rule 61.1 (Informing the Protestee) says a boat intending to protest shall “conspicuously display a red flag at the first reasonable opportunity . . . She shall display the flag until she is no longer racing.” This rule does not apply to boats with a hull length of less than 6 meters.
10. T – In rule 62 (Redress), the last sentence of the second part (62.2) clearly says, “No red flag is required.”
11. T – This is another change in the 2021-2024 rulebook. Under the old rules, a boat was entitled to redress if her finish position was made significantly worse by ‘injury or physical damage because of the action of a boat that was breaking a rule of Part 2 . . .’ A boat is still entitled to redress in the same situation, but now she can get redress only if the boat that broke a rule ‘took an appropriate penalty or was penalized.’ The key takeaway from this rule change – file a valid protest!
12. T – According to rule 62 (Redress), a boat that is fouled by another boat may be entitled to redress only when her finish position is made significantly worse by “. . . injury or physical damage because of the action of a boat that was breaking a rule of Part 2 . . .” If the boat that was fouled was not damaged or injured and simply loses time or positions in the race due to the incident, she is not entitled to redress.
13. F – The first sentence in rule 44.1 (Taking a Penalty) says, “A boat may take a Two-Turns Penalty when she may have broken one or more rules of Part 2 in an incident while racing . . .” In other words, if a boat breaks more than one rule of Part 2 (When Boats Meet) in the SAME incident she must take only ONE Two-Turns Penalty.
14. F – It’s true that a boat not racing can be penalized if she interferes with a boat that is racing (see rule 23.1 – Interfering With Another Boat). But there are also many other rules that apply when a boat is not racing – if she breaks any of these she can be penalized. For example, if she intentionally puts trash in the water between races, she breaks rule 55 (Trash Disposal). If flag Y was displayed ashore and her crew fails to wear PFDs at all times while afloat, she breaks rule 40 (Personal Flotation Devices), and so on.
15. F – In rule 69 (Misconduct), section 69.1c says, ‘An allegation of a breach of rule 69.1(a) shall be resolved in accordance with the provisions of rule 69. It shall NOT be grounds for a protest and rule 63.1 does not apply.’ In other words, you cannot file a protest against someone for breaking rule 69. You could, however, submit a report to the protest committee, and they will then consider whether to hold a hearing or not.
16. T – Rule 36 (Races Restarted or Resailed) says that a boat will, for the most part, not be penalized for rules breaches that occur during a start that leads to a general recall. Two clear exceptions are when she gets a Z Flag penalty (rule 30.2) or a Black Flag penalty (rule 30.4) in the original start. Another exception is when a boat breaks rule 14 (Avoiding Contact) in the original start and causes injury or serious damage. If that happens she can still be penalized even if that race is restarted or resailed (see rule 36b).
17. F – According to rule 14 (Avoiding Contact), if a right-of-way boat breaks this rule (by failing to avoid contact when it was reasonably possible), she shall be exonerated as long as the contact “does not cause damage or injury.” The answer to this question is False because it said that a right-of-way boat would be penalized under rule 14 only when there was ‘serious damage.’ But according to the rule, a right-of-way boat will be penalized under rule 14 if there is ANY damage (not required to be ‘serious’) or any injury (no matter how slight).
18. T – In rule 60 (Right to Protest . . .), the first section (60.1) says a boat may “protest another boat” or she may “request redress.” It does not permit her to protest the race committee. World Sailing Case 55 (which is currently being revised for unrelated issues) confirms this. It starts off by saying, “A boat cannot protest the race committee.” If a boat thinks the race committee made an error that affected her finish position she can request redress under rule 62 (Redress).
19. D,E – Rule 86 (Changes to the Racing Rules) explains what rules can and cannot be changed by the sailing instructions. The SIs cannot change any rules in Part 1 or Part 2 of the rulebook, so therefore they cannot change rule 2 (Fair Sailing) or rule 10 (Opposite Tacks). Rule 86 also says the SIs cannot change rule 43 (Exoneration). However, rule 86 does not prohibit the SIs from changing rule 44.2 (One-Turn and Two-Turns Penalties) or rule 61 (Protest Requirements).
20. A,B,D – There are only two rules in the rulebook that require a hail. One is rule 20 (Room to Tack at an Obstruction) when a boat hails for room to tack and clear an obstruction (and the hailed boat may reply ‘You tack’). The other is rule 61 (Informing the Protestee) which says that a boat intending to protest must hail ‘Protest.’ Other hails may be helpful or courteous but are not required.
21. F – As in the old rules, any party to a protest hearing may request a reopening of that hearing (see Rule 66 – Reopening a Hearing). However, the protest committee is now required to consider all requests. According to rule 66.3, ‘The protest committee shall consider all requests to reopen . . .’
22. T – Rule 61.2 (Protest Contents) says clearly that, ‘A protest shall be in writing . . .’ That rule goes on to list all the requirements of a written protest. All of those requirements can be met before or during the hearing (rather than in the written protest), except for one: identification of the incident. If the protest is not in writing or if it doesn’t identify the incident, it will not be considered valid.
23. F – This answer is partly True and mostly False. In rule 63.4 (Conflict of Interest), part (b) starts off by saying, “A member of a protest committee with a conflict of interest shall not be a member of the committee for the hearing . . .” However, it goes on to say “. . . unless 1) all parties consent, or 2) the protest committee decides that the conflict of interest is not significant.” These are two cases when it’s OK for a person with a conflict of interest to serve on a protest committee. However, part (d) of the rule says that at certain high-level events those exceptions do not apply; in those events “ . . . a person who has a conflict of interest shall not be a member of the protest committee.”
