Can the leeward boat luff me before the start?
Yes — before the starting signal there is no proper course, so Rule 17's proper-course limit does not apply. The leeward boat may luff as high as head to wind, and under Rule 11 the windward boat must still keep clear. (RRS Case 13.)
📖 Want more situations like this one? Bryan Willis's The Rules in Practice 2025-2028 works through the rules as they happen round the racecourse. (affiliate link)
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<p><a href="https://sailing.kiwi.nz/v/Im-JehjclPY/">Source: Sailing Kiwi</a></p>Go deeper: books and gear
- Ronstan Clear Start race timer — A countdown timer made for sailing starts.
- The Rules in Practice 2025-2028 by Bryan Willis — Situations round the racecourse, worked through for the current rules.
- Tactics Made Simple by Jon Emmett — Racing tactics, explained simply.
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