Starting — racing rules at the line

Everything between the prep signal and the first beat. The rules that govern barging, port-tack approaches, and pre-start contact.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Race the restart and your black flag becomes permanent.

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.

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

Compelled in: protected. Chose to barge: not.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Hit a Mark? The Correct Rule 44.2 Penalty Turn

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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!" 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Worth having for this part of the race

Ronstan Clear Start race timer — A countdown timer made for sailing starts.

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