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Protests – Situation A A-1. F – Rule 14 says, “A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible.” It goes on to say that a right-of-way boat “need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear . . .” In this case when it became obvious that P was not going to keep clear S bore off to miss P but misjudged her duck. It was reasonably possible for S to avoid contact, but she failed to do so; therefore she broke rule 14. According to rule 43 (Exoneration), section 43.1c says, ‘A right-of-way boat . . . is exonerated for breaking rule 14 if the contact does not cause damage or injury.’ Since the contact in this case caused damage (to either boat), S is not exonerated for breaking rule 14.
A-2. F – P was required to avoid contact with S if reasonably possible (rule 14). P could have tacked or borne off to pass behind S. Since P continued to sail right in front of S and there was contact, P broke rule 14.
A-3. F – In this incident P broke rule 10 (On Opposite Tacks) because she did not keep clear of a starboard tacker. She also broke rule 14 (Avoiding Contact) because she hit the other boat when it was reasonably possible to avoid her. Because both rules are in Part 2 (When Boats Meet) and because both rule breaches were in the same incident, P could normally take one Two-Turns Penalty for this (see rule 44.1 – Taking a Penalty). However, section (b) of rule 44.1 says that if a boat causes ‘serious damage’ (to any boat) she cannot take a Two-Turns Penalty and must retire from the race.
Protests – Situation B B-1. F – According to the definition of ‘Racing,’ a boat is racing until she finishes and clears the finishing line and marks. When S had to change course to avoid P, P had finished but she was still ‘racing’ because she had not cleared the finishing line and marks. Therefore, P was still governed by all the racing rules and has to take a penalty if she breaks any of them. Even if P had cleared the finishing line and marks here, she interfered with a boat (S) that was racing so she broke rule 23.1 (Interfering With Another Boat).
B-2. T– According to rule 44.2 (One-Turn and Two-Turns Penalties), “When a boat takes a penalty at or near the finishing line, she shall sail completely to the course side of the line before finishing.” So, it doesn’t matter where a boat makes her penalty turns (as long as she keeps clear of other boats), but after taking her penalty she must be completely on the course side of the line before finishing.
B-3. F – Rule 61 (Protest Requirements) lists all the things a boat must do in order to have a valid protest, including hailing ‘Protest’ and filing a written form within the time limit. It does not require a boat to report her protest to the RC at the finish line. However, this requirement is sometimes included in the notice of race or the sailing instructions.
Protests – Situation C C-1. F – In the not-too-distant past, penalty turns had to be complete 360-degree circles, but that is no longer the case. Now each turn just has to include one tack and one jibe.
C-2. T – Rule 21 is called ‘Starting Errors; Taking Penalties; Backing a Sail.’ The second section (21.2) says, ‘A boat taking a penalty shall keep clear of one that is not.’ So when you are in the middle of taking a penalty you must keep clear of all boats that are not taking penalties. It doesn’t matter what tack you are on or whether you would have otherwise had the right of way.
C-3. F – When a boat takes a penalty during a race, there is no rule in the rulebook that say she has to report it to the RC at the finish line. This is required only if it is stated in the notice of race or sailing instructions.
Protests – Situation D D-1. T – Rule 10 (On Opposite Tacks) says a boat on port tack (P) must keep clear of a boat on starboard tack (S). Since S had to take avoiding action to miss P, P did not keep clear and therefore broke rule 10.
D-2. T – P was required to avoid contact with S if reasonably possible (rule 14). Since P sailed right in front of S and there was contact, P broke rule 14.
D-3. T – Rule 14 says, “A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible.” It goes on to say that a right-of-way boat “need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear . . .” In this case when it became obvious that P was not going to keep clear S bore off to miss P but misjudged her duck. It was reasonably possible for S to avoid contact, but she failed to do so; therefore she broke rule 14.
D-4. T – The third part of rule 43 (Exoneration) says the right-of-way boat (S) “is exonerated for breaking rule 14 if the contact does not cause damage or injury.” In this case S broke rule 14 but there was no damage or injury, so S is exonerated for breaking the rule.
D-5. T – In this situation, P broke both rule 10 (On Opposite Tacks) and rule 14 (Avoiding Contact) in the same incident. Because she broke “one or more rules of Part 2 in an incident while racing,” P only has to take one Two-Turns Penalty (see rule 44.1 – Taking a Penalty).
Protests – Situation E E-1. F – Rule 44.1 (Taking a Penalty) addresses this specific situation. It says, “(a) when a boat may have broken a rule of Part 2 and rule 31 in the same incident she need not take the penalty for breaking rule 31.” So when Boat X touches the mark and fouls Boat Y in the same incident, she has to take only a Two-Turns Penalty.
E-2. T – Rule 44.1 (Taking a Penalty) says, “. . . if the boat . . . despite taking a penalty, gained a significant advantage in the race or series by her breach her penalty shall be to retire.” So if Boat X broke a rule in rounding the windward mark and, after taking her penalty, she was ahead of where she would have been if she didn’t break any rule, then she probably gained a ‘significant advantage’ and her only option would be to retire.
E-3. T – In the rulebook’s Introduction, the section called ‘Hails’ says, ‘A language other than English may be used for a hail required by the rules provided that it is reasonable for it to be understood by all boats affected . . .’