It is important that whilst we are on the water we adhere to the rules when we are racing or just going for a leisurely sail.
The basic principle for which the rules of sailing are applied is to avoid collisions.
There are general rules that every sailor should keep in mind:
- Always sail with common sense, safety, and good sportsmanship.
- Right-of-way is not an excuse to cause a collision. All boats are required by the rules to avoid a collision if possible.
- A sailboat in motion shall keep clear of a stopped yacht.
- After finishing your race, keep clear of the course and of other boats still racing.
Rule 10 – Port / Starboard
When sailboats are on opposite tacks, the port tack boat must keep clear of the starboard tack boat.
The most common place where this ruled gets confused is when boats meet on opposite legs of the racecourse. It is important for sailors to remember, that whilst a boat sailing downwind is to windward of another boat, a port tack boat sailing upwind is still required to avoid a starboard boat sailing downwind.
