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RRS Lookup & Cross Reference
Monday 21st May 2012
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Images swapped randomly

This is a quick reference to the main rules affecting team racing.

I wanted to see the definition, rule and AppD changes all in one place. Otherwise my thumbs and brain hurt.

It has some colloquial interpretations where one rule refers to another.
Mistakes are entirely mine.

Bill Brockbank, Jan 2009.
   

DEFINITIONS

Click a tab to see the definition. Note sequence - Sailing first, then Race Committee

  • Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap
  • Fetching
  • Finish
  • Keep Clear
  • Leeward and Windward
  • Mark
  • Mark-Room
  • Obstruction
  • Proper Course
  • Racing
  • Room
  • Start
  • Tack, Starboard or Port
  • Zone
  • Abandon
  • Interested Party
  • Party
  • Postpone
  • Protest
  • Rule
One boat is clear astern of another when her hull and equipment in normal position are behind a line abeam from the aftermost point of the other boat's hull and equipment in normal position. The other boat is clear ahead. They overlap when neither is clear astern. However, they also overlap when a boat between them overlaps both. These terms always apply to boats on the same tack. They do not apply to boats on opposite tacks unless RRS 18 applies or both boats are sailing more than ninety degrees from the true wind.
A boat is fetching a mark when she is in a position to pass to windward of it and leave it on the required side without changing tack.
A boat finishes when any part of her hull, or crew or equipment in normal position, crosses the finishing line in the direction of the course from the last mark, either for the first time or after taking a penalty under RRS 44.2 or, after correcting an error made at the finishing line, under RRS 28.1 - Sailing the course.
One boat keeps clear of another if the other can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action and, when the boats are overlapped on the same tack, if the leeward boat can change course in both directions without immediately making contact with the windward boat.
A boat's leeward side is the side that is or, when she is head to wind, was away from the wind. However, when sailing by the lee or directly downwind, her leeward side is the side on which her mainsail lies. The other side is her windward side. When two boats on the same tack overlap, the one on the leeward side of the other is the leeward boat. The other is the windward boat.
An object the sailing instructions require a boat to leave on a specified side, and a race committee boat surrounded by navigable water from which the starting or finishing line extends. An anchor line or an object attached temporarily or accidentally to a mark is not part of it.
Room for a boat to sail to the mark, and then room to sail her proper course while at the mark. However, mark-room does not include room to tack unless the boat is overlapped to windward and on the inside of the boat required to give mark-room.
An object that a boat could not pass without changing course substantially, if she were sailing directly towards it and one of her hull lengths from it. An object that can be safely passed on only one side and an area so designated by the sailing instructions are also obstructions. However, a boat racing is not an obstruction to other boats unless they are required to keep clear of her, give her room or mark-room or, if RRS 22 (Capsized) applies, avoid her. A vessel under way, including a boat racing, is never a continuing obstruction.
A course a boat would sail to finish as soon as possible in the absence of the other boats referred to in the rule using the term. A boat has no proper course before her starting signal.
A boat is racing from her preparatory signal until she finishes and clears the finishing line and marks or retires, or until the race committee signals a general recall, postponement or abandonment.
The space a boat needs in the existing conditions while manoeuvring promptly in a seamanlike way.
A boat starts when, having been entirely on the pre-start side of the starting line at or after her starting signal, and having complied with RRS 30.1 (Round the ends rule) if it applies, any part of her hull, crew or equipment crosses the starting line in the direction of the first mark.
A boat is on the tack, starboard or port, corresponding to her windward side.
The area around a mark within a distance of three hull lengths of the boat nearer to it. A boat is in the zone when any part of her hull is in the zone.
A race that a race committee or protest committee abandons is void but may be resailed.
A person who may gain or lose as a result of a protest committee's decision, or who has a close personal interest in the decision.
A party to a hearing: a protestor; a protestee; a boat requesting redress; a boat or a competitor that may be penalized under RRS 69.1; a race committee or an organizing authority in a hearing under RRS 62.1(a).
A postponed race is delayed before its scheduled start but may be started or abandoned later.
An allegation made under RRS 61.2 by a boat, a race committee or a protest committee that a boat has broken a rule.
  1. The rules in this book, including the Definitions, Race Signals, Introduction, preambles and the rules of relevant appendices, but not titles;
  2. ISAF Regulation 19, Eligibility Code; Regulation 20, Advertising Code; Regulation 21, Anti-Doping Code; and Regulation 22, Sailor Classification Code;
  3. the prescriptions of the national authority, unless they are changed by the sailing instructions in compliance with the national authority's prescription, if any, to RRS 88;
  4. the class rules (for a boat racing under a handicap or rating system, the rules of that system are 'class rules');
  5. the notice of race;
  6. the sailing instructions; and
  7. any other documents that govern the event.

