118 UNDE R S TANDING THE RAC ING RUL E S OF SAI L ING THROUGH 2 0 2 4


In each situation, both boats are on the same tack. The white boat is the leeward boat and the black boat must keep clear under rule 11.


R U L E S 1 1 A N D 1 2 — O N T H E S AME TA C K


Rules 11 and 12 are the basic rules for boats on the same tack. When boats are on the same tack they can either be overlapped or not overlapped. If they are overlapped, they are either a windward boat or a leeward boat. If they are not overlapped, they are either clear ahead or clear astern.


R U L E 1 1 — O N T H E S AME TA C K , O V E R L A P P E D


When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat.


When boats on the same tack are overlapped, rule 11 applies. When boats are on much different angles of sail, it is often difficult to know which is the leeward boat. The boat that will hit the other’s leeward side or be hit on her own windward side is the leeward boat. As a good rule of thumb, the boat that is on the point of sail closer to the wind is typically the leeward boat; i.e., between a boat sailing downwind and a boat sailing close-hauled, the close- hauled boat is usually the leeward boat.


“I realize that when I’m the windward boat I have to keep clear of the leeward boat, but how far away do I need to stay?”


Far enough away so that while the leeward boat (L) is sailing on a straight line, you do not hit L or force L to take any avoiding action to miss you; e.g., have to change her course, ease her spinnaker pole forward or require any of her crew to duck or move to avoid being hit.


Table of Contents


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