Racing Rules

Racing Rules Quizzes to be posted on the SLOG

Racing Rules Weekly Quiz

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Each week this season, we will offer a “quiz” question regarding the Racing Rules of Sailing.  Read the scenario below, formulate your answer, then move your mouse over the box to reveal the correct answer.

Need further explanation?
something we can discuss on the porch on Sunday.

This Week's Question

Boats W (a windward boat) and L (a leeward boat) are reaching towards the gybe mark on converging courses. L becomes overlapped with W from clear astern within two of her lengths of W. They are both sailing proper courses and are on a collision course. As they near each other, W hails, “You came from clear astern and I’m on my proper course.” L replies, “I’m on my proper course.” W’s boom then touches L with no damage or injury and both protest. You are on the protest committee; how would you decide this?

Answer

Boat W is penalized under rule 11, On the Same Tack, Overlapped, for failing to keep clear of a leeward boat, and rule 14, Avoiding Contact, for failing to avoid contact when it was reasonably possible to do so. When L first becomes overlapped with W, she is required to give W room to keep clear by rule 15, Acquiring Right of Way, which she does. Because L overlaps W from clear astern within two of her hull lengths, rule 17, On the Same Tack; Proper Course, requires L not to sail above her (L’s) proper course. L is sailing on her proper course (not above it) and W fails to keep clear. L could have avoided making contact with W, but didn’t; therefore she breaks rule 14. But a right-of-way boat is exonerated (freed from penalty) for breaking rule 14 when the contact does not cause damage or injury (see rule 43.1(c), Exoneration).
This quiz was excerpted from Dave Perry’s 100 Best Racing Rules Quizzes available from US Sailing. For a comprehensive explanation of the rules, read Dave Perry’s Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing through 2024, which is also available from US Sailing. Permission to reprint this quiz for non commercial use is granted by the author.

Racing Rules Weekly Quiz

by

Each week this season, we will offer a “quiz” question regarding the Racing Rules of Sailing.  Read the scenario below, formulate your answer, then move your mouse over the box to reveal the correct answer.

Need further explanation?
something we can discuss on the porch on Sunday.

This Week's Question

With 30 seconds to go before the starting signal, Boat P (on port tack) on a beam reach, is approaching Boat S (on starboard tack) who is on a close-hauled course. P proceeds to luff and then cross head to wind all in one motion, ending up to leeward of S. Just after P passes head to wind she holds her course, telling S to keep clear because she is on starboard tack and a leeward boat. S luffs to avoid contact with P and protests. You are on the protest committee; how would you decide this? You are on the protest committee: how do you decide this?

Answer

Boat P is penalized under rule 13, While Tacking. When P passes head to wind, she changes tack from port tack to starboard tack. However, rule 13 states that after a boat passes head to wind, she must keep clear of other boats until she is on a close-hauled course; and before she gets to close-hauled, rules 10, 11 and 12 do not apply. Rule 11, On the Same Tack, Overlapped, is the windward/lee- ward rule. P has not borne away to a close-hauled course when S has to change course to avoid contact; therefore P breaks rule 13.
This quiz was excerpted from Dave Perry’s 100 Best Racing Rules Quizzes available from US Sailing. For a comprehensive explanation of the rules, read Dave Perry’s Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing through 2024, which is also available from US Sailing. Permission to reprint this quiz for non commercial use is granted by the author.

Racing Rules Weekly Quiz

by

Each week this season, we will offer a “quiz” question regarding the Racing Rules of Sailing.  Read the scenario below, formulate your answer, then move your mouse over the box to reveal the correct answer.

Need further explanation?
something we can discuss on the porch on Sunday.

This Week's Question

Boat P (on port tack) is running downwind and on a parallel course with a dock less than one length away. Boat S (on starboard tack) is fast approaching P from clear astern and hails, “Starboard!” Approximately five seconds later, S makes minor contact with P’s transom (no damage or injury) and protests. You are on the protest committee; how would you decide this?

