In 1997, the Racing Rules of Sailing were revamped and simplified. For 2001 and 2005, the RRS have been fine-tuned further. What follows is my brief summary of the situations we encounter most often in our Wayfarer races. 

Special thanks to Dave Dellenbaugh of the excellent Racing Newsletter  Speed & Smarts for permission to copy and use some of his boat diagrams. I have read through the Rules related parts of all the Speed & Smarts that Dave has published so far to make really sure I was properly informed before publishing this 'review'. I can't praise Dave's explanations of the intricacies of racing enough to do them justice, and I highly recommend Speed & Smarts to all serious racers.

Even after the major re-writing of our Racing Rules for 1997, the philosophy of our game remains unchanged with overriding emphasis on safety (both  yours and that of others who may need your help) and fair, sportsmanlike sailing.

‘97 brought an increased emphasis on avoiding collisions - especially those that could cause damage. Rule 14 (Avoiding Contact) indicates that, once it becomes clear the burdened boat will not be keeping clear, the right-of-way boat shall avoid contact if reasonably possible. There is however no penalty for the right-of-way boat unless the collision that could have been avoided actually causes damage.

DEFINITIONS:
Our entire understanding of the Racing Rules of Sailing depends on our knowledge of the definitions. If there is any part of the Rules worth memorizing, the definitions are it. Whenever you see a part of one of the RRS in italics, that means it is used as defined in the Definitions section of the Rules. 

Two definitions deserve very special attention since they affect the interpretation of a number of crucial rules:

Room is: The space a boat needs in the existing conditions while manoeuvering promptly in a seamanlike way.
In addition, for the purposes of rule 18 only, room is: "room for an inside boat to round or pass between an outside boat and a mark or obstruction, including room to tack or gybe when either is a normal part of the manoeuvre."  
Two main rules affected by this are the buoy room rule (#18) and luffing a windward boat (#11 and 16).  (Luffing no longer has its own rule).

Keep Clear  One boat keeps clear of another if the other can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action and, when the boats are overlapped on the same tack, if the leeward  boat can change course in both directions without immediately making contact with the windward  boat.

One other crucial definition is
Proper Course A course a boat would sail to finish as soon as possible in the absence of the other boats referred to in the rule using the term. A boat has no proper course before her starting signal.

A number of our rules require us to sail proper course, no higher than proper course or no lower than proper course when we are close to other boats in certain situations. Proper course is not necessarily the straight-line course to your next mark. It can be any course that might get you to the finish line the fastest but not a tactical course that you are sailing against the boat(s) whose presence is requiring you to sail proper course.

An example of this would be a reach where a boat within 2 boatlengths of me is steering a course to pass me to leeward. While that situation exists, I (windward) am not permitted to sail below proper course. An obvious proper course here would be the straight-line course to the next mark.
However, my proper course might be to sail low of the mark under certain circumstances such as windward-setting current or surfing down waves. When I am on the Protest Committee, I tend to look for some consistency and/or valid reason in the course - i.e. the boat claiming to be sailing proper course in the example above should have been surfing or allowing for current before the boat that wanted to pass to leeward came along.

Another example of a valid reason for a proper course that departs from the obvious shortest course would be the following: I am inside at the gybe mark and am supposed to gybe in such a way that I sail proper course (as per Rule 18.4). It is however, a windy day, and I wait for a surfable wave on which to gybe. Because this move reduces wind pressure (and the risk of capsize!) during the gybe, I can defend this as my proper course.

Finally, if you are going to be selective about how much time you want to spend on learning the Rules and do not want to memorize all the definitions, there are two more of them that it pays to be very familiar with:

• clear astern and clear ahead; overlap One boat is clear astern of another when her hull and equipment in normal position are behind a line abeam from the aftermost point of the other boat's hull and equipment in normal position. The other boat is clear ahead. They overlap when neither is clear astern. However, they also overlap when a boat between them overlaps both. These terms do not apply to boats on opposite tacks unless rule 18 applies.

• finish A boat finishes when any part of her hull, or crew or equipment in normal position, crosses the finishing line in the direction of the course from the last mark, either for the first time or after taking a penalty under rule 31.2 or 44.2 or, under rule 28.1, after correcting an error made at the finishing line.

GENERAL:
Apart from the need to avoid collisions that I mentioned earlier, two "new rules" items are particularly worth looking at:

• the Two-Turns Penalty is now standard - but please note that rule 44.2 requires you to get "well clear of other boats as soon as possible" and do your turns. If you think about it for a while and/or decide to pick a nice, convenient time for your turns, your turns do not exonerate you from your foul and you are still subject to protest for the original infraction.

