How to Sail on the Lifted Tack

Ok. So your sailing along, concentrating on sail-trim and such, and you come across another boat and you’re on a collision course. You are about to hit and the other guy screams “STARBOARD” at you. Well you know that starboard is the right side of the boat, but why is the other boat screaming it at you?

He is hailing right-of-way declarations. He is on something known as starboard tack. Starboard tack is when the wind is crossing over the starboard side of the boat before it crosses the port side. Port tack is when wind crosses the port side first. When boats are on opposite tacks, the boat on starboard has right-of-way. That is why the guy is screaming starboard at you; he is telling you that he has right-of-way.

Another right-of-way situation is leeward. To be the leeward boat is to be farther downwind of the other boat. So think of your body of water as a map with the direction of the wind coming from the top. If there are two boats, whoever is lowest on the map has right-of-way over the other boat (if you are both on the same tack). If you are leeward, you can manipulate your right-of-way rights to make the other boat slow down. You can do something known as “heading them up”. This means that if you’re leeward, you can steer closer to the wind, making the other boat head into the direction of the wind. However, you can’t make them head any farther than head-to-wind (pointing directly into the wind).

Another neat rule is that (in racing) if you collide with another boat and you have right-of-way, you crew can use any necessary force to get away from the area. This includes pushing off of their boat.

Another rule is the overtaking rule. This means that if you are moving faster than a boat ahead of you and you are about to pass them, then they have right-of-way. However, if you are leeward, then you have right-of-way.

In a race, you have to round marks. Well if you are going to a mark, then there are special right-of-way rules. Let’s say you are overtaking a boat and you are inside of him (on the side closest to the mark). If your bow crosses his stern before he is two boat-lengths away from the mark, then he has to give you buoy-room. Buoy-room is room to round the mark without going around the other boat.

If you are tacking, jibing, or doing a penalty, you have no right-of-way no matter what.

So what happens if you hit another boat and they had right-of-way? Well if you are fleet-racing, then you have to do a 720 (two spins). If you are team racing, you have to d a 360 (one spin). If you fouled someone and you don’t do your spins, then they can protest you. This involves hours of filling out forms and screaming at the other boats crewmembers in a small crowded room. It doesn’t sound very appealing, does it? Therefore, you should just do your spins.

Here is a basic summary:

�· A boat that is Windward keeps clear of one that is leeward.

�· A boat on Port tack keeps clear of one on Starboard.

�·A boat Tacking or Jibing keeps clear of one that is not.

�·The boat astern (behind) keeps clear of the boat ahead.

�·If you gain right of way or change course, give the other boat time to keep clear.

Ã?·It’s better to give way or do your spins than to spend hours in the protest room.

�·If you have violated a rule, take a penalty (do your spins).

�·The inside boat(s) at two boat lengths from the mark is entitled to room to round the mark (buoy-room).

�·A boat that is backing up or not racing keeps clear of other boats.

�·Avoid Collisions.

These rules for racing can be found at www.ussailing.com.