Answer

Boat P is penalized for breaking rules 10, On Oppo- site Tacks, and rule 14, Avoiding Contact. Though the boats are passing an obstruction (the dock), they are not overlapped, so no part of rule 19.2, Giving Room at an Obstruction, applies. Therefore, although P is clear ahead when she first reaches the obstruction, she gets no protection from rule 19.2 once she and S begin passing the obstruction, and she must therefore keep clear of S under rule 10. Regarding rule 14, it is reasonably possible for P to avoid contact with S by moving out of her way. She fails to do so and breaks rule 14 as a result. It is similarly reasonably possible for S to avoid contact with P, so she also breaks rule 14. However, a right of way boat is exonerated (freed from penalty) by rule 43.1(c), Exoneration, for breaking rule 14 when the contact does not cause damage or injury. In this case it caused neither; therefore S is not penalized.
This quiz was excerpted from Dave Perry’s 100 Best Racing Rules Quizzes available from US Sailing. For a comprehensive explanation of the rules, read Dave Perry’s Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing through 2024, which is also available from US Sailing. Permission to reprint this quiz for non commercial use is granted by the author.

Racing Rules Weekly Quiz

by

Each week this season, we will offer a “quiz” question regarding the Racing Rules of Sailing.  Read the scenario below, formulate your answer, then move your mouse over the box to reveal the correct answer.

Need further explanation?
something we can discuss on the porch on Sunday.

This Week's Question

During the hearing of a request for redress, the protest committee learns that Boat X has touched a mark during the race. The protest committee protests X, giving her time to prepare, etc., holds a protest hearing with X in attendance, and disqualifies her for breaking rule 31, Touching a Mark. X appeals. You are on the appeals committee; how would you decide this?

Answer

Boat X’s appeal is sustained and the protest committee’s decision is reversed. Boat X is reinstated in the race. Rule 60.3(a), Right to Protest; Right to Request Redress or Rule 69 Action, says that the protest committee cannot protest a boat as a result of information in a request for redress.
This quiz was excerpted from Dave Perry’s 100 Best Racing Rules Quizzes available from US Sailing. For a comprehensive explanation of the rules, read Dave Perry’s Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing through 2024, which is also available from US Sailing. Permission to reprint this quiz for non commercial use is granted by the author.

Racing Rules Weekly Quiz

by

Each week this season, we will offer a “quiz” question regarding the Racing Rules of Sailing.  Read the scenario below, formulate your answer, then move your mouse over the box to reveal the correct answer.

Need further explanation?
something we can discuss on the porch on Sunday.

This Week's Question

Two 18-foot boats, L (a leeward boat) and W (a windward boat), are approaching the left-hand end of the starting line, which is a 16-foot powerboat. When W is three lengths from the end of the line, L becomes overlapped on W to leeward from clear astern. There are six seconds to go before the starting signal. L slowly luffs and W keeps clear. As L reaches close-hauled, the starting signal is made. L is a boat length from the powerboat and will not clear it sailing close-hauled. She luffs to head to wind, shooting up and around the powerboat, and then bears away to a close-hauled course. W keeps clear through- out, and protests L for sailing above close-hauled after the starting signal. You are on the protest committee: how would you decide this?

Answer

Boat W’s protest is disallowed. The 16-foot powerboat ranks as both a “mark” and an “obstruction” to the 18-foot boats (see the definitions Mark and Obstruction). The preamble to Part 2, Section C, At Marks and Obstructions, states that the rules of Section C, which include rule 18, Mark-Room, and rule 19, Room to Pass an Obstruction, do not apply “at a starting mark surrounded by navigable water.” Therefore the situation is governed by the rules of Sections A and B. L becomes overlapped to leeward from clear astern of W. Therefore, rule 17, On the Same Tack; Proper Course, requires her to not sail above her proper course. Before the starting signal L has no proper course (see the definition Proper Course); therefore she is free to sail up to head to wind, provided that when she changes course she gives W room to keep clear (rule 16.1, Changing Course). After the starting signal, L is required to not sail above her proper course. In this case her “proper course” (the course she would choose in order to sail the course and finish as soon as possible in the absence of W) is to luff head to wind, coast past the powerboat and then bear away to a close-hauled course (see the definition Proper Course). L sails no higher than this course, and there- fore does not break rule 17. And while she is changing course, L gives W room to keep clear under rule 16.1 as demonstrated by W’s performance. W correctly keeps clear under rule 11, On the Same Tack, Overlapped.
This quiz was excerpted from Dave Perry’s 100 Best Racing Rules Quizzes available from US Sailing. For a comprehensive explanation of the rules, read Dave Perry’s Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing through 2024, which is also available from US Sailing. Permission to reprint this quiz for non commercial use is granted by the author.