 

PART 2: WHEN BOATS MEET

The rules of Part 2 apply between boats that are sailing in or near the racing area and intend to race, are racing, or have been racing. However, a boat not racing shall not be penalized for breaking one of these rules, except RRS 23.1 - Interfering with a boat which is racing. [Abridged]

  • SECTION A: RIGHT OF WAY
  • SECTION B: GENERAL LIMITATIONS
  • SECTION C: AT MARKS AND OBSTRUCTIONS
  • SECTION D: OTHER RULES

A boat has right of way when another boat is required to keep clear of her. However, some rules in Sections B, C and D limit the actions of a right-of-way boat.

  • 10 ON OPPOSITE TACKS
  • 11 ON THE SAME TACK, OVERLAPPED
  • 12 ON THE SAME TACK, NOT OVERLAPPED
  • 13 WHILE TACKING
When boats are on opposite tacks, a port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard-tack boat.
When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat.
When boats are on the same tack and not overlapped, a boat clear astern shall keep clear of a boat clear ahead.
After a boat passes head to wind, she shall keep clear of other boats until she is on a close-hauled course. During that time rules 10, 11 and 12 do not apply.
If two boats are subject to this rule at the same time, the one on the other's port side or the one astern shall keep clear.
  • 14 AVOIDING CONTACT
  • 15 ACQUIRING RIGHT OF WAY
  • 16 CHANGING COURSE
  • 17 ON THE SAME TACK; PROPER COURSE
A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible. However, a right-of-way boat or one entitled to room or mark-room
  1. need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear or giving room or mark-room, and
  2. shall not be penalized under this rule unless there is contact that causes damage or injury.
When a boat acquires right of way, she shall initially give the other boat room to keep clear, unless she acquires right of way because of the other boat's actions.
16.1 When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.
16.2 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.
If a boat clear astern becomes overlapped within two of her hull lengths to leeward of a boat on the same tack, she shall not sail above her proper course while they remain on the same tack and overlapped within that distance, unless in doing so she promptly sails astern of the other boat. This rule does not apply if the overlap begins while the windward boat is required by RRS 13 (Tacking) to keep clear.

Section C rules 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.
When RRS 20 (Tack at Obstruction) applies, rules 18 (Mark-Room) and 19 (Obstruction-Room) do not.

