Going by the Rules - Definitions in action

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GOING BY THE RULESDefinitions in Action

Definitions in Action

Windward, Leeward, and Tack, Port and Starboard

Clear Astern, Clear Ahead, Overlap

Keep Clear

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W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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3

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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W

L

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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W

LPort

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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W

LPort

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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7

W

W

L

L

Port

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

Head to wind but still on same tack

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8

W

W

L

L

Port

Port

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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9

W

W

L

L

Port

Port

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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10

W

W

W

L

L

L

Port

Port

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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11

W

W

W

L

L

L

Port

Port

Port

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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12

W

W

W

L

L

L

Port

Port

Port

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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13

W

W

W

W

L

L

L

L

Port

Port

Port

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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14

W

W

W

W

L

L

L

L

Port

Port

Port

Port

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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W

W

W

W

L

L

L

L

Port

Port

Port

Port

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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16

W

W

W

W

WL

L

L

L

LPort

Port

Port

Port

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

By the lee, but still on

the same tack

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W

W

W

W

WL

L

L

L

LPort

Port

Port

Port

Port

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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18

W

W

W

W

WL

L

L

L

LPort

Port

Port

Port

Port

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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19

W

W

W

W

W

W

L

L

L

L

L

L

Port

Port

Port

Port

Port

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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W

W

W

W

W

W

L

L

L

L

L

L

Port

Port

Port

Port

Port

Starboard

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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W

W

W

W

W

W

L

L

L

L

L

L

Port

Port

Port

Port

Port

Starboard

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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W

W

W

W

W

W

W

L

L

L

L

L

L

Port

Port

Port

Port

Port

Starboard

L

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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W

W

W

W

W

W

W

L

L

L

L

L

L

Port

Port

Port

Port

Port

Starboard

StarboardL

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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W

W

W

W

W

W

W

L

L

L

L

L

L

Port

Port

Port

Port

Port

Starboard

StarboardL

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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25

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

Port

Port

Port

Port

Port

Starboard

StarboardL

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

Head to wind but still on same tack

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W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

Port

Port

Port

Port

Port

Starboard

Starboard

Starboard

L

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

Port

Port

Port

Port

Port

Starboard

Starboard

Starboard

L

Head to wind but still on same tack

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

Port

Port

Port

Port

Port

Starboard

Starboard

Starboard

L

By the lee, but still on

the same tack

Head to wind but still on same tack

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

Port

Port

Port

Port

Port

Starboard

Starboard

Starboard

L

By the lee, but still on

the same tack

Head to wind but still on same tack

Head to wind but still on same tack

W - windward

L - leeward

Which are the windward and leeward sides of the boat?

And so which tack is she on?

We’re racing!Definitions, Leeward and Windward, and Tack, Starboard or Port

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GOING BY THE RULESDefinitions in Action

Definitions in Action

Windward, Leeward, and Tack, Port and Starboard

Clear Astern, Clear Ahead, Overlap

Keep Clear

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We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

Is one of these same-tack boats clear astern of the other?

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Is one of these same-tack boats still clear astern of the other?

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

Clearahead

Clearastern

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Is one of these same-tack boats still clear astern of the other?

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

Clearahead

Clearastern

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Is one of these same-tack boats still clear astern of the other?

No, some of Blue is ahead of Yellow’s ‘transom line’.

So they are overlapped.

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

Clearahead

Clearastern

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Is one of these same-tack boats still clear astern of the other?

No, some of Blue is ahead of Yellow’s ‘transom line’.

So they are overlapped.

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Technically, a line abeam from the

aftermost point of hull AND equipment, which would include a transom-mounted

rudder.

We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

Clearahead

Clearastern

Overlapped

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Is one of these same-tack boats clear astern of the other?

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

Clearahead

Clearastern

Overlapped

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Is one of these same-tack boats clear astern of the other?

No, some of Yellow is ahead of Blue’s ‘transom line’.

So they are still overlapped.

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

Clearahead

Clearastern

Overlapped Overlapped

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Clearahead

Clearastern

Clearastern

Clearahead

Overlapped Overlapped

Is one of these same-tack boats clear astern of the other?

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

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Clearahead

Clearastern

Clearastern

Clearahead

Overlapped Overlapped

Is one of these same-tack boats clear astern of the other?

