Rule 16 – Changing Course
16.1 When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.
16.2 In addition, when after the starting signal a port-tack boat is keeping clear by sailing to pass astern of a starboard-tack boat, the starboard-tack boat shall not change course if as a result, the port-tack boat would immediately need to change course to continue keeping clear.”
This rule limits the ability of a right-of-way boat to change course in order to “hunt” another boat. Whilst the term ‘change course’ is not defined in the rules, and more of an interpretation of which a boat changes direction the boat is moving.
Skippers need to remember to not overcomplicate a scenario when ‘meeting’ another boat on the race track. Hold your course, so everyone knows what course you are on!
The most common hotspot on a race track is on an upwind course when boats meeting on opposite tacks.
