Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing

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

line of starboard-tackers, but this wouldn’t be fair; hence the rule against it in rule 44.1(b).

“What happens when I’m forced to touch a mark by another boat that was required to keep clear of me or give me room or mark-room?”

Whenever you touch a mark, you have three options:

1) If it was your own fault that you touched the mark, you can get clear of other boats and take your penalty as described in rule 44.2.

2) If another boat wrongfully compelled you to hit the mark, you are exon - erated (freed from penalty) by rule 43.1 (Exoneration; see the discussion of rule 43 in chapter 8). Of course, if you are protested, the protest com- mittee will decide if you are exonerated by rule 43.1. That is why it is prudent for you to protest the other boat (by hailing the word “Protest” and, if required, flying your flag at the first reasonable opportunity). If the other boat acknowledges breaking a rule of Part 2 and takes a penalty (Two-Turns or Scoring Penalty, etc. under rule 44) or retires from the race, the protest committee will likely decide you are exon erated by rule 43.1 for breaking rule 31 (Touching a Mark), provided it decides that it was that breach that caused you to touch the mark. If the other boat does not take a penalty, you must hope the protest committee de- cides that in fact it was the other boat’s Part 2 rule breach that compelled you to touch the mark, in which case it will disqualify the other boat and confirm your exoneration. If it doesn’t, you will be disqualified under rule 64.2 (Penalties) for breaking rule 31.

3) If you believe another boat wrongfully compelled you to hit the mark, you can do a penalty turn; i.e., take the penalty in rule 44.2 as “insur- ance.” You can then protest the other boat if you choose to. If the pro - test committee decides the other boat broke a rule, she will be disqual i- fied. Note: You cannot be compensated for your loss of time and dis- tance during your voluntary penalty. If the protest committee decides she didn’t break a rule, you will not be disqualified for breaking rule 31 because you already took a penalty for that (see rule 64.2(a), Penalties).

“Does it count if just my head brushes against the mark?”

Absolutely yes. In the Introduction of The Racing Rules of Sailing under ‘Ter- minology’ it says, “‘Boat’ means a sailboat and the crew on board.” In fact, if

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