Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing

192 UNDE R S TANDING THE RAC ING RUL E S OF SAI L ING THROUGH 2 0 2 4 WH E N T H E I N S I D E B O AT I S T H E R I G H T- O F -WAY B O AT:

When the inside boat has the right-of-way under Section A (Right of Way) of the rules, the outside boat must keep clear. This does not change just because the boats are rounding or passing a mark. Therefore, not only is the inside/ right-of-way boat entitled to mark-room; she is free to sail where she pleases, with just a couple of possible limits. Therefore, the right-of-way boat has more freedom in the zone.

There are two situations where the inside right-of-way boat will have a “limit” as she sails to and around a mark:

• One such “limit” is in rule 17 (On the Same Tack; Proper Course) which limits L to sailing no higher than her proper course when she becomes overlapped from clear astern. Therefore, at a windward mark, if LI (lee- ward/inside) becomes overlapped from clear astern on the inside of a boat that has just tacked in front of her inside the zone (such that rule 18.3, Passing Head to Wind in the Zone, applies), LI must sail her proper course around the mark. Note that, in this situation, her proper course may be to sail head to wind momentarily to get up and around the mark (see Appeal 70).

• The other “limit” is in rule 18.4 (Gybing) which says that if an inside overlapped right-of-way boat must gybe to sail her proper course around the mark, she is required to sail no farther from the mark than needed to sail her proper course until she gybes; i.e., she can’t continue on straight past the mark or luff away from the mark if that takes her farther from the mark than necessary to sail her proper course. (For a full discussion, including an exception at a gate mark, see the explanation of rule 18.4 in chapter 9.) This “limit” commonly arises at offwind marks whenever L or S is on the inside and her proper course is to gybe around the mark.

But the bottom line is that an inside right-of-way boat is allowed to swing a bit wider and then cut closer around the mark. The reason is because inside right- of-way boats always have the right to sail their proper coursewhile they remain the right-of-way boat, and outside boats must both keep clear of them and give them mark-room. Setting up to round this way allows boats to make a smooth turn and will get them into the most strategically desirable position (clear air, ability to tack, etc.) as they begin the beat, which will help them to finish as soon

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