  • 18 MARK-ROOM
  • 19 ROOM TO PASS AN OBSTRUCTION
  • 20 ROOM TO TACK AT AN OBSTRUCTION
18.1 When RRS 18 Applies
RRS 18 applies between boats when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is in the zone. However, it does not apply
  1. between boats on opposite tacks on a beat to windward,
  2. between boats on opposite tacks when the proper course at the mark for one but not both of them is to tack,
  3. between a boat approaching a mark and one leaving it, or
  4. if the mark is a continuing obstruction, in which case RRS 19 (Obstruction-Room) applies.
18.2 Giving Mark-Room
  1. When boats are overlapped the outside boat shall give the inside boat mark-room, unless RRS 18.2(b) applies.
  2. 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. If a boat is clear ahead when she reaches the zone, the boat clear astern at that moment shall thereafter give her mark-room.
  3. When a boat is required to give mark-room by RRS 18.2(b), she shall continue to do so even if later an overlap is broken or a new overlap begins. However, if either boat passes head to wind or if the boat entitled to mark-room leaves the zone, RRS 18.2(b) ceases to apply.
  4. If there is reasonable doubt that a boat obtained or broke an overlap in time, it shall be presumed that she did not.
  5. If a boat obtained an inside overlap from clear astern and, from the time the overlap began, the outside boat has been unable to give mark-room, she is not required to give it.
18.3 Tacking When Approaching a Mark
If two boats were approaching a mark on opposite tacks and one of them changes tack, and as a result is subject to RRS 13 in the zone when the other is fetching the mark, RRS 18.2 does not thereafter apply. The boat that changed tack
  1. shall not cause the other boat to sail above close-hauled to avoid her or prevent the other boat from passing the mark on the required side, and
  2. shall give mark-room if the other boat becomes overlapped inside her.
18.4 Gybing
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. RRS 18.4 does not apply at a gate mark.
18.5 Exoneration
When a boat is taking mark-room to which she is entitled, she shall be exonerated
  1. if, as a result of the other boat failing to give her mark-room, she breaks a rule of Section A (P&S, Same tack overlapped or not, While tacking), or
  2. if, by rounding the mark on her proper course, she breaks a rule of Section A (P&S, Same tack overlapped or not, While tacking) or RRS 15 (Acquiring ROW) or 16 (Changing Course).
19.1 When RRS 19 Applies
RRS 19 applies between boats at an obstruction except when it is also a mark the boats are required to leave on the same side. However, at a continuing obstruction, RRS 19 always applies and RRS 18 (Mark-Room) does not.
19.2 Giving Room at an Obstruction
  1. A right-of-way boat may choose to pass an obstruction on either side.
  2. 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.
  3. While boats are passing a continuing obstruction, if a boat that was clear astern and required to keep clear becomes overlapped between the other boat and the obstruction and, at the moment the overlap begins, there is not room for her to pass between them, she is not entitled to room under RRS 19.2(b). While the boats remain overlapped, she shall keep clear and RRS 10 (P&S) and 11 (Same tack - Overlapped) do not apply.
20.1 Hailing and Responding
When approaching an obstruction, a boat sailing close-hauled or above may hail for room to tack and avoid another boat on the same tack. After a boat hails,
  1. she shall give the hailed boat time to respond;
  2. the hailed boat shall respond either by tacking as soon as possible, or by immediately replying 'You tack' and then giving the hailing boat room to tack and avoid her; and
  3. when the hailed boat responds, the hailing boat shall tack as soon as possible.
20.2 Exoneration
When a boat is taking room to which she is entitled under RRS 20.1(b), she shall be exonerated if she breaks a Fundamental Rule (Safety, Fair Sailing, Rules acceptance, Decision to race, [Anti-Doping]) or RRS 15 (Acquiring ROW) or 16 (Changing Course).
20.3 When Not to Hail
A boat shall not hail unless safety requires her to make a substantial course change to avoid the obstruction. Also, she shall not hail if the obstruction is a mark that the hailed boat is fetching.

When RRS 21 or 22 applies between two boats, Section A rules (P&S, Same tack overlapped or not, While tacking) do not.

  • 21 STARTING ERRORS; TAKING PENALTIES; MOVING ASTERN
  • 22 CAPSIZED, ANCHORED OR AGROUND; RESCUING
  • 23 INTERFERING WITH ANOTHER BOAT
21.1 A boat sailing towards the pre-start side of the starting line or one of its extensions after her starting signal to start or to comply with RRS 30.1 shall keep clear of a boat not doing so until she is completely on the pre-start side.
21.2 A boat taking a penalty shall keep clear of one that is not.
21.3 A boat moving astern by backing a sail shall keep clear of one that is not.
If possible, a boat shall avoid a boat that is capsized or has not regained control after capsizing, is anchored or aground, or is trying to help a person or vessel in danger. A boat is capsized when her masthead is in the water.
23.1 If reasonably possible, a boat not racing shall not interfere with a boat that is racing.
23.2 Except when sailing her proper course, a boat shall not interfere with a boat taking a penalty or sailing on another leg.

 

Team Racing

Team races shall be sailed under The Racing Rules of Sailing as changed by this appendix. If umpires will be used the sailing instructions shall so state.

