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Racing Rules
(Definitions)
DEFINITIONS
A term used as stated below is shown in BOLD
type or, in preambles, in italic type.
Abandon A race that
a race committee or protest committee abandons is
void but may be resailed.
Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap
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 or when a boat between them overlaps both.
These terms do not apply to boats on opposite tacks
unless rule 18 applies.
Finish 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
rule 31.2 or 44.2 or, under rule 28.1, after correcting
an error made at the finishing line.
Interested Party 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.
Keep Clear
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.
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. 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.
Mark An object the sailing
instructions require a boat to leave on a specified
side, and a race committee vessel surrounded by navigable
water from which the starting or finishing line extends.
An anchor line and objects attached temporarily or
accidentally to a mark are not part of it.
Obstruction
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, if rule 21
applies, avoid her.
Overlap See Clear Astern and Clear
Ahead; Overlap.
Party A
party to a hearing: a protestor; a protestee;
a boat requesting redress; a boat or a competitor
that may be penalized under rule 69.1; a race committee
in a hearing under rule 62.1(a).
Postpone
A postponed race is delayed before its scheduled
start but may be started or abandoned later.
Proper Course 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.
Protest An allegation
made under rule 61.2 by a boat, a race committee or
a protest committee that a boat has broken a rule.
Racing
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.
Room The space a boat
needs in the existing conditions while manoeuvring
promptly in a seamanlike way.
Rule
(a) The rules in this book, including the Definitions,
Race Signals, Introduction, preambles and the rules
of relevant appendices, but not titles;
(b) the prescriptions of the national authority, unless
the sailing instructions state that they do not apply;
(c) the class rules, or the rules of the handicapping
or rating system, except any that conflict with the
rules in this book;
(d) the notice of race;
( e) the sailing instructions; and
(f) any other documents that govern the event.
Start A boat starts
when after her starting signal any part of her hull,
crew or equipment first crosses the starting line
and she has complied with rule 29.1 and rule 30.1
if it applies.
Tack, Starboard or Port
A boat is on the tack, starboard or port, corresponding
to her windward side. Two-Length Zone The area around
a mark or obstruction within a distance of two hull
lengths of the boat nearer to it.
Windward See Leeward and Windward.
Race On,
Steve Steiner
Managing Editor
YachtRacing.com
email: steiner@yachtracing.com
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