Yes, all of Yellow is now clear astern of Blue’s ‘transom line’.

The overlap has ended.

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

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Clearahead

Clearastern

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

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Clearahead

Clearastern

Overlapped

Overlapped

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Clearahead

Clearastern

Overlapped Overlapped

Overlapped Overlapped

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Clearahead

Clearastern

Clearastern

Clearahead

Overlapped Overlapped

Overlapped Overlapped

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

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Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

One boat is clear astern of another when her hull and equipment in normal position are behind a line abeam from the aftermost point of the other boat’s hull and equipment in normal position. The other boat is clear ahead.

Equipment that is NOT in its normal position cannot create an overlap. For example:• a spinnaker allowed to fly forwards by freeing its halyard• a retractable ‘sprit’ that is extended when there is no immediate intention of setting a gennaker

If a boat astern with such equipment in an abnormal position is catching the boat ahead, then:• No overlap until the first piece of hull, or equipment in normal position (such as the spinnaker pole) crosses the transom line• and so ( in the case of the spinnaker) the overlap will happen later than if the equipment had been in its normal position

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Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

One boat is clear astern of another when her hull and equipment in normal position are behind a line abeam from the aftermost point of the other boat’s hull and equipment in normal position. The other boat is clear ahead.

Equipment that is NOT in its normal position cannot create an overlap. For example:• a spinnaker allowed to fly forwards by freeing its halyard• a retractable ‘sprit’ that is extended when there is no immediate intention of setting a gennaker

Similarly:• a ‘spinnaker-only’ overlap will end if the spinnaker halyard is eased to make the sail fly forwards• a ‘sprit-only’ overlap will end if the gennaker is removed but the sprit is left extended if that is not its normal position at that time

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Is any part of Yellow behind Blue’s ‘transom line’?

Is any part of Blue behind Yellow’s ‘transom line?’

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

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Is any part of Yellow behind Blue’s ‘transom line’?

Is any part of Blue behind Yellow’s ‘transom line’?

No – so neither is clear astern, so they are overlapped

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

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Is any part of Yellow behind Blue’s ‘transom line’?

Is any part of Blue behind Yellow’s transom line?

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

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Is any part of Yellow behind Blue’s ‘transom line’?

Is any part of Blue behind Yellow’s transom line?

No – so neither is clear astern, so they are overlapped

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

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Is any part of Yellow behind Blue’s ‘transom line’?

Is any part of Blue behind Yellow’s transom line?

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

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51

Is any part of Yellow behind Blue’s ‘transom line’?

Is any part of Blue behind Yellow’s transom line?

No – so neither is clear astern, so they are overlapped

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

Each pair is on the same tack, and the term overlap ‘always applies to boats on the same tack.’ (Definition Overlap)

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Are Yellow and Blue overlapped?

No. The term does not apply to opposite tack boats sailing to windward and away from marks

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

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Are Yellow and Blue overlapped?

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

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Are Yellow and Blue overlapped?

Technically YES, because the definition Overlap says that the term applies to boats sailing more than ninety degrees from the wind.

However, in open water, this fact has no further significance in the rules. BLUE on port must keep clear of YELLOW on starboard.

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

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Are Yellow and Blue overlapped?

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

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Are Yellow and Blue overlapped?

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

Yes, even though they are on opposite tacks, both because rule 18, Mark-Room, applies, and also because they are both sailing more than ninety degrees from the true wind.

In this case, BLUE on port still has to keep clear of YELLOW on starboard, but rule 18 puts a limitation on YELLOW, which will have to give mark-room.

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Is Blue clear ahead of Yellow?

IS Yellow clear astern of Blue?

The terms Clear Astern and Clear Ahead do not apply to boats on opposite tacks away from marks and obstructions.

This situation is resolved by rule 10 that deals with opposite-tack boats, and not by rule 12 that deals with same-tack boats where one is clear astern of the other.

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

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Is Blue clear ahead of Yellow?

IS Yellow clear astern of Blue?

YES. The terms Clear Astern and Clear Ahead apply to opposite-tack boats when rule 18 applies, or when both boats are sailing more than ninety degrees from the wind.

