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A start in light airs - imagine this in a blow!
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Some basic definitions
Basic right of way General limits on the right of way
At marks or obstructions Other rules
These notes were originally put together by one of our members who had no previous experience of model yacht racing and the rules but had been co-opted to assist with running several races, including a National Championship. They were intended as a crib sheet to enable him to understand what was going on. We thought they might be useful to other beginners as a simple lead in to the complexities of the
RRS
The current official ISAF RRS cover around 70 pages backed up by a further 100 odd pages
of Appendices and a further 100 odd of case lore, interpretations and protest jury decisions, and complete books have been published explaining them. This article is very simplified and can only give a beginners working interpretation for which the SMMBC accepts no liability whatsoever. You have been
warned!
However, for Club races this very simplified version of the RRS is more than
adequate.
Some basic
definitions
 | A boat is considered to be on starboard tack when its main boom is over the left side of the
boat. |
| When both boats are on the same tack, a boat is considered to be windward of another if its main boom is over the side nearest to the other
boat. |
| An overlap at a mark is achieved if at the point where the boats enter the area covered by a circle at a distance of four boats lengths from the mark a line touching the stern of and at right angles to the centreline of the leading boat either cuts or passes astern of the following boat. That overlap can only be broken once both boats are clear of the four boat length area, or when the right of wayboat has tacked through the wind. |
| Keeping clear of or giving room means allowing the other boat room to manoeuvre in a seaman-like way. This is usually interpreted as meaning leaving a half-boat length clear water in light airs and flat calm, one boat length in gusty or medium airs and/or waves and two boat lengths in high winds, large waves and/or severe
chop. |
| A proper course means the course that would reasonably be sailed if no other boats were present, bearing in mind the wind direction and direction of the next mark. |
Basic right of
way
| A port tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard tack one.A windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward
one |
| A clear astern boat shall keep clear of the boat ahead |
| While tacking, a boat shall keep clear of other boats |
General limits on the right of
way
| A right of way boat must avoid contact with another boat wherever reasonably possible, but will only itself be penalised if such contact causes
damage |
| On acquiring right of way, a boat must initially give other boats room to keep
clear |
| A right of way boat changing course must give other boats room to keep
clear |
| After the start, starboard tack boats must hold their course to allow port tack boats to pass close
by |
| A leeward boat shall not sail above her proper course when passing a windward boat, but may luff up if being passed to windward, subject to there being room for the non-right of way boat to keep
clear |
| A windward boat may not sail below her proper course when being passed to leeward NB these last two encourage overtaking on the leeward
side |
At marks or
obstructions
| Starting marks are not considered to be marks or obstructions in the meaning of the RRS, hence the rules specific to giving room at marks do not apply to
them |
| An inside boat, provided it has established and overlap, must be given room to pass the mark of obstruction, but may pass no further from the mark than as needed to sail her proper
course |
| A close hauled boat shall call for and be given room to avoid an
obstruction |
| A clear ahead boat has right of way to round a mark or pass an obstruction regardless of whether she is on port or to windward. Once she tacks or passes head to wind whilst passing the mark however, she must keep clear of other
boats |
| A boat tacking within the four boat length area losses all rights to room at the
mark |
Other rules
| Skippers must remain in the designated control area whilst racing unless involved in launching, adjusting or repairing their
boat |
| The penalty for breaking a rule is one 360o turn, including one tack and one
gibe |
| All boats must compete in a sportsmanlike manner and observe fair play. In particular skippers must not knowingly make false
protests |
| Premature starters returning to re-cross the start line must keep clear of all other
boats |
| A boat taking a penalty turn must get clear as soon as possible after the incident and promptly execute her turn whilst keep clear of other boats at all times in the
process |
| A boat touching a mark during racing must take a penalty turn unless it was wrongfully compelled to do so by another boat, in which case the other boat has the
penalty |
| If a boat takes a penalty for a rules infringement and in the same incident giving rise to the penalty touched a mark she need make only the one penalty
turn |
| Any boat causing serious damage or gaining significant advantage through a breach of the rules must
retire |
| A boat may be launched, adjusted and repaired at any time. Outside help is permitted for this, but no skipper shall give advice to a skipper who is
racing |
| During the event ballast and control equipment may not be shifted, shipped or unshipped, excepting control equipment may be replaced by items of similar weight and
position |
| The skipper of a boat out of control shall so hail, and the boat is then treated as an obstruction |
If you can remember and apply these basic, simplified interpretations you will be OK in most circumstances, but remember the ISAF RSR in all their glory are the final arbiter and our Club can take no responsibility for the above
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