• Changing Course: Rule 16.1 states: ”When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.” No exception! And note the two defined items just covered above - room and keep clear. 
• More recently, the following has been added as rule 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 applies both upwind and downwind.

• opposite tacks: port boat keep clear of starboard
• same tack: windward boat keep clear of leeward and overtaking boat keep clear
• tacking: tacking boat keep clear of a boat that is not tacking

BEFORE THE START:
After spending some time studying rules-related matters to prepare for this article, it comes as somewhat of a shock to me that I - and I suspect, most of the rest of us - could have been DSQ'd in numerous races since the new rules came into effect in '97. Just have a look at this hypothetical example:

With 8 minutes to go to the Wayfarer start, I am sailing along on a starboard tack reach about 30 metres behind the line. I meet a port tack Fireball who starts in 3 minutes. The latter bears away and goes to leeward of me.

Do I hear you ask: "So, what's wrong with that??!!" Well - have a look at rule 22.1 which says
If reasonably possible, a boat not racing shall not interfere with a boat that is racing.
By definition, you are racing once your Prep Signal (usually 4 minutes before your start as per rule 26) has been made. The preamble to the right-of-way rules (Part 2) says that you are subject to protest/penalty over one of these rules only while you are racing unless you broke rule 22.1! In that case, you are supposed to retire from the race because Two-Turn Penalties are limited to atoning for a possible Part 2 infringement committed while racing. (This rule does however apply only while you are "in or near the racing area" and it does say "if reasonably possible".)

What this says to me is that, from now on, I'm going to be much more careful not to interfere with any boat that is racing - both before I start racing and after I stop racing in any particular race.

The new rules are mostly the same for before the start as after - e.g. luffing:  no limitations except as per Rule 16 (see above), no more mast abeam (anywhere) in the new rules.

There is even buoy room when you're just dawdling around before the start
                            BUT
when you're approaching the starting line to start, the buoy room rule (rule 18) does not apply unless the starting mark in question is not surrounded by navigable water (e.g. one end of the line is a dock)

You should also be aware that there is no proper course before the start signal goes! This means that - subject to the limitations of rule 15 (Acquiring Right of Way) and 16 (Changing Course), even a leeward boat that came up from clear astern is entitled to luff a windward boat head to wind if she so desires (although she must do so in a way that gives windward room to keep clear).

THE BEAT:

Tacking is now "defined" in Rule 13 which remains the same in intent - but the onus has been removed from the tacking boat. The new rule basically says you must keep clear of other boats while tacking. This is supplemented by Rule 15 (Acquiring Right of Way) which requires you to “initially” give the freshly burdened boat “room to keep clear” if you tack into a right-of-way position.
 

Another fairly common upwind situation worth noting is the one on the left: Two port tackers are sailing side by side when they meet a starboard boat. Since both port boats will have to keep clear of starboard, starboard (S) rates as an obstruction. The leeward port tacker (PL), who has right of way over the windward port tacker (PW) is allowed to choose how he wishes to deal with this obstruction: If PL wants to tack, he can call Port Windward for "Room to Tack" (rule 19) but must do so in plenty of time to allow Port Windward to respond.

If PL chooses to pass astern of S,PL must give PW room to pass astern of S also, if PW wants to do so (rule 18: Passing Marks and Obstructions).

AT THE WINDWARD MARK:

Many racers are under the mistaken impression that the rule 18 (the buoy room rule) does not apply at a windward mark. It does not apply only in one situation at the windward mark and that is when boats approach each other on opposite tacks!

Beware of trying to tack in a crowd right at the mark! Even if you ‘legally’ complete your tack in front of a boat but are (with any part of your boat!!) inside the Two-Length Zone when you complete your tack, you are fouling if the other boat which is now coming up from astern and laying the mark, either has to luff above close-hauled or bear away and fails to properly pass the mark because she was avoiding a collision with the slower moving YOU! Furthermore, if the non-tacking boat establishes an overlap to leeward of you here, you don't even get the protection of rule 15 which in every other situation requires a boat which acquires the right of way to "initially give the other boat room to keep clear". It is a good rule of thumb that you should avoid tacking in(to) the Two-Length Zone unless you are sure you can do so well away from all other boats!

Buoys to Starboard: Rule 18 never gives any boat immunity to tack at a mark. Thus, even if you get to the windward mark on starboard tack just ahead of another starboard tacker, you must keep clear of the other starboard tacker while you are tacking. To play it safe, what you do is briefly luff up to near head-to-wind right at the mark if there is a boat very close behind you. Once he starts to go by you to leeward, you can then complete your tack. It is also worth noting that, once you have started your tack, rule 16 prevents a boat close astern from altering course if such an alteration prevents you from keeping clear.

