Racing Rules
(by Alberto de Capitani)

For those of you who plan, as I do, to spend a lot of time watching the finals of the America’s Cup, here is a brief reminder of the most important rules:

There are three basic right-of-way rules:

1. Port- Starboard: a boat on port tack (i.e. with the boom or the spinnaker pole on the starboard side) must give way to a boat on starboard tack (rule10).
2. On the same tack, overlapped: when two boats are on the same tack and overlapped (i.e. with the bow of the boat behind having crossed the line perpendicular to the stern of the boat ahead), the boat to windward must keep clear of the boat to leeward (rule 11).
3. On the same tack, not overlapped: when two boats are on the same tack and not overlapped, the boat behind must keep clear of the boat ahead (rule 12). Except for the concept of overlap, Rules 10, 11 and 12 are almost identical to the International Rules of the Road on port-starboard, sailing on the same tack and overtaking,respectively.
   

The Racing Rules however add some "general limitations", justified by the particular conditions of racing and by the need to avoid dangerous maneuvers in close quarters:

1. While tacking: a boat that is tacking must keep clear of a boat that is not (rule 13).
2. Acquiring right of way: when a boat is in the process of acquiring right of way, she must initially give the other boat time to alter course to avoid her (rule 15).
3. Changing course: when a boat with right of way changes course, she must give the other boat room to keep clear (rule 16).
4. Proper course: when two boats are on the same tack and the boat behind establishes an overlap to leeward and is less than two boat lengths from the boat to windward, the boat behind cannot sail above her "proper course" (i.e. the most direct course to the next mark or to the finish line), unless she falls behind and passes astern of the windward boat (rule 17.1). The boat ahead being to windward is subject to rule 11, i.e. she must keep clear. This is obviously to avoid a collision when the two boats are very close and have little room to manoeuver. Of course, if the boat ahead and to windward decides to tack, she will have to give way to the other boat, in accordance with rule 13.
   

Further "specific limitations" apply when the boats are about to pass a buoy or an obstruction:

1. In America’s Cup, all buoys are to be rounded to starboard, except at the start and the finish (Sailing Instruction 6).
2. Touching a buoy: a boat touching a buoy must take a penalty by making a 360 degree turn (rule 31.2).
3. Buoy room when on the same tack: when in proximity of (i.e. two boat lengths or less from) a turning buoy, an obstruction or a finish line mark, the boat outside must give room to pass to the boat inside, even if the inside boat does not have the right of way, provided that the overlap was established before the two-length zone was reached (rule 18.2 a). However, if the overlap was established after the boat ahead reached the two-length zone, the boat inside must keep clear (rule 18.2 b).
4. Buoy room when on opposite tacks: if the two boats are on opposite tacks and one of them tacks within the two-length zone to pass the buoy, the boat that tacked should not force the other boat to luff in order to avoid a collision, but must keep clear of her. This limitation applies even if the boat that tacked had previously right of way in accordance with rule 10, 11 or 18.2a. (Rule 18.3).

Other rules apply specifically to the starting period:

1. In the race schedule each boat is assigned either the left-hand or the right-hand side of the starting area. Within two minutes following the preparatory signal, each boat must cross and clear the starting line, the first time from the course side to her pre-assigned side (rule C4.2).
2. Too early over the starting line: if the boat crosses the starting line before the starting signal, she must return to the pre-start side of the line while keeping clear of the other boat (rule 29.1).
3. Barging: at the start, the boat to windward should not try to squeeze between the boat to leeward and a starting line mark (buoy or race committee boat). This follows from rule 11.

There are several rules on penalties for rule infringement and the handling of protests:

1. When the alleged violation concerns a rule about the right of way or one of the various limitations to the right of way, a boat may protest the other boat by displaying the flag Y. The umpires will then decides on the spot whether to penalize either boat and will signal their decision by displaying either a green and white flag (which means " no penalty") or a blue or yellow flag (which means that the boat thus identified must take a penalty). (rule C.5).
2. A penalized boat may delay taking a penalty, but must do so before the end of the race (rule C 7.2).
3. Depending on whether the boat taking a penalty is sailing to a windward mark or to a leeward mark, she must either gybe and return to a close-hauled course or tack and return to a downwind course (rule C 9.1).
4. If the boat has one or two delayed penalties and the other boat is penalized, one penalty for each boat is canceled (rule C 9.4).
5. If a boat has more than two delayed penalties, she is disqualified (rule C 9.5).
6. If the violation concerns any rule other than those on the right of way, a red flag must be displayed and a protest must be presented in writing to the Jury Office no later than 2 1/2 hours after the end of the race. The decisions of the International Jury are final (Sailing Instructions 17.4 and 17.8).

If you want further details, get a copy of the International Sailing Federation’s "Racing Rules of Sailing 1997-2000" and the "Sailing Instructions" for the 30th edition of the America’s Cup.
The latter can be downloaded from www.vuittoncup.com.