Racing Rules

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Section B –General Limitations

AVOIDING CONTACT

A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible. However, a right-of-way boat or one entitled to room
(a) need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear or giving room, and
(b) shall not be penalized under this rule unless there is contact that causes damage.

ACQUIRING RIGHT OF WAY

When a boat acquires right of way,she shall initially give the other boat room to keep clear,unless she acquires right of way because of the other boat ’s actions.

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 boats are about to cross or are crossing each other on opposite tacks,and the port-tack boat is keeping clear of the 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.

ON THE SAME TACK;PROPER COURSE

17.1

If a boat clear astern becomes overlapped within two of her hull lengths to leeward of a boat on the same tack, she shall not sail above her proper course while they remain overlapped within that distance, unless in doing so she promptly sails astern of the other boat. This rule does not apply if the overlap begins while the windward boat is required by rule 13 to keep clear.