Tack, Starboard Tack or Port Tack: A boat is on the tack, starboard or port, corresponding to her windward side. A sailboat cannot sail directly into the wind. A good rule of thumb is that a boat wanting to sail in the direction of the wind must keep a 45 degree angle (or greater) to the wind in order to keep the sails full and thus maintain forward momentum.

STARBOARD: Right side of the boat (a starboard tack boat has right of way over a port tack boat)

 

PORT: Left side of the boat

 

BOW: Front end of the boat.

 

STERN: Back end of the boat

 

 

LEEWARD and WINDWARD: A boat's leeward side is the side that is away from the wind, another way to remember it is that her leeward side is the side on which her mainsail lies. The other side is her windward side – the side where the wind coming from. *Note - When two boats on the same tack overlap each other, the one on the leeward side of the other is the leeward boat. The other is the windward boat.

 

LUFFING: The fluttering of a sail when a boat is pointed too close to the wind (boat is roughly less than 45degree angle to the wind) or the sail is eased out too far.

BEAT or BEATING: To sail to windward, also known as sailing close-hauled. (See Diagram)

 

BLANKETING: A tactical maneuver in which one yacht positions itself to obstruct or disturb its competitor's wind.

 

BASIC SAILING AND RACING RULES

RIGHT OF WAY: A boat has right of way when another boat is required to keep clear of her.

 

ON OPPOSITE TACKS (port tack vs. starboard tack): When boats are on opposite tacks, a port tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard-tack boat. *Note that this is the most important rule to remember - a starboard tack boat has right of way over a port tack boat.

Overlap & NO OVERLAP; Clear Astern and Clear Ahead: One boat is clear astern (no overlap) of another when her hull & equipment in normal position are behind a line abeam from the aftermost point of the other boat's hull & equipment in normal position. Thus, the other boat is clear ahead. They overlap when neither is clear astern or when a boat between them overlaps both. These terms do not apply to boats on opposite tacks. The boat to leeward has the right of way.

 

ON THE SAME TACK, OVERLAPPED: When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat.

 

ON THE SAME TACK, NOT OVERLAPPED: When boats are on the same tack and not overlapped, a boat clear astern shall keep clear of a boat clear ahead.

 

AVOIDING CONTACT: All boats MUST avoid contact at all times. However, a right-of-way boat or one entitled to room

(a) need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear or giving room, and

(b) shall not be penalized under this rule unless there is contact that causes damage or injury.

 *NOTE - “room” applies to boats that are racing and trying to get around a mark/buoy at the same time – this goes back to the “four-zone length” – don’t worry about this for now – you will see what we mean when the boats are in the water.

 

CHANGING COURSE: 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.

 

FOUR-ZONE LENGTH: The area around a mark or obstruction within a distance of 4 hull lengths of the boat nearer to it. This is better explained in person and with the boats in the water because the rules change once you get within the Four-Zone Length! Not to worry - this is simple and easy to understand once you have done it a few times! Plus we are really “mellow” about the rules – we are there to have fun and teach people!

 

ROUNDING OR PASSING MARKS & OBSTRUCTIONS (this is about the “4 zone length rule & the idea of “room”):

“Room” is room for an inside boat to round or pass between an outside boat and a racing mark/buoy or obstruction, including room to tack or gybe when either is a normal part of the maneuver. This Rule Applies only when boats are overlapped AND within four boat lengths (four-zone!) of the buoy or mark, the outside boat shall give the inside boat room to round or pass the mark or obstruction, and if the inside boat has right of way the outside boat shall also keep clear. Again – don’t worry about this – it will all make sense once you see the boats in the water!

 

OVER THE STARTING LINE EARLY: A boat or any part of a boat that breaks the line between the two starting buoys/marks prior to the starting gun sounding. No boat may go over the start line within one minute of the starting gun sounding.

 

 

PENALTY: If any rules are broken the offending boat must complete one circle – that is, one tack and one gybe before rounding the next mark. A boat making a penalty circle forfeits all its rights and shall keep clear of all other boats.

 

OVER STARTING LINE EARLY: If a boat is over the starting line within one minute of the starting gun the boat(s) must return to the proper side of the start line by going around one end buoy of the start line.