  • CHANGES TO THE RULES
  • PROTESTS AND PENALTIES
  • Umpired Races
D1.1 Changes to the Definitions and the Rules of Part 2
  1. In the definition Zone the distance is changed to two hull lengths.
  2. The second sentence of RRS 18.2(b) (Giving Mark-Room) is changed to 'If a boat is clear ahead when she reaches the zone, or she later becomes clear ahead when another boat passes head to wind, the boat clear astern at that moment shall thereafter give her mark-room.'
  3. RRS 18.4 (Requiring an inside ROW boat to gybe if that is a proper course) is deleted.
  4. Add new RRS 23.3: 'A boat that has finished shall not act to interfere with a boat that has not finished.'
  5. Add new RRS 23.4: 'When boats in different races meet, any change of course by either boat shall be consistent with complying with a rule or trying to win her own race.'
D1.2 Other Additional Rules
  1. There shall be no penalty for breaking a rule of Part 2 when the incident is between boats on the same team and there is no contact.
  2. Add to RRS 41 (Outside Help): 'However, a boat may receive help from another boat on her team provided electronic communication is not used.'
  3. A boat is not eligible for redress based on damage or injury caused by another boat on her team.
  4. The first sentence of RRS 45 (A boat to be afloat / off moorings) is deleted.
D2.1 Protests and Exoneration
  1. RRS 60.1(a) (Right to protest a boat) is changed to 'protest another boat, but not for an alleged breach of a rule of Part 2 unless she was involved in the incident or the incident involved contact between members of the other team; or'.
  2. The third sentence of RRS 61.1(a) (fly protest flag until no longer racing) and all of RRS 61.1(a)(2) (Boats under 6m not required to fly a flag) are deleted
  3. A boat that, while racing, may have broken a rule of Part 2 (except RRS 14 when she has caused damage or injury) or RRS 42 (Propulsion) may take a One-Turn Penalty under RRS 44.2.
  4. The sailing instructions may state that RRS D2.4(b) (which permits verbal protests and decisions) applies to all protests.
Races to be umpired shall be identified either in the sailing instructions or by the display of flag U no later than the warning signal.
  1. When a boat protests under a rule of Part 2 or under RRS 31 (Touching a Mark), 42 (Propulsion) or 44 (e.g. Incomplete Penalties), she is not entitled to a hearing. Instead, when the protested boat fails either to acknowledge breaking a rule or to take the appropriate penalty, the protesting boat may request a decision by conspicuously displaying a yellow flag and hailing 'Umpire'.
  2. An umpire shall signal a decision as follows:
    1. A green and white flag or a green flag means 'No penalty'.
    2. A red flag means 'One or more boats are penalized.' The umpire shall hail or signal to identify each boat to be penalized.
  3. A boat penalized under RRS D2.2(b)(2) shall take a Two-Turns Penalty under RRS 44.2 (After getting clear; complete turns in same direction)
  4. PENALTIES INITIATED BY UMPIRES
    An umpire may take action without a protest by another boat when
    1. a boat breaks RRS 31 (Touching a Mark) or 42 (Propulsion), or a rule of Part 2 through contact with another boat on her team, and does not take a penalty;
    2. a boat fails to comply with RRS D2.2(c) (Must take an imposed penalty);
    3. a boat commits a breach of sportsmanship;
    4. a boat breaks RRS 14 when damage or injury may have been caused; or
    5. a boat or her team gains an advantage despite taking a penalty.
    The umpire may impose a penalty of one or more turns, each including one tack and one gybe, signalled by displaying a red flag and hailing the boat accordingly, or report the incident to the protest committee, signalled by displaying a black flag, or both.
D2.3 Alternative Umpiring Rules
Each of these rules applies only if the sailing instructions so state.
  1. SINGLE-FLAG PROTEST PROCEDURE
    RRS D2.2(a) is replaced by
    When a boat protests under a rule of Part 2 or under RRS 31 (Touching a Mark), 42 (Propulsion) or 44 (e.g. Incomplete Penalties), she is not entitled to a hearing. Instead, a boat involved in the incident may promptly acknowledge breaking a rule and take the appropriate penalty. If no boat takes a penalty, an umpire shall decide whether any boat has broken a rule, and shall signal the decision in compliance with RRS D2.2(b) (Red or Green flag).
  2. RACES WITH LIMITED UMPIRING
    RRS D2.2 (Team Racing - Protests and Penalties) applies, except that when a boat complies with RRS D2.2(a) (Valid protest then call to Umpire) and either there is no decision signalled or an umpire displays a yellow flag signalling he has insufficient facts to decide, the protesting boat is entitled to a hearing.
D2.4 Additional Protest and Redress Rules When Races Are Umpired
  1. Neither the race committee nor the protest committee shall protest a boat for breaking a rule listed in RRS D2.2(a) (All of Part 2 and RRS 31 (Touching a Mark), 42 (Propulsion) or 44 (e.g. Incomplete Penalties). However, upon receipt of a report from any source, the protest committee may protest a boat under RRS 14 when damage or injury is alleged.
  2. Protests and requests for redress need not be in writing. The protest committee may take evidence in any way it considers appropriate and may communicate its decision orally.
  3. There shall be no request for redress or appeal by a boat arising from a decision, action or non-action by an umpire. The protest committee may decide to consider giving redress when it believes that an official boat, including an umpire boat, may have seriously interfered with a competing boat.