Basic Rules

[Flymatt]

Hi all

As a total novice sailor (only a few hours on the water) and someone who has no (real world) need to learn ALL the rules for racing. But would like to keep within the rules (ish) on the sim. Could I ask that someone write a nice simple, "Do this; Don't do that" list of BASIC rules. I feel that I'm sometimes 'bending' the rules and annoying folk and, on the flipside, not taking advantage of some rules that might help me in some way!

It could also help other newbies in the future.

ty
Fly

[eriko]

try this site:
http://game.finckh.net/indexe.htm

Erik

[Flymatt]

Thanks for the link. I guess 'basic' isn't going to happen is it

How the hell do you keep all this in mind when on the water??

Fly

[eriko]

Just have fun and stay clear of the others.

The strategy of sailing is going as fast as you can, and this will only work when there are no other boats.

If there is another boat nearby, you (or he) can use the rules to gain an advantage (this is tactics) but remember that this almost allways will be slower.
So a third person could pass you both while you are "fighting".

Sail your own race, keep clear of others, be a sport when you or someone else makes a mistake.

Have Fun

[Flymatt]

Thanks Eriko that sounds like a great plan!

[Rojoyinc]

I'm new to racing too. I'd like to learn more.... But at this point i just try to use common boaters rules.

Boat coming from the right gets right of way... Yield for boat from the right. Also smaller boat yield for larger vessel... And boat under sail gets right of way to motor boat.

Its hard to stay away from other boats when racings... Especially at the start line. I try to cross the start from the right... Hopefully having right of way in a cluttered start.

Hopefully this is a good plan.

[swrebel]

I'll have a go -

1. Boats on the Port tack must keep clear of boats on Starboard tack. (Additionally, if a port tack boat is keeping clear, a starboard tack boat can't change course in such a way as to cause the port-tacker to act again to continue keeping clear - no hunting.)
2. On the same tack - Clear astern keeps clear of Clear ahead.
3. Boats on the same tack AND overlapped : the boat to windward of the other must keep clear. (Additionally - if you gain an overlap TO LEEWARD of another boat from clear astern, you aren't allowed to sail higher than your proper course - i.e. the best possible course toward the next mark.)
4. While tacking, you must stay clear of other boats until you are on your new close-hauled course. (If your new course is close-hauled on port tack, look out for starboard tack boats...)
5. Mark roundings : this is where things get a little complicated...
The rules define a 3 boat-length ZONE around marks.
If boats are overlapped when the first of them enters the zone, the inside boat is entitled to room to round the mark and the outside boat must stay clear (no matter what tack either boat may be on.)
If no overlap exists, the boat clear astern must stay clear and is NOT entitled to try to round inside at the mark.
EXCEPTION : The above mark rounding rules do NOT apply at a windward mark between boats on opposite tacks beating to windward or if the proper course for one of them is to tack. Example : Two boats are approaching the windward mark - one on port the other on starboard, and they will be passing the mark, leaving it on their left side (therefore the boat approaching on port will have to tack to round the mark.) The port tack boat is not entitled to room. She must stay clear of the starboard tack boat both before and while tacking, and she must not force the starboard tacker to sail above close-hauled while the mark is being passed.
6. Penalties : the penalty for breaking a rule is a 360 degree turn - i.e. one tack + one jibe.

That's pretty much the basics - some of the terms might be foreign to you. Feel free to ask.

Hope this is helpful -

BeteNoir

[Admiral]

Grab the official ISAF Introductory Rules for Racing

International Sailing Fedaration official website is http://www.sailing.org/

They have a training/development sub section with some pages devoted to beginners

Starting with sailing: http://www.sailing.org/training/get-into-sailing.php

And the introductory rules: http://www.sailing.org/training/introductory-rules.php

Tons of stuff there but the one page introductory rules is something you can print out and put up next to your screen so you can read while sailing

Just make sure to check every 4 years if there are updates or changes. (the Racing Rules of Sailing get overhauled every 4 year... next at the end of 2012 and some of the changes that are made may effect the introductory rules also. )

The ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing, international class rules, case book, callbooks and other official documents can be found here: http://www.sailing.org/documents.php