Sailing Rules & Tactics

by

Bill Giles

Rules Rule OK!

• ISAF Racing Rules for Sailing

• Class Rules

• Club Sailing Instructions

• Competition Sailing Instructions

• Local Rules

• IRPCS

General Responsibilities

• To render assistance

• Responsible for your own boat and crew

• To sail fairly

• To retire if in the wrong– or

• To take your penalty

More General Rules

• Some only apply when you are racing

• May be penalized for acts before or after racing

• May be disqualified even if you are in the right

Safety

• Own Safety Equipment

• Own Boat

• Duty to Others

• The Rescue of Others

Your Responsibilities Before You Go Afloat and On The Water

RACINGFrom the PREPARATORY signal

(ie 4 minutes before the start signal)

Until

You have cleared the finish line

Or

Retired

START & STARTING

From the time you start to approach the line until you clear it

FINISHINGFrom the time you touch the finish line

(with all your gear in its normal place)

Until you clear the line

LUFFINGTurning towards windward

(Until you are head to wind)

TACKINGFrom the point where you have luffed

head to wind

Until you are pointing at your new course or close hauled

CLEAR AHEAD/ASTERN

From rearmost part

At 90 Degrees

BEARING AWAY

Turning Away from the Wind

ON A TACK

(By reference to Port or Starboard)

WINDWARD/LEEWARD

is of course to windward

PROPER COURSEAny course that you might reasonably

take.

MARK of the course

• An object (buoy or boat or other object) having a required side)

• Anything permanently attached to it above the waterline

OBSTRUCTIONS•May be

–another (right-of-way) boat–Bank, Island etc

•Treat similarly to Marks

OBSTRUCTIONS

can ask for to tack

OBSTRUCTIONS

can ask for for room to duck

OBSTRUCTIONS

can ask for for room to duck

OBSTRUCTIONS

can ask for for room to duck

OBSTRUCTIONS

No ObstructionsNow there is

Before You Start• Crew and Boat Ready

– Safety– Comfort– Food and Drink

• Know the SIs

• Sign On

• Memorise Course

• Tides

• Weather

Sound Signals

• Only to draw your attention to the flag

• Sound delay

The Start

Flags

The Start Flags• Class Up (-5 Mins)

•Preparatory (-4 Mins)

•Warning (-1 Min)

•Go (0 Min)

**And the next class flag up**

Other Flags

• Round The Ends Rule

• Black Flag Rule

• Information Change

More Flags When Racing

•Shorten Course

•Individual Recall

•General Recall

•Postponement

More Starting:- Port/Stbd

More Starting:- Barging

More Starting:- Overlap

More Starting:- Barging

More Starting:- Whoops

More Starting:- Whoops

More Starting - Luffing

More Starting - Luffing

Port & Starboard Rule

Port & Starboard Rule

Port & Starboard Rule

Port & Stbd - Again

Port & Stbd - Again

Port & Stbd - Again

Tacking Rule

Luffing Rule

Luffing Rule - But Not:-

Mark Rounding - 2 Boat Lengths

Mark Rounding

Mark Rounding

Mark Rounding - Overlaps

Mark Rounding - Overlaps

Mark Rounding - Overlaps

Mark Rounding

Mark Rounding - Overlaps

Gybe at Leeward Mark

Windward Rule

Port & Stbd - Again