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Discussion Forum
Return to the Forum List The Rules of Sailing | Many of the bigger club conduct ‘Information Nights’ on the “Rules” in an effort to educate and keep their members up to date with the latest changes. Our club is too small for this so I purpose that we use this open forum discussion tool to achieve the same result from the comfort of your own home. To get the ball rolling I’ve started a thread titled the “Rules of Sailing” in the hope that this will generate a vigorous discussion
There are rules that apply when you are sailing a boat, just as there are rules for driving a car on a public road. However, you must have a licence to drive a car and before you receive the licence, you must pass a knowledge test on the Rules of the Road. The major difference between driving a car and sailing a boat is that you are not required to have a licence to sail a boat and therefore you are not required to undergo any knowledge test. Therefore there is no guarantee that either you or the skipper of another boat, that you might encounter, knows what rules apply. A good example of this situation is when a person hires a houseboat on the Hawkesbury River they are not required to be licensed and are only given basic instructions on the operation of the houseboat. To my knowledge they are not given any instructions on the general rules of boating, nor are they given any knowledge test on these rules.
An exception to this is when you are the skipper of any vessel under motor and are travelling at a speed greater than 10 knots, then you are required to hold a boating licence and pass a knowledge test on the boating rules.
So what does this all mean to you? Well at the very least you should be aware of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCS for short) as set out in the NSW Maritime Boating Handbook. There is a link to the NSW Maritime site on the member’s page that will take you straight to the boating handbook. It is of paramount importance to remember that the “Rules & Regulations” set out in this handbook apply to ALL boats at ALL times and are the only ones that will be considered should you be unfortunate enough to have a ‘reportable incident’ whilst boating.
Secondly, while you are participating in any racing conducted by the Hawkesbury River Sailing Club, you are required to sail your boat in accordance with the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS for short) as prescribed by Yachting Australia. Our Club has two copies of these rules and they are available to be borrowed at any time for reference. Another important thing to remember is that these “rules” support the IRPCS rules but can never supersede them. Whilst adding to the safety aspect of racing, their main purpose is to provide a method of dispute resolution between two boats where one of the boats feels his tactical position in a race was jeopardised by an infringement of a racing rule on the part of the other boat. They are only applicable to boats racing in the same fleet and have no bearing on boats not racing or any other boats in the area. Another big difference between the IRPCS and the Racing Rules of Sailing is that the IRPCS are enforceable by law whereas the RRS have no legal implications, however practically every sailing club adopts them as the rules for their club racing program.
Thirdly, there are the club’s local rules, which come in the form of the HRSC Sailing Instructions. These are meant to cover ‘local’ conditions and things that are specific to the Club. Once again these rules apply to boats racing in the HRSC fleet. A copy of these sailing instructions is available as a PDF document on the Member’s page.
Disclaimer: The comments above are my opinions only and put up promote a healthy discussion on what I feel is a very important topic. Hopefully it will prompt others, who may have a greater knowledge of the subject to step forward and give an opinion. Certainly I hope it will help all of us get a better understanding of ‘The Rules’ governing our great sport of sailing.
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| | Re: The Rules of Sailing | RIGHT OF WAY RULE
The right of way rule is by far the most important rule you will be called upon to exercise whilst sailing, either in cruising or when racing with the HRSC. It is by no means the most complicated rule however it is the one that seems to cause the most angst among the boating fraternity.
The basic safety rule is clearly set out in the NSW Maritime Boating Handbook 2010-2011, Safety on the Water and is goverened by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, or IRPCAS for short. I have provided an extract, click here to view the extract. and remember, this rule is enforceable by maritime law.
This basic safety rule is further supported by the Racing Rules of Sailing, which only apply to boats participating in a race. The RRS that apply are in Part 2, “When Boats Meet”, Section A, “Right of Way” Rules 10 to 13
Rule 10 “On Opposite Tacks” states: When boats are on opposite tacks, a port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard-tack boat.
Rule 11 “On the Same Tack, Overlapped” states: When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat.
Rule 12 “On the Same Tack, Not Overlapped” states: When boats are on the same tack and not overlapped, a boat clear astern shall keep clear of a boat clear ahead.
Rule 13 “While Tacking” states: After a boat passes head to wind, she shall keep clear of other boats until she is on a close-hauled course. During that time rules 10, 11 and 12 DO NOT apply. If two boats are subject to this rule at the same time, the one on the other’s port side or the one astern shall keep clear.
