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[This page first appeared on the Cinque Ports Model Yacht Club site.]
The guide is updated and is current with the 2001-2004 RRS. The "Books"
page discusses some RRS books that might be useful. If you'd like to start
with just the essentials, try the "10
rules" page. And if you want only the very barest of essentials, try the "minimum four"
page!
Warning: The official RRS covers about 50 pages, books explaining them
take 200 to 400 pages, and there are a further 100 or so pages of case lore,
jury decisions, and interpretations. The following guide to the RRS for model
yacht racing is SIMPLIFIED. The full RRS are somewhat more complex. You will
need to refer to the full RRS to resolve finer points.
SOME DEFINITIONS
Starboard tack: The wind is coming from the right-hand side. It may be
difficult to tell if the wind is coming from the left or right, in which case
you are on "starboard tack" if your mainsail lies on the left-hand
side of the boat.
Windward boat: On that side of the leeward boat that its wind is
coming from. It may be difficult to tell if you are the windward or the leeward
boat, in which case you are "windward boat" if the other boat's
mainsail lies on the side away from you.
Overlap: An overlap is considered established when entering the
four-length zone, even if it is broken later. If there is doubt that an overlap
was established or broken, it shall be presumed that it was not. The mark is
passed, and the overlap ceases, when it has been left astern by all boats
involved in the overlap. Two boats on the same tack are overlapped if, no matter
how far apart they may be, a line abeam from the transom of the boat ahead (ie
the line is at right angles to the centreline of the boat) cuts or falls behind
the boat astern. These boats are overlapped.
Room: The space a boat needs to manoeuvre in a seaman-like way. [This
is interpreted to mean at least a half-boat length in light airs and flat water;
at least a full boat length in gusty airs, medium airs, and/or waves; and up to
two boat lengths in heavy airs, large waves, and/or strong chop.]
RIGHT OF WAY
| 10 |
A port-tack boat shall keep clear of a
starboard-tack boat. |
| 11 |
A windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward
boat. |
| 12 |
A clear astern boat shall keep clear of a boat
clear ahead. |
| 13 |
While tacking, a boat shall keep clear of other
boats. |
GENERAL LIMITATIONS
| 14 |
A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if
reasonably possible, but may only be penalised if damage occurs. |
| 15 |
A boat acquiring right of way shall initially
give other boats room to keep clear. |
| 16.1 |
A right-of-way boat changing course shall give
other boats room to keep clear. |
| 16.2 |
After the start, a starboard tack boat shall
hold her course while a port tacker crosses close by. |
| 17.1 |
A leeward boat shall not sail above her proper
course while passing a windward boat. |
| 17.2 |
A windward boat shall not sail below her proper
course while being passed to leeward. [The intent of rule 17 is to
encourage boats to overtake to leeward, not to windward, of other boats.] |
AT MARKS AND OBSTRUCTIONS
| 18.1(a) |
The starting mark is not a mark of the course;
ie no room need be given. |
| 18.1(b) |
Rule 18 doesn't apply to boats on opposite
tacks while beating to windward, or to a boat if it must tack to pass the
mark or obstruction. [This is interpreted to mean that the mark is ignored
in either situation when applying the RRS.] |
| 18.2(a) |
An inside boat, having established an overlap,
shall be given room to pass a mark or obstruction. |
| 18.2(b) |
A clear ahead boat has right of way to round
the mark or pass the obstruction regardless of whether she is on port, or
whether she is windward. Providing she is rounding the mark, boats clear
astern are not entitled to any room at all. If she passes head to wind,
however, she must then keep clear of other boats. |
| 18.3 |
A boat which tacks within the four-length zone
to pass a mark loses her rights to room at the mark. |
| 18.4 |
An inside boat shall pass no further from the
mark than needed to sail her proper course. |
| 19.1 |
A close-hauled boat shall call for, and be
given, room to avoid an obstruction. |
| 19.2 |
The starting mark is not an obstruction; ie no
room need be given. |
OTHER RULES
| 2 |
A boat shall compete in a sportsmanlike way and
by fair play. [This is interpreted to mean, amongst other matters, that a
skipper shall not knowingly make a false call.] |
| 20 |
A premature starter returning to start shall
keep clear of all boats. |
| 21.1 |
A boat making penalty turns shall keep clear of
other boats. [This is interpreted to mean that a boat shall get well clear
of other boats before starting her penalty turns.] |
| 31.2 |
A boat shall not touch a mark while racing. |
| 31.3 |
A boat wrongfully compelled to touch a mark by
another boat shall be exonerated. |
| 44.1 |
A boat must retire if she caused serious damage
or gained a significant advantage by a breach of the rules. |
| 44.2 |
A boat taking her penalty shall get well clear
as soon as possible after the incident and promptly do her turn [normally
within 10 seconds]. |
| 44.4 |
When a boat takes a penalty and in the same
incident has touched a mark, she need not take a further penalty. |
| E4.3 |
Skippers shall remain in the control area while
racing, except to perform functions permitted by E4.4. |
| E4.4 |
A boat may be launched, adjusted, or repaired
at any time. [Sometimes not allowed in the minute before the start.] |
| E5.2 |
Outside help is permitted for E4.4, but no
skipper shall give advice to a skipper who is racing. |
| E5.3 |
The penalty for breaking a rule shall be a
complete 360° turn. |
| E5.4 |
During an event, ballast and control equipment
may not be shifted, shipped, or un-shipped. Control equipment may be
replaced by items of similar weight and position. |
| E5.6 |
A boat out of radio control shall so hail,
shall retire, and shall be considered an obstruction. |
2006-07-11 |
