by GreenLake » Wed Oct 25, 2017 6:53 pm
Super basic set of Racing Rules for Beginners
These are purposefully focused on the most common situations, there will be some things that they don't cover, but following these (and sailing extra conservatively) should allow you to get around the course without too many problems until you are ready for the details:
Whatever you do, do not hit another boat! (Even if you think you are in your rights, don't).
If you are on port tack (wind over your port side, but technically defined by mainsail on your SB side), then you'll have to keep clear of anyone on the starboard tack. Be careful: as they approach you on a beat they are blanketed by your jib. If you're not confident you'll pass ahead of them, you'd normally fall off just a bit to "duck" them (Go behind their transom). You could also try to tack early enough that you end up sailing next to them, but that's not a beginner's move.
(If you hear someone yell "starboard!" it means they think you haven't seen them and need to take action - or they try to mess with you).
If you are sailing parallel to another boat and you are both on the same tack, and they are windward of you, they have to keep clear. You don't have to be fully next to each other, it's enough if part of your boats overlap. If they aren't keeping clear of you, you might yell "leeward!". There are some rules that limit how high a leeward boat may sail in certain conditions; as a beginner, simply sail whatever course you would have without the windward boat.
If you are behind someone, keep clear (until there is an overlap and you are leeward, for example).
Marks of the course have a 3 boatlength zone around them (not marked on the water). If you are on the inside between the mark and another boat as you get into that zone, they have to give you room to sail to the mark and round it (they can't peel you off). As a beginner, you might just give anyone room on the inside until you can tell cases when they are not entitled.
Leave all marks on the correct side and don't touch any mark, or if you do sail off to the side and do one full turn (one tack and one gybe).
If you feel another boat has clearly broken a rule, yell "protest!" and then immediately find an experienced sailor to tell you how to follow that up after the race. If someone yells "protest" at you, sail off and do two turns (720 degrees, or technically two tacks and two gybes). If you hit someone's boat, retire from that race.
The start of a sailboat race needs its own post.
~ green ~ lake ~ ~