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Warning: The official RRS covers about 50 pages, books explaining them
take 200 to 400 pages, and there are a further 100 or so pages of case lore,
jury decisions, and interpretations. The following extracts from the RRS for
model yacht racing are SIMPLIFIED and are current as of the "2000
Supplement". The full RRS are somewhat more complex. You will need to refer
to the full RRS to resolve the finer points.
SOME DEFINITIONS
Starboard tack: The wind is comming from the right-hand side. It may
be difficult to tell if the wind is comming from the left or right, in which
case you are on "starboard tack" if your mainsail lies on the
left-hand side of the boat.
Windward boat: On that side of the leeward boat that its wind is
comming from. It may be difficult to tell if you are the windward or the leeward
boat, in which case you are "windward boat" if the other boat's
mainsail lies on the side away from you.
Overlap: An overlap is considered established when entering the
four-length zone, even if it is broken later. If there is doubt that an overlap
was established or broken, it shall be presumed that it was not. The mark is
passed, and the overlap ceases, when it has been left astern by all boats
involved in the overlap. Two boats on the same tack are overlapped if, no matter
how far apart they may be, a line abeam from the transom of the boat ahead (ie
the line is at right angles to the centreline of the boat) cuts or falls behind
the boat astern. These boats are overlapped.
Room: The space a boat needs to manoeuvre in a seaman-like way. [This
is interpreted to mean at least a half-boat length in light airs and flat water;
at least a full boat length in gusty airs, medium airs, and/or waves; and up to
two boat lengths in heavy airs, large waves, and/or strong chop.]
RIGHT OF WAY
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10 A port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard-tack boat.
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11 A windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat.
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12 A clear astern boat shall keep clear of a boat clear ahead.
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13 While tacking, a boat shall keep clear of other boats.
GENERAL LIMITATIONS
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14 A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible,
but may only be penalised if damage occurs.
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15 A boat acquiring right of way shall initially give other boats room to
keep clear.
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16.1 A right-of-way boat changing course shall give other boats room to
keep clear.
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16.2 After the start, a starboard tack boat shall hold her course while a
port tacker crosses close by.
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17.1 A leeward boat shall not sail above her proper course while passing a
windward boat.
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17.2 A windward boat shall not sail below her proper course while being
passed to leeward. (The intent of rule 17 is to encourage boats to overtake
to leeward, not to windward, of other boats.)
AT MARKS AND OBSTRUCTIONS
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18.1(a) The starting mark is not a mark of the course; ie no room need be
given.
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18.1(b) Rule 18 doesn't apply to boats on opposite tacks while beating to
windward, or to a boat if it must tack to pass the mark or obstruction.
(This is interpreted to mean that the mark is ignored in either situation
when applying the RRS.)
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18.2(a) An inside boat, having established an overlap, shall be given room
to pass a mark or obstruction.
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18.2(b) A clear ahead boat has right of way to round the mark or pass the
obstruction regardless of whether she is on port, or whether she is
windward. Providing she is rounding the mark, boats clear astern are not
entitled to any room at all. If she passes head to wind, however, she must
then keep clear of other boats.
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18.3 A boat which tacks within the four-length zone to pass a mark loses
her rights to room at the mark.
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18.4 An inside boat shall pass no further from the mark than needed to
sail her proper course.
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19.1 A close-hauled boat shall call for, and be given, room to avoid an
obstruction.
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19.2 The starting mark is not an obstruction; ie no room need be given.
OTHER RULES
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2 A boat shall compete in a sportsmanlike way and by fair play. (This is
interpreted to mean, amongst other matters, that a skipper shall not
knowingly make a false call.)
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20 A premature starter returning to start shall keep clear of all boats.
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21.1 A boat making penalty turns shall keep clear of other boats. (This is
interpreted to mean that a boat shall get well clear of other boats before
starting her penalty turns.)
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31.2 A boat shall not touch a mark while racing.
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31.3 A boat wrongfully compelled to touch a mark by another boat shall be
exonerated.
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44.1 A boat must retire if she caused serious damage or gained a
significant advantage by a breach of the rules.
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44.2 A boat taking her penalty shall get well clear as soon as possible
after the incident and promptly do her turn (normally within 10 seconds).
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44.4 When a boat takes a penalty and in the same incident has touched a
mark, she need not take a further penalty.
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E4.3 Skippers shall remain in the control area while racing, except to
perform functions permitted by E4.4.
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E4.4 A boat may be launched, adjusted, or repaired at any time. (Sometimes
not allowed in the minute before the start.)
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E5.2 Outside help is permitted for E4.4, but no skipper shall give advice
to a skipper who is racing.
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E5.3 The penalty for breaking a rule shall be a complete 360° turn.
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E5.4 During an event, ballast and control equipment may not be shifted,
shipped, or un-shipped. Control equipment may be replaced by items of
similar weight and position.
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E5.6 A boat out of radio control shall so hail, shall retire, and shall be
considered an obstruction.
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