Hitting the mark: If you should hit any mark, rule 31.1 says that you must get "well clear of other boats as soon as possible" and do one turn including one tack and one gybe. As with a Two-Turn Penalty, if the Turn is not done as soon as possible, you might as well not have done it for all the good it'll do you in a potential protest!

If, God forbid, you should hit a mark and foul another boat in the same incident, you need only do a Two-Turn Penalty, not three turns. The Two-Turn Penalty is the maximum penalty for any one incident (rule 44.4) unless you "caused serious damage or gained significant advantage", in which case the One- or Two-Turn Penalty is not available to you and you must retire (rule 44.1).

THE REACH:

Luffing: If a boat is to windward of you or about to try to pass to windward, you are of course, allowed to defend your wind. However, in keeping with Rule 14 (Avoiding Contact) which forbids causing damage, and by Rule 16 (Changing Course) which requires giving the other boat "room to keep clear”, the sudden, violent luff is now decidedly frowned upon. And of course, as mentioned earlier, there is no more “Mast Abeam”.

Bearing away: You are still forbidden to sail below proper course if you are within two lengths of a leeward boat or one steering a course to pass to leeward. It was three in the old Rules but now everything is two lengths to make things less confusing!

Rear-ending another boat is in the same category as rear-ending another car. No matter how dumb the other guy was, legally you're in the wrong (rule 12).

THE GYBE MARK:

Buoy room at the gybe mark remains much the same as it always was (rule 18).

If two (or more!) boats are overlapped, the inside boat (leeward) is also the right-of-way boat even if buoy room did not apply and is thus entitled to make a “proper course” rounding (i.e. wide and close). However, the inside boat must gybe in accordance with the requirement to sail proper course (rule 18.4) - unless of course the wind has shifted or the course is skewed such that the second reach is very broad in which case the inside boat would be entitled to merely bear away to what she considers her proper course.

NOTE 1: If you claim a late change in overlap status - i.e. that you established or broke an overlap just before the Two-Length Zone - and the other boat disagrees, you should take his word for it unless you have reliable witnesses to the contrary, since rule 18.2(e) states that "it shall be presumed" that the change took place too late!
NOTE 2: The buoy room “freeze frame” that determines overlap and entitlement to room, used to be taken at the instant the outside boat touched the Two-Length Zone. Now it’s when the nearest boat touches the Two-Length Zone.

If two boats are not overlapped as they are about to round a mark, the boat clear astern must keep clear while the boat clear ahead rounds the mark except that the boat clear ahead is never given carte blanche to tack around the mark - i.e. she is always subject to rule 13 (While Tacking).    
NEW for 2005: Rule 18 has been re-written in an attempt to make the entire intent more clear.

THE LEEWARD MARK:
 

At the leeward mark it is especially important to understand that you do not suddenly become the right-of-way boat just because you are inside at the mark. Rule 18 merely limits the actions of an outside boat that has right-of-way. In the diagram at right, W (windward) and L (leeward) are about to round the leeward mark to port. Even though the boats are in the Two-Length Zone, L is still the right-of-way boat but rule 18 limits her actions to the extent that she cannot simply cut W off and prevent her from rounding this mark (the way she could if this were a starting line mark).

Beware! Rule 18.2(a) merely tells the outside right-of-way boat that she must give the inside boat sufficient room to round or pass the mark - i.e. enough room to make a “seamanlike” rounding (close and close) as per the definition of room. In easy sailing conditions (flat water, moderate winds), a seamanlike rounding would likely be one in which W should, at all times during the rounding, be able to reach out and touch the mark.

THE RUN:

The run brings about four situations that do not normally happen on a reach:
 

Remember that the basic idea of “overtaking boat keep clear” only applies to boats on the same tack. Thus, if you are on a port tack run, beware of the boat coming at your transom on starboard! If you are P in the picture at left, you must get out of the way, or gybe! On the same tack, it is often easy to establish a leeward overlap from clear astern if you are on a broad reach or a run. If you have done this within 2 lengths of a windward boat, you must not sail above your proper course for the duration of that overlap. (Of course, a pair of gybes would start a new overlap!) You are however permitted to luff up above your proper course if by doing so you promptly fall clear astern of windward - e.g. you want to cross his transom in order to go up to windward of him.

Here, S is not subject to 16.2 but is still bound by 16.1 and must avoid any course change that would not give P room to keep clear.

NOTE: While within two lengths of a leeward boat or of a boat steering a course to pass you to leeward, you are normally not allowed to sail below proper course.  But now you may do this provided you are initiating a gybe.

THE FINISH:

The rules for finishing are unchanged – at least in intent. