Racing Rules of Sailing 2025–2028 — Explained Simply

Someone Else Shouted "Protest!": Can You Still Protest? (Rules 60.2, 60.4 and 63.4)

Someone else's hail does not count for you: shout "Protest!" yourself, or your protest is invalid.

Downwind Cover: The Boat Behind Controls Your Wind, So Match Every Gybe

Downwind the boat behind steals your wind: sit upwind of her and match every gybe.

She Luffs You at the Pin Seconds Before the Start: Do You Get Mark-Room? (Rules 11 and 16.1)

Before the start nobody gets mark-room at the pin: windward keeps clear, even when leeward luffs.

Port Tack Downwind, Starboard Boat Coming: Gybe Away or Duck Her Stern?

Bear away, slow down and pass behind her stern: two seconds of slowing beats three gybes.

Your Protest Names the Wrong Boat: Can the Jury Still Disqualify the Boat That Broke the Rule? (Rules 60.4 and 63.2)

A valid protest naming the wrong boat lets the jury protest the right one.

A Faster Boat Is Coming Over the Top Downwind: Hold Low or Head Up and Match Her?

Head up early and match her: same angle, same speed, and she cannot roll you.

Crossed the Finish Line, Then Sailed Back Below It: Have You Finished? (Definition Finish)

Any part of your hull over the line from the course side is a finish. Sailing back does not undo it.

Straight, High and Soak, or the Fast Angles: Which Wins Downwind?

Straight, high and soak, or fast angles: each wins on a different day.

Is a Boat to Leeward an Obstruction on a Run? Do You Have to Let Her Into the Gap? (Rule 19.2(b))

A boat you must keep clear of is an obstruction. Overlapped on the inside, you get room between.

Straight to the Leeward Mark or Zig-Zag Through the Gusts? Which Wins Downwind?

Link the gusts downwind: the zig-zag sails further but stays in more wind.

Overlapped Boat Isn't Trapped but Wants Room Behind a Boat at the Start: Do You Owe It? (Rule 19.2(b))

Outside gives inside room at an obstruction, even if the inside boat could escape.

The Boat Behind Is Catching You Downwind: Hold Your Course or Get Out of Her Wind Shadow?

Guard your wind downwind: step out of her shadow into clean air, early.

She Came From Behind and Overlapped to Leeward: Who Keeps Clear? (Rules 11 and 17)

Clear astern keeps clear, until she overlaps. Then windward keeps clear.

Sailing a Reach in a Fleet: Go High With the Pack or Sail Straight?

The pack curves high and pays for it. Go low enough for clean air and sail straight.

Inside at the Leeward Mark, You Swing Wide and Hit the Outside Boat: Whose Fault? (Rules 18.2 and 11)

Inside at the mark, you get room to round, not room to roam.

A Faster Boat Is Passing You to Windward on a Reach: Let Her Through or Defend?

Turn up early, every time she tries. She is the windward boat and must keep clear.

Both on Port, Starboard Boat Right Behind: Can She Sail Between You? (Rule 10)

Port keeps clear of starboard, even downwind, even from behind.

Sailing a Reach in Gusts: Bear Away and Weave Instead of Sailing Straight

Bear away to ride the gust, turn up in the lull. The weaver beat the straight line.

She Got to the Zone First, So Why Does She Have to Give You Room? (Rule 18.3)

Tack inside the zone and you hand the mark to any starboard boat that gets inside you.

Pointing at the Mark in Current? You're Sailing a Curve. Aim Off Instead

Your bow points above the mark, but your track runs straight to it. Aim off for current.

She Never Hailed "Protest" — Is Her Protest Valid? (Rules 60.2, 60.4 and 10)

No hail, no valid protest. But the boat that did hail can still get the port boat out.

Late to the Layline on Port — Tack Under the Queue or Duck the Lot?

Tacking under the queue costs two boat lengths. Duck the last boat and tack just above the layline.

Trapped Behind a Boat Along the Shore — Which Side Do You Pass? (Rules 12, 11 and 19.2)

Inside gets no room by the shore. Go outside, and the starboard boat must give you room.

Level Halfway Up the Beat, One Wind Shift Later — Who's Ahead? (Leverage)

One wind shift turns the line between two level boats, so stay near the middle and reach the layline late.

She Came From Behind Before the Start, Then Luffed — Who's in the Wrong? (Rules 11, 15 and 17)

Overlapped to leeward before the start, she has right of way and may luff, if she gives you room to keep clear.

The Wind Goes Right, Then Left — Layline or the Middle? Which Boat Wins Both Times?

Head towards the shift you expect, but reach the layline late, close to the mark.

She Tacks On You Every Time — Keep Tacking, or Fake It? (Escaping a Tight Cover)

Head up like you're tacking, let her cover, then bear away into clean air.

Beside Her at the Gybe Mark — Did You Leave Enough Room? (Rule 11, Keep Clear and 18.4)

Keeping clear means she can gybe without hitting you: leave room for her boom, not just her hull.

You're Leading Upwind — Do You Sit On Her Wind, or Let Her Breathe? (Loose Cover)

A loose cover keeps you between her and the mark, off her wind, with no tacking duel.

She Came From Behind Into the Gap — Do You Have to Let Her Through? (Rule 19.2(b), Obstruction)

A boat you must keep clear of is an obstruction, so let the inside boat through if there was room.

The Leeward Boat Luffed You Past the Mark — Can She Do That? (Rule 11 Outside the Zone)

Outside the zone there is no mark-room, so the windward boat keeps clear (Rule 11).

Dark Water on the Right, Two Boats in the Way — Do You Duck Them to Reach the Wind?

Half a length to duck two boats bought more than two lengths of wind.

She Shut the Gap at the Committee Boat Right on the Gun — Is That Legal? (Section C and Rule 16.1)

At a committee boat in open water there is no room to squeeze in, but she must still let you keep clear.

A Starboard Boat Is About to Cross You — Tack Away, or Slow Down and Keep Your Lane?

Easing and passing behind her stern beats tacking into her bad air.

She Tacked Right In Front of You at the Windward Mark — Can You Protest? (Rules 18.3, 13 and 15)

You bore away and never had to luff, so her tack in the zone was legal.

You Can't Cross a Starboard Boat — Duck, or Tack Under Her Bow? (The Lee Bow)

Tack ahead of her bow and she's in your bad air; a length late and she rolls you.

You Have To Duck the Starboard Boat — Bear Away Early or Late? (The Good Duck)

Duck late and close, then straight back up: worth a length and a half.

You Ducked the Starboard Boat and She Bore Away Into You — Who Gets Penalized? (Rule 16.2)

Upwind, starboard may not bear away onto a port boat that's ducking her.

Her Spinnaker Was Out Of Control and You Hit It — Who Gets Penalized? (Rule 12, Case 91)

Her kite was out of control — but clear astern, keeping clear of it was your job.

Left Corner, Right Corner or the Middle — Who Won This Beat? (Corners Are for Gamblers)

A corner is a bet on one shift — the middle keeps you in the race.

You Hit a Boat After a General Recall — Can You Still Be Disqualified? (Part 2 Preamble, Rules 14 and 60.5)

A general recall stops the race, not rule 14 — serious damage costs you the restart.

Same Speed, Same Start — So How Did Blue Get So Far Ahead? (Tack on the Headers, Sail the Lifted Tack)

Headed? Tack — the same shift lifts you toward the mark on the other tack.

She Tacked in the Zone Right in Front of You — Were You Right to Shout "No Room"? (Rules 13 and 18.3)

She may tack in the zone and make you head up — but never above close-hauled.

You Can Just Cross Her — Do You Take It or Tuck In? (Port-Starboard Crossing Tactics)

Can just cross a starboard boat? Cross if you want the right — the next shift may shut the door.

Squeezed In at the Jetty on the Start Line — Do You Get Room? (Section C Preamble, Rules 18.2 and 19.2)

A committee boat gives you nothing — a jetty joined to the shore gives you room.

Everyone Thinks They're on the Start Line — Only One Boat Is (Use a Transit, Beat the Mid-Line Sag)

The middle of a long line always sags — a transit puts you right on it.

Inside Boat Sailed Past the Gate Mark — Do You Still Owe Her Room? (Rules 18.2 and 18.4)

At a gate she may skip her mark — and at the other one, you're inside.

Everyone Started Level — So How Did You Cross the Whole Fleet? (Pin-Favoured Start)

Level on starboard looks even — until the pin-end boat tacks and crosses.

Luffed at the Last Second Before the Start — Is That Allowed? (Rules 11 and 16.1)

Leeward may luff — but not so late you have no room to keep clear.

Started on the Gun at Full Speed, Still Last at the First Mark — Start at the Favoured End

If the line isn't square to the wind, one end is a free lead.

A Boat to Leeward Shouts "Please Tack!" — Do You Have To? (Rules 11 and 16.1)

Nobody has to tack on request — but leeward can luff you to head to wind.

Bore Away Round the Top Mark Into a Boat Still Beating — Who Keeps Clear? (Rules 11, 15 and 23.2)

Another leg doesn't save you — same tack, overlapped, windward keeps clear.

Hailed "Room to Tack" at a Starboard Boat and They Said "No, I Can Cross" (Rules 20.1 and 20.2)

A starboard boat is an obstruction — hail, and if refused, duck and protest.

Missed the Finish Line and Sailed Round the Committee Boat — Does It Count? (Definition: Finish)

An extra loop round the committee boat costs time, not the finish.

"Room to Tack" on Opposite Tacks? You Don't Have to Tack (Rules 20.1 and 10)

Rule 20 is same-tack only — on opposite tacks, port keeps clear.

Hailed "Room to Tack" at the Finish and She Said "No" — Both Boats Penalised (Rules 20.1 and 20.2)

A wrong hail still needs an answer — and "No" isn't one.

Can She Shut the Door at the Committee Boat? Yes — If She Gives You Room to Keep Clear (Rules 11 and 16.1)

Leeward may shut the door at the start, as long as she luffs early enough.

You Called for Room at the Committee Boat and She Held Her Course — You Pay (Rules 11 and 16)

She never changed course, so Rule 16 never applied — you keep clear.

She Hailed "Room!" at the Committee Boat — No Mark-Room at the Start (Rule 11)

A starting mark in open water gives no mark-room — barging is a foul.

She Tacked Under Your Bow and You Had to Luff — She Pays (Rules 13 and 15)

A tack that makes you move first is a tack too close.

Being Ahead Downwind Is Not Right of Way (Rules 12, 11 and 15)

Being ahead lasts only as long as she's clear astern.

She Gybed Into You and It's Still Your Fault (Rules 11 and 10, Keep Clear)

Keep clear means leaving her room to turn both ways — and a gybe is a turn.

Hit From Behind Downwind and It's Still Your Fault (Rules 10 and 12)

Booms on opposite sides means Rule 10 — and port keeps clear even from in front.

You Crossed Clean on Port, She Dodged Anyway and Protested — Nobody Pays (Rule 10, Case 50)

A dodge she didn't need isn't avoiding action — but Case 50 makes every close cross a bet.

You Held Your Course on Port at the Start — and She Was Right to Protest (Rules 10 and 16.1)

Rule 16.1 asks about room, not course — she may head up, and you still tack.

She Hailed “Room to Tack” and You Answered “Starboard” — Wrong Answer (Rule 20)

Two lawful answers to the hail — and “Starboard” isn't one of them.

Your Spinnaker Crossed the Finish Line First — and You Still Lost (Definition: Finish)

Hull only since 2021 — the kite over the line counts for nothing.

Over Early and Backing Down Off the Line — You're the Give-Way Boat (Rule 21.3)

Backing a sail doesn't just add a duty — it switches your Section A rights off.

You Hit the Mark and Did Your Turn — Do You Have to Round It Again? (Rule 44)

One turn, one tack, one gybe — the rule never asks you to round the mark twice.

You Crossed the Finish Line, Then Took Your Penalty — Does It Count? (Rule 44.2)

The first crossing doesn't lock in — turn, get the whole hull back, then finish.

She Was Over The Line Early and Still Has Right of Way (Rules 10 and 21.1)

OCS costs her the start, not her rights — until she turns back, and then it flips.

Two Boats Beating Upwind — Read the Boom, Not the Shouting (Rule 10)

Not who's ahead, not who shouts — the boom tells you the tack at a glance.

Rounding the Mark Does Not Give You Right of Way (Rules 10 and 14)

Bearing away round the mark doesn't change your tack — and Rule 10 only reads tack.

Rounded the Mark on the Wrong Side — the Fix That Actually Counts (Rule 28)

It is never the circle that fixes it — it is where the taut string ends up.

You Crossed the Finish Line and You're Still Racing (Rules 10 and 23.1)

Bow over the line isn't the end of the rules — you're racing until you clear it.

Reaching Boat vs Close-Hauled Boat — There Is No Close-Hauled Rule (Rule 11)

Right answer, wrong reason — position decides it, not point of sail.

You Spun Round After Touching the Start Mark — and a Gybe Is Not a Tack (Rule 44.2)

Bear away, gybe, come back up — it feels like a penalty turn, and it isn't one.

She Luffed You to Head to Wind and It Was Legal (Rule 11 vs Rule 17)

A leeward boat that arrived by tacking is never capped by Rule 17.

You Hit the Finish Mark, Spun Round — and It Didn't Count (Rules 31 and 44.2)

A spin at the finish with no tack in it leaves the Rule 31 breach unpenalised.

A Tacking Boat Has No Rights — The Late Port-Tack Duck (Rules 10 and 13)

Tacking away from starboard too late — Rule 10 hands you straight to Rule 13.

She Came From Behind and Took Your Water — Legally (Rule 11)

Slotted in from clear astern to leeward — and you're the one who must move.

Windward vs Leeward — Who Actually Has Right of Way? (Rule 11)

The same-tack fundamental — closer to the wind means you move.

The Zone Won't Save You — Rule 18 Is Off on Opposite Tacks Upwind (Rule 18.1)

Same tack first — on opposite tacks upwind, the zone means nothing.

Head to Wind Doesn't Save You — You're Still on a Tack (Rule 10)

Luffing to head to wind on the line doesn't cancel port and starboard.

How to Take a One-Turn Penalty Properly (Rule 44.2)

The two-move test: one tack, one gybe, or the turn doesn't count.

Port Hits Starboard — Who Is Disqualified, and Who Gets Redress? (Rules 10, 14, 62.1(b))

Rammed on starboard — she's disqualified, and your score can be repaired.

The Zone Snapshot — Mark-Room Is Decided Three Lengths Out (Rule 18.2)

Your rights at the mark are a photo taken at the zone — the mark itself is too late.

No Mark-Room on Opposite Tacks at the Windward Mark (Rules 18.1 & 10)

Rule 18 is switched off on opposite tacks upwind — it's plain port-starboard.

The Tack You Were Forced Into Doesn't Count Towards Your Penalty (Rule 44.2)

Count the turns only after you're well clear — the forced tack is not yours to claim.

Clearly Overlapped at the Zone — The Outside Boat Gives Room (Rule 18.2)

Overlapped at the zone — starboard tack doesn't buy the outside boat a way out.

You Touched the Start Pin — Here's the Turn That Actually Clears It (Rules 31 & 44.2)

Hitting the pin isn't fatal — but only a turn with a tack and a gybe clears it.

Does a Penalty Turn Need Both a Tack and a Gybe? (Rule 44.2)

Gybe but no tack? The penalty didn't happen — the foul is still live.

Same Tack, No Overlap — Clear Astern Keeps Clear (Rule 12)

No overlap, same tack — the boat behind keeps clear, full stop.

Opposite Tacks Converging — The Tack Decides, Not the Gap (Rule 10)

Port keeps clear of starboard — the tack decides the crossing, not the gap.

Mark-Room Is Owed From the Zone — Even If the Inside Boat Gets Her Overlap Later

Mark-room owed at the zone stays owed — a later overlap doesn't cancel it.

You Gybed But Never Tacked — The Penalty Turn Doesn't Count (Rule 44.2)

A circle isn't a penalty — the rule counts one tack and one gybe.

Opposite Tacks on the Start Line — Who Gives Way? (Rule 10)

The start line is not a special zone — Rule 10 applies right through the gun.

Returning to the Pre-Start Side — You Keep Clear of Everyone (Rule 21.1)

Turn back to restart and Rule 21 strips your right of way — starboard included.

Hit a Boat and the Mark in One Incident — One Penalty or Two? (Rule 44.1)

One incident, one Two-Turns Penalty — even when you hit the boat and the mark.

Starboard Had to Bear Away — That Alone Proves Port Broke Rule 10

The crash bear-away is the evidence — no contact needed to lose the protest.

You Hit a Mark AND Another Boat — Does One Penalty Cover Both?

Hitting a boat and a mark in one sequence can mean two separate penalties.

You Have Right of Way at the Mark — But You Still Owe Room

Right of way under Rule 11 doesn't cancel a separate mark-room duty under 18.2.

Hit a Mark? The Correct Rule 44.2 Penalty Turn

Touching a mark clears with one tack AND one gybe, taken promptly.

Catching Up Downwind Doesn't Earn You Right of Way (Rule 12)

Closing the gap downwind buys you no rights until an overlap actually forms.

Overlapped Downwind — Rule 11 Still Applies

Downwind isn't a free-for-all — Rule 11 still decides who keeps clear.

It Looks Like a Crossing — But Check the Sails First

Same-side sails mean same tack — Rule 11 governs, not Rule 10.

Same Tack and Overlapped — The Basics of Rule 11

Same tack, overlapped — windward keeps clear of leeward, no exceptions.

Boats Meeting at an Angle — Same Tack, Not Opposite Tacks

Check the boom, not the heading — it decides Rule 10 versus Rule 11.

Someone's Climbing Your Transom Downwind — Who Gives Way?

Downwind, being ahead means nothing — the boom decides who gives way.

Boat Climbing Your Transom on Opposite Tacks — Gybe to Flip It

Being ahead downwind is worth nothing on the wrong tack — one gybe fixes it.

One-Turn Penalty — Why a Tack Alone Doesn't Clear You

A tack alone isn't a penalty turn — Rule 44.2 needs a tack AND a gybe.

Running Side-by-Side Downwind — How to Find Which Boat Is Leeward

Side by side downwind, leeward is found from the wind, not from below.

Pre-Start Overlap — The Windward Boat's Duty Under Rule 11

Pre-start overlap still runs on Rule 11 — leeward can luff to defend her lane.

Two Boats Running Downwind — How to Tell Who's on Which Tack

Dead downwind, the boom names the tack when the heading can't.

Rule 11 — Same Tack, Overlapped: Leeward Has Right of Way

Same tack, overlapped — windward keeps clear of leeward, every time.

Starboard vs Port — Identifying Your Tack Under Rule 10

Knowing which side the wind hits first is the whole of Rule 10.

Rule 12: Clear Ahead vs Clear Astern — Who Keeps Clear?

Same tack, no overlap — the boat clear astern keeps clear.

Opposite Tacks Closing Upwind — Read the Tack, Not the Gap

The tack decides the crossing, not the gap between the boats.

Overlapped Downwind — Why the Leeward Boat Holds Right of Way

Overlapped downwind, the leeward boat is protected by Rule 11.

Two Boats, Opposite Tacks — Who Gives Way? (Rule 10)

On opposite tacks, port keeps clear of starboard — every time.

Beating Upwind on Opposite Tacks — Who Gives Way? (Rule 10)

Beating upwind on opposite tacks — port keeps clear of starboard.

The Wall of Boats at the Start — Who Owes You the Gap? (Case 117)

The wall of boats before the gun — the gap belongs to nobody until you take it.

The Right-of-Way Boat Aims at the Wall — Who Owes Room?

Rule 19 owes no room until the right-of-way boat picks a side — but Rule 11 never waits.

Who Owes Room at a Wall? Rule 19 at an Obstruction

The right-of-way boat picks the side — and that decides who owes room.

Forced Over Early — and Still Scored OCS (Case 140)

Exoneration clears the breach — it doesn't give back the start.

When Covering Becomes Cheating — Rule 2 (Case 34)

Covering to win is legal; covering only to ruin a rival is Rule 2.

Two Ways to Lose a Finish (Case 128)

Crossing the line isn't always finishing — two different ways to lose it.

Rule 17 — You Can't Force the Leeward Boat Above Proper Course

A leeward overlap from astern locks you to your own proper course.

Right of Way, No Lookout — Still Disqualified (Case 107)

Right of way is not a substitute for keeping a lookout.

Don't Force a Boat Into the Mark (Case 114)

Luffing a boat into a mark is your breach, not hers.

Rule 16 — Right of Way Is Not a Licence to Chase

Chase a boat with your course changes and Rule 16 throws you out.

Hold Your Course and Still Get Disqualified (Case 125)

At an obstruction the outside boat owes room for the whole group.

"Barging" Isn't Even a Rule (Case 146)

Compelled in: protected. Chose to barge: not.

Starboard Luffed Into You, Then Protested — and Lost (Case 147)

You can't luff a boat into a breach and then protest it.

The Room-to-Tack Hail Must Relay Down the Line (Case 113)

The room-to-tack hail must ripple all the way up the line — or nobody gets out.

Who Chooses Which Side of the Obstruction? (Case 124)

The right to choose the side belongs to whoever has right of way right now.

Inside at the Mark Isn't Room for the Whole Corner (Case 118)

Mark-room is room to round, not room for the whole corner.

Short-Handed? You Still Don't Get Extra Room (Case 103)

A small crew doesn't earn you extra room.

Right of Way Won't Save You From Rule 14 (Case 123)

Both boats disqualified — right of way doesn't cancel Rule 14.

She Said "You Tack" — Then Won the Protest (Case 101)

"You tack" gives you room — not right of way.

One Radio Call Got Her Disqualified (Case 100)

Ask for tactics on the radio and you're out.

Must You Dodge an Out-of-Control Boat? (Case 99)

Right of way doesn't mean you must risk your own boat.

Is a Jockey Pole Legal? (Case 97)

One word — sheet vs guy — makes it legal.

The Black Flag Mistake That Ends Your Series (Case 96)

Race the restart and your black flag becomes permanent.

The Windward-Mark Mistake That Disqualifies You (Case 95)

Tack inside the zone and every line afterwards loses.

He Touched Your Boat on Purpose — and You Got DSQ'd? (Case 73)

Fake a foul by touching a boat — that's the foul.

New Right of Way? Give Room First (Case 93)

New right of way? Give room before you luff.

Case 105 — Luffed Downwind: Why Holding Your Course Gets You DSQ'd

Running on port, luffed by starboard — hold your course and you're out.

Keep Clear Means Their Gear Too (Case 91)

Clear astern means keeping clear of her gear too — even a kite that's flogging.

The String Rule: Did These Boats Start? (Case 90)

Pull your track tight like a string — it must leave every mark on the right side.

Avoiding the Crash Isn't the Same as Keeping Clear (Case 88)

No contact isn't proof you kept clear — if she had to swerve, you broke Rule 10.

Even the Right-of-Way Boat Must Avoid Contact (Case 87)

Right of way doesn't excuse you from avoiding a crash you still can't prevent.

When You Can Cross the Finish Line Either Way (Case 82)

A finish line you can't read lets you cross either way — first crossing counts.

Your Mark-Room Doesn't Survive Your Own Tack (Case 81)

Mark-room gives you room to round — it doesn't survive your own tack.

The Late Recall and Your Right to Redress (Case 79)

A recall flag forty seconds late earns you redress, not last place.

Is Covering a Rival Cheating? (Case 78)

Covering to win is fair. Covering out of spite breaks Rule 2.

Two Contacts at the Mark, One Penalty (Case 77)

Two contacts at the mark — only the mark-touch is penalised.

Mark-Room Is a Floor, Not a Cap on Right of Way (Case 75)

Giving mark-room doesn't take away the other boat's right of way.

When the Other Boat Isn't Racing, the Racing Rules Switch Off (Case 67)

Meet a boat that isn't racing? The racing rules switch off.

Already Disqualified? Covering a Rival Can Get You Banned (Case 65)

Already out? Sitting on a rival anyway can get you banned.

You May Take Inside Room You Weren't Owed — At Your Own Risk (Case 63)

That gap on the inside? You're allowed to take it — at your own risk.

You Owe Mark-Room to the Boat That Overlaps Inside You (Case 59)

Out wide to be fair? You still owe the boat that overlaps inside you.

You Finish At The Line — Limit Marks Have No Required Side (Case 58)

You finish at the line — a limit mark past it has no required side.

About to Hit the Rocks — Room to Tack at an Obstruction (Case 54)

Trapped near the shore — how to hail for room to tack at an obstruction.

"Leeward Boat!" — Do You Have to Move Instantly? (Case 53)

The leeward-boat hail on the line — Rule 15 gives you time to respond.

Boxed Out At The Start — Is That Legal? (Case 52)

Boxed out at the start — why it's legal, and how right of way really works.

Forced to Bear Away at the Start? You're Exonerated (Case 51)

The start-line concertina — Rule 43 exoneration when you're forced down.

No Contact Is Still a Foul — Rule 10 (Case 50)

No contact isn't the test — if starboard has to avoid you, port has fouled.

The Boat That Touched No One Got Disqualified (Rule 19.2(b))

Right-of-way boat as an obstruction — the outside boat owes inside room.

The Fake "Starboard!" Hail Breaks Two Rules (Case 47)

The fake 'Starboard!' bluff breaks two rules — and Rule 2 means DSQ.

She Came From Behind, Then Luffed You Up — Can She Do That? (Case 46)

Leeward boat can luff up TO her proper course — even when she came from behind.

Pinned Between Starboard and the Bank — Can I Call for Room? (Case 43)

Port keeps clear of starboard — even pinned against the bank.

Overtaking a Slower Boat to Leeward — When Does Right of Way Flip? (Case 41)

Rule 12 → 19.2(b) → 11 → 15, in the space of one overtake.

She Answered "You Tack" Instead of Tacking — Is That Legal? (Case 35)

"Room" is what you need to manoeuvre — not a cushion.

She Hailed for Room Too Early — Can I Ignore It? (Case 33)

A bad hail doesn't free you from responding.

OCS But No Horn — Do You Have to Go Back? (Case 31)

No horn doesn't save you if you know you were over.

Clear Astern on Starboard — How Is the Foul Mine? (Case 30)

Blanket the boat ahead and cause contact — that's on you.

Fouled at the Start, Won the Protest — So Why Scored DNS? (Case 28)

Win the protest, skip a mark, still go home last.

She Dove Into the Gap Below You — Did You Owe Her Room? (Case 29)

A boat under way isn't a "continuing obstruction" — could you have given room from the start?

You Tacked onto Starboard at the Mark and Got Hit — Why Are You Out? (Case 27)

Tack too close and the crash is yours — even when she hits you.

We Collided at a Mark With Damage — How Can BOTH Be Disqualified? (Case 26)

Right of way is not a right to collide — keep a lookout.

I Rounded the Leeward Mark Cleanly — How Am I Disqualified?

Mark-room ends when you leave the mark astern.

How Much Mark-Room Am I Actually Owed? (Rule 18)

No fixed amount — what you need in the conditions.

You Fouled a Boat and Did Your Turns — But There Was Damage (Rule 44)

Take a turn for a foul; retire if you caused damage.

You Tacked in Front of a Starboard Boat — Whose Fault? (Rule 13)

Rule 13 ends at close-hauled — then you owe room.

You Overtook to Leeward — Now Give Room (Rule 12 → 11 → 15)

Overtaking to leeward — take what's yours, but not instantly.

Starboard Squeezes Between Two Port Boats Downwind — Who's Wrong?

Continuing obstruction is not a get-out clause.

The Boat Behind Won't Tack at the Mark — Can She Do That?

A boat behind owes you mark-room — not a tack.

Can the Leeward Boat Head Up On Me? (Case 14)

The leeward boat doesn't owe you a straight line to the mark.

Pre-Start Luff — The Leeward Boat Can Go Head to Wind (Case 13)

The pre-start luff trap — Rule 17 doesn't apply before the gun.

She Came In From a Different Angle — Can I Shut the Door? (Case 12)

It looks like barging — it isn't. Inside the zone you owe mark-room.

Two Boats Passing a Starboard Boat — Who Owes Room? (Case 11)

Rule 19.2(b) overrides Rule 11 at an obstruction.

Changing Course as Right-of-Way Boat (Case 6)

Case 6 — the right-of-way boat lost the protest.

The Wrong Way to Hail for Room to Tack

The hail most sailors get wrong at obstructions.

Tacking at the Windward Mark — Port or Starboard? (Case 9)

The Rule 18.3 trap at the windward mark.

Rule 15 — You Just Acquired Right of Way (Now Give Room)

Rule 15 — acquiring right of way.

Rule 17 — Proper Course After Gaining a Leeward Overlap

Proper course, after gaining an overlap from clear astern.

Room to Tack at an Obstruction (Rule 20, Case 10)

Port tack trapped on the layline. What you're allowed to call.

Leading Into the Mark — How the Inside Overlap Formed (Case 2)

Mark room: how the inside overlap formed and what you owed.

When the Starboard Boat Still Gets Penalised

When the right-of-way boat still gets penalised.

Rule 11 — Windward Boat Keeps Clear

Same tack, overlapped — who has to move?

Rule 10 — Port and Starboard: Who Has Right of Way?

The most common rules mistake at club level.