Racing Rules Weekly Quiz

by

Each week this season, we will offer a “quiz” question regarding the Racing Rules of Sailing.  Read the scenario below, formulate your answer, then move your mouse over the box to reveal the correct answer.

Need further explanation?
something we can discuss on the porch on Sunday.

This Week's Question

In a post-race conversation, the helmsman of Boat X complains to a member of the protest committee that he clearly saw another boat in his race, Boat Y, touch the gybe mark and not take a penalty turn. The protest committee member therefore decides to protest Y for an alleged breach of rule 31, Touching a Mark. Y is informed that she is being protested, and the protest is filed within the time limit. You are on the protest committee: how do you decide this?

Answer

The protest is not valid and therefore its hearing should be closed under rule 63.5, Validity of the Protest or Request for Redress. Rule 60.3, Right to Protest; Right to Request Redress or Rule 69 Action, governs the action by the protest committee in this case, and states that a protest committee cannot protest as a result of a report from a person who has a conflict of interest (with an exception that doesn't apply in this case). Because all the requirements for a protest have not been met, the protest is not valid. When competitors witness alleged breaches of the rules, and they want the incident to go to a hearing, they must act themselves according to rule 60.1, Right to Protest; Right to Request Redress or Rule 69 Action.
This quiz was excerpted from Dave Perry’s 100 Best Racing Rules Quizzes available from US Sailing. For a comprehensive explanation of the rules, read Dave Perry’s Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing through 2024, which is also available from US Sailing. Permission to reprint this quiz for non commercial use is granted by the author.

Racing Rules Weekly Quiz

by

Each week this season, we will offer a “quiz” question regarding the Racing Rules of Sailing.  Read the scenario below, formulate your answer, then move your mouse over the box to reveal the correct answer.

Need further explanation?
something we can discuss on the porch on Sunday.

This Week's Question

Red and Green are sailing upwind. Red starts to bear off to go behind Green. Green also bears off. Red then heads up, and Green also heads up. There was no contact. Which boat should promptly take a penalty?

Answer

Green broke Rule 16.1, Changing Course, which states, in part, that when a port-tack boat is keeping clear by passing astern of a starboard-tack boat, the starboard-tack boat shall not change course if as a result the port-tack boat would immediately need to change course to continue keeping clear. At position 3, Green changed course, forcing Red to immediately change course to keep clear. Note that at position 2, even though Green changed course, no foul occurred, since Red did not immediately need to change course in response.

This quiz was borrowed from the Inland Lake Yachting Association‘s #FairSailing initiative 
Learn more at sailzing.com

Racing Rules Weekly Quiz

by

Each week this season, we will offer a “quiz” question regarding the Racing Rules of Sailing.  Read the scenario below, formulate your answer, then move your mouse over the box to reveal the correct answer.

Need further explanation?
something we can discuss on the porch on Sunday.

This Week's Question

Two 25-foot boats, L (a leeward boat) and W (a windward boat), are approaching the right-hand end of the starting line, a 30-foot powerboat, to start an upwind leg. Both boats are beam reaching, with L on a course to pass one length to leeward of the race committee boat. Twenty seconds before the starting signal and when two lengths from the race committee boat, L hails, “No room! Don’t go in there!” to W. Both boats hold their courses until W is overlapped to leeward of the race committee boat. At that point L luffs and W makes con- tact nearly simultaneously with both L and the committee boat. There is dam- age to the starboard side of L but not serious damage. Both boats protest each other. You are on the protest committee; how would you decide this?

