Cheat Sheet
Extract from the American Sailing Association and World of Saling.
Avoiding Collisions When Two Sailing Vessels Are Approaching One Another
Terminology
Windward side: Â the side opposite that on which the mainsail is carried
Leeward and Windward
A boat’s leeward side is the side that is or, when she is head to wind, was away from the wind.
However, when sailing by the lee or directly downwind, her leeward side is the side on which her mainsail lies. The other side is her windward side.
When two boats on the same tack overlap, the one on the leeward side of the other is the leeward boat. The other is the windward boat.
OPPOSITE TACKS / WIND ON DIFFERENT SIDES
When boats are on opposite tacks, a port-tack boat (wind on the port side) shall keep clear of a starboard-tack boat.
ON THE SAME TACK, OVERLAPPED / WIND ON SAME SIDE
When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat.
ON THE SAME TACK, NOT OVERLAPPEDÂ / WIND ON SAME SIDE
When boats are on the same tack and not overlapped, a boat clear astern shall keep clear of a boat clear ahead.
Image Credit: Carsington Sailing Club
Image Credit: Â American Sailing Association
WHILE TACKING
After a boat passes head to wind, she shall keep clear of other boats until she is on a close-hauled course.
Overtaking
Any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken.
Image Credit: Â American Sailing Association
Some Simplified Racing Rules
TOUCHING A MARK
If you touch a mark, you may continue to race only after getting out of the way of other boats and sailing a complete circle (a 360 o turn).
BOATS CONVERGING AT THE MARK (Adapted from Montreal Sailing)
An inside and overlapped boat (Green A) within three boat-lengths of the mark is the stand-on vessel. In general, any overlapped outside boat (Orange B) must keep clear and give room to any boat between them and the mark.
A boat coming into the mark on Port Tack (Orange D) must be able to complete its tack without obstructing the progress of an incoming Starboard Tack boat. If a Starboard Tack boat has to adjust course, you fouled them.
Image Credit: Adapated from Montreal Sailing
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