52 UNDE R S TANDING THE RAC ING RUL E S OF SAI L ING THROUGH 2 0 2 4 Now, if you are just getting into sailing and racing, you’ve probably noticed
that there are a few different words and phrases used around the track. Clearly the rules wouldn’t be using them if they didn’t make things easier; so we’ve included some illustrations to help you understand what some of these terms mean.
B A S I C R U L E S
These are simplified summaries of the basic rules that apply when you and another boat are about to hit. When one boat has the “right of way,” that means that the other boat is required to “keep clear;” in other words to stay out of the way of the right-of-way boat.
1) If you are on opposite tacks (booms on different sides), the boat on star- board tack has the right of way over the boat on port tack (just as at a four-way stop, the car on the right gets to go first). (Rule 10)
2) If you are on the same tack (booms on the same sides), the leeward boat has the right of way over the windward boat; and a boat coming up from behind can’t hit the boat ahead (just as on the road). (Rules 11 and 12)