Answer

Boat L is penalized under rules 14, Avoiding Contact, and 16.1, Changing Course. The preamble to Part 2, Section C, At Marks and Obstructions, states that rules 18, Mark-Room, 19, Room to Pass an Obstruction and 20, Room to Tack at an Obstruction, do not apply “at a starting mark surrounded by navigable water or at its anchor line from the time the boats are approaching them to start...”. Therefore the situation is governed by the rules in Sections A and B. At the time W becomes overlapped to leeward of the race committee boat, she is keeping clear of L in compliance with rule 11, On the Same Tack, Overlapped (Section A rule). Rule 16.1 requires L, as a right-of-way boat, to give W room to keep clear of her when she changes her course (Section B rule). When L luffs, there is not room (space) for W to comply with the Part 2 rules and rule 31, Touching a Mark, due to the physical presence of the race committee boat (see the definition Room). Therefore L breaks rule 16.1. W breaks rules 11 and 31 but is exonerated (freed from penalty) by rule 43.1(b), Exoneration. L also breaks rule 14 for failing to avoid a collision, and is penalized under that rule because the contact results in damage to herself. However, from the time L begins to luff, it is not possible for W to avoid contact; therefore W does not break rule 14. Had L wanted to prevent W from passing between her and the committee boat, she should have luffed sooner while W was still able to respond to her luff without making contact with the committee boat (see World Sailing Cases 114 and 146).
This quiz was excerpted from Dave Perry’s 100 Best Racing Rules Quizzes available from US Sailing. For a comprehensive explanation of the rules, read Dave Perry’s Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing through 2024, which is also available from US Sailing. Permission to reprint this quiz for non commercial use is granted by the author.

Racing Rule Weekly Quiz

by

Each week this season, we will offer a “quiz” question regarding the Racing Rules of Sailing.  Read the scenario below, formulate your answer, then move your mouse over the box to reveal the correct answer.

Need further explanation?
something we can discuss on the porch on Sunday.

This Week's Question

Thirty seconds before the starting signal, Boat W is nearly wayless, her sails flapping. About one length prior to becoming overlapped to leeward, Boat L hails, “Leeward boat!” W takes no evasive action. One second after L becomes overlapped to leeward of W, L has to bear away to avoid contact with W. W begins trimming her sails and heading up immediately after the overlap is established. L protests. The protest committee finds that W, having been given adequate warning of the impending situation, fails to keep clear of a leeward boat, thereby breaking rule 11, On the Same Tack, Overlapped. W appeals. You are on the appeals committee; how would you decide this?

Answer

Boat W’s appeal is sustained; neither boat is penalized. Adequate time for response is incorporated into rule 15, Acquiring Right of Way, by its requirement to initially allow a newly obligated boat “room to keep clear.” This rule does not require a boat clear ahead to anticipate her requirement to keep clear as a wind- ward boat before the boat clear astern becomes overlapped to leeward. When L becomes overlapped and therefore the right-of-way boat, rule 15 requires her to give W “room to keep clear,” which she does by immediately bearing away and giving W space to maneuver away from her. Though W is momentarily breaking rule 11, On the Same Tack, Overlapped, when L has to change course to avoid contact, W is trimming her sails and heading up; therefore she is sailing within the room she is entitled to, and is exonerated (freed from penalty) for breaking rule 11 by rule 43.1(b), Exoneration. Thereafter she keeps clear, fulfilling her obligation under rule 11. (See US Sailing Appeal 119 and World Sailing Case 53.)
This quiz was excerpted from Dave Perry’s 100 Best Racing Rules Quizzes available from US Sailing. For a comprehensive explanation of the rules, read Dave Perry’s Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing through 2024, which is also available from US Sailing. Permission to reprint this quiz for non commercial use is granted by the author.

Racing Rules Weekly Quiz

by

Each week this season, we will offer a “quiz” question regarding the Racing Rules of Sailing.  Read the scenario below, formulate your answer, then move your mouse over the box to reveal the correct answer.

Need further explanation?
something we can discuss on the porch on Sunday.

This Week's Question

Red is sailing upwind toward Green, who is sailing downwind. As they approach each other, Red calls for right of way. Green does not respond, so Red changes course to avoid Green. Which boat(s) should promptly take a penalty?

Answer

Green should take a penalty. Both boats are on the same tack (port). Neither boat is clear ahead, so the boats are overlapped. Therefore, Rule 11 applies. Green is the windward boat and must keep clear of Red.

This quiz was borrowed from the Inland Lake Yachting Association‘s #FairSailing initiative 
Learn more at sailzing.com