PART 2


When a boat that is racing meets a large motor vessel, it may not be clear which has to keep out of the way of the other. RYA 2004/2 sensibly says that when a boat that is racing meets a large powered vessel in a fairway or narrow channel, she is to presume and act on the basis that the vessel can safely navigate only within the channel, and therefore has right of way.


A race committee vessel under way has rights and duties under IRPCAS. These cannot be varied by sailing instructions. In RYA 2002/14, a sailing instruction said ‘Any committee vessel manoeuvring in the vicinity of the starting area will be deemed to be an obstruction. Committee vessels will manoeuvre without regard to competing boats and it shall be the sole responsibility of competitors to keep clear.’


Before the starting signal, a small committee vessel was motoring slowly upwind to stand off the outer limit mark to record OCS boats. Phoenix, her vision obscured by other boats, did not see the committee vessel until very late. She tacked to try to avoid contact, but contact occurred. She was protested by the race committee and was disqualified under the sailing instruction. Her appeal was upheld:


The definition Rule includes preambles and so the preamble to Part 2 of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) is a rule of Part 2. The preamble states that the IRPCAS apply between a boat sailing under the racing rules and a vessel that is not. Rules 86.1(a) and (b) say that sailing instructions may not change a rule of Part 2.


The sailing instruction, in purporting to impose the sole responsibility to keep clear on the competitor, clearly conflicts with IRPCAS rules 6, 7 and 18, and is therefore invalid.


Section A – Right of Way Preamble


A boat has right of way over another boat when the other 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.


Which Tack?


It is obviously necessary for boats that meet to be able to decide quickly which is the keep-clear boat. When no question of tacking arises, there are only two criteria – which tack is each on, and, if they are on the same tack, are they overlapped?


A boat is always either on starboard tack or on port tack, even when she is tacking. Her tack, port or starboard, is defined as corresponding with her windward side, and her windward side is the side that is not her leeward side. Her leeward side is defined as ‘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.’


Port tack


Port tack


By the lee, still port tack


Starboard tack


Starboard tack 36 RYA The Racing Rules Explained


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