Both of these criteria make this a clear-ahead / clear-astern situation. As we will see, BLUE on port still has to keep clear of YELLOW on starboard, but rule 18 requires clear-astern YELLOW to give mark-room to clear-ahead BLUE

Start show We’re racing! Definition, Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap

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GOING BY THE RULESDefinitions in Action

Definitions in Action

Windward, Leeward, and Tack, Port and Starboard

Clear Astern, Clear Ahead, Overlap

Keep Clear

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Is RED keeping clear of GREEN?

What is the test for rule 10?

When boats are on opposite tacks, the test is whether GREEN, the starboard-tack right-of-way boat, ‘can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action’.

Can you make that judgement from this diagram?

Start SectionStart showStart show We’re racing!Definition, Keep Clear

FACTORS• Wind and weather• Size and manoeuvrability of the boats• Speed of boats, and are speeds different?• Eye contact between helms• Hail from RED that she will duck – and a duck!

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Start SectionStart showStart show We’re racing!Definition, Keep Clear

FACTORS• Wind and weather• Size and manoeuvrability of the boats• Speed of boats, and are speeds different?

Is RED keeping clear of GREEN?

What is the test for rule 10?

When boats are on opposite tacks, the test is whether GREEN, the starboard-tack right-of-way boat, ‘can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action’.

Can you make that judgement from this diagram?

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Is BLUE keeping clear of YELLOW?

What is the test for rule 12?

When boats are on the same tack but not overlapped, the test is still whether YELLOW, the right-of-way boat, can ‘sail her course with no need to take avoiding action.’

Can you make that judgement from this diagram?

FACTORS •Wind and weather•Size and manoeuvrability of the boats• Is BLUE closing on YELLOW?

Start show We’re racing!Definition, Keep Clear

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In all these cases – opposite tacks, or same tack, not overlapped - the test is whether the right-of-way boat, can ‘sail her course with no need to take avoiding action’.

So it’s not just a question of what the keep-clear boat is doing.

Rather, it’s the effect of the keep-clear boat’s actions on the right-of-way boat.

Start show We’re racing!Definition, Keep Clear

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Start show We’re racing!Definition, Keep Clear

The test is first whether YELLOW, the right-of-way boat, can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action.

If their courses are parallel, even if BLUE is close, YELLOW can sail her course.

Is BLUE keeping clear of YELLOW?

What is the test?

Is BLUE keepingclear?

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Start show We’re racing!Definition, Keep Clear

The test is first whether YELLOW, the right-of-way boat, can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action.

If their courses are parallel, even if BLUE is close, YELLOW can sail her course.

But as they are overlapped on the same tack, the test is secondly whether the leeward boat can change course (hypothetically) in BOTH directions without immediate contact.

Is BLUE keeping clear of YELLOW?

What is the test?

Is BLUE keepingclear?

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Start show We’re racing!Definition, Keep Clear

…the test is secondly whether the leeward boat can change course (hypothetically) in BOTH directions without immediate contact.

If YELLOW were to luff, there may be contact, but probably not immediately. So BLUE passed that part of the test.

Is BLUE keeping clear of YELLOW?

What is the test?

Is BLUE keepingclear?

Suppose a luffby YELLOW

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Start show We’re racing!Definition, Keep Clear

…the test is secondly whether the leeward boat can change course (hypothetically) in BOTH directions without immediate contact.

If YELLOW were to luff, there may be contact, but probably not immediately. So BLUE passed that part of the test.

But if YELLOW were to bear away, and there would be contact, it is more likely to be immediate. If that’s what a protest committee thinks, then BLUE was not initially keeping clear.

Is BLUE keeping clear of YELLOW?

What is the test?

Is BLUE keepingclear?

Suppose a luffby YELLOW

Suppose a bear-away by YELLOW

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GOING BY THE RULESDefinitions in Action

Definitions in Action

Windward, Leeward, and Tack, Port and Starboard

Clear Astern, Clear Ahead, Overlap

Keep Clear

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69

GOING BY THE RULES

STARTERS

What’s new for 2009 – quick guide

What’s new for 2009 – in detail

INGREDIENTS

Reading the signals

Major definitions in action

The Racing Rules of Sailing

The Definitions

What’s cooking?

THE MAIN COURSE

Basically and Fundamentally…

We’re racing!

We’re starting!

We’re rounding!

We’re taking turns!

We’re finishing!

We’re unhappy!