Definitions
Keep Clear – One boats keeps clear of another if the other can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action and, when the boats are over-lapped on the same tack, if the leeward boat can change course in both directions without immediately making contact with the windward boat.
As we can see the wording of the rule is not complicated at all. In my opinion it is our interpretation of the words that cause a problem. I would like to put forward my view on some points in the hope that others will do the same whether they agree or disagree with me.
Point 1. According to the basic rules, all skippers are required to keep themselves aware of all boats in the area of their projected path so THEY can take whatever evasive action is necessary to avoid a collision. This means “keeping a proper lookout”.
Point 2. As the skipper of the vessel, you should at least know the basic rules as set out in the NSW Maritime handbook. If you are not fully conversant with them, you should become fully conversant as soon as possible. As pointed out earlier in this discussion item, you are not required to hold a boating licence to sail a boat, and therefore have not been tested on your knowledge of the rules. You might like to consider that the skipper of the other vessel may not be conversant either for exactly the same reason. This point may be important when making that split second decision to avoid a collision.
Point 3. In the case of port and starboard boats approaching each other, the onus is on the port tack boat to “keep clear” of the starboard tack boat. In my opinion this means giving the starboard tack no reason to assume that your present course could possibly result in a collision. This could be achieved by either tacking early enough or by pointing the bow of your boat towards the stern of the starboard boat. Both skippers could 'hail' each other to make each other aware of the situation.
Point 4. Since the relative boat speed of each vessel and wind conditions will play a big part in the closing velocity and possible impact point, the distance at which a decision needs to be made will vary from case to case, but the port tack boat MUST keep clear. So you should make your decision early and avoid any “near misses”.
OK I’ve had my say, so perhaps some others may like to add some words of wisdom. You may agree or disagree with my points of view, but please add your comments so we can get a good 'out in the open' discussion going on this most basic but important rule.
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| | Re: The Rules of Sailing | Fred,
Most of this makes simple sense when written down like this in a clear and logical matter; the challenge comes in the interpretation of what the rule implies in terms of practical application e.g. the other skipper may know the rule but will they apply it correctly in the current situation? Here are a couple of examples that spring to mind with regard to application:
1/ You may be on starboard tack when approached by another boat on port tack which does not appear to be taking avoiding action. You yell "Starboard" to them and they look across to you, but take no obvious action. What do you do next, stand-on because you have right of way, or take avoiding action?
2/ You are on port tack, approaching a boat on starboard tack, and you think that you will just cross to their rear. As you close on them you see them become agitated and start yelling "starboard" at you. You still think you will clear, but are you obliged to indicate your expected non-collision to meet their comfort level, otherwise you are at risk of having forced them to change course.
3/ (remembering a recently race!...) You are all bunched at the start when the wind dies and there is a strong tide. While all boats are being carried by the tide you are slowly closing on a "leeward" boat. What are your responsibilties to avoid a collisions and what are the other boats?
I guess the point I'm trying to make above is that knowing and understanding is one thing, consistent and correct interpretation is another!
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| | Re: The Rules of Sailing | Dave,
The points you make are quite valid. In the practical sense, each one of us may choose to do something different in situations where the other boat appears NOT to be “obeying the rule” for whatever reason. It is important to appreciate that your “Right of Way” does not give you permission to hold your course, or stand on as you put it, if there is any danger of a collision. I think in these cases you must obey the second part of the basic rule which is that “you must avoid a collision” by taking evasive action.
In your point 1, I think that once I realised the port tack boat was not going to “keep clear”, I would steer towards the stern of the port tack and be ready for any radical action he may take. Under racing conditions you would have the right to protest the other boat but only if he was also racing in the same fleet as yourself.
In your point 2, I think I would steer my boat to the stern of the starboard boat in ample time so as to indicate that my intention was to pass to his stern. Mathematically, if you are pointing to the rear of the other boat, some distance off, then you would not hit him because he would not be there when you arrive. Once again, under racing conditions your actions should be clear enough so as to give the starboard tack boat no reason to alter his course, therefore no reason to protest.
In your point 3, I am not sure what you could do, if you are all drifting and there is no wind then you would have no steerage. Also if there is no wind then there is no “port or starboard tack” or in fact any “windward or leeward position” so does the rule really apply? In this case, hopefully you might be able to “fend off” any possible collision.
Anyway, I think the most important thing about all your points is that you maintain a “proper look out” at all times and be aware of the possibilities so that you can take any evasive action in plenty of time.
Thank you for contributing to this discussion, I think it can only help us all get a better understanding of the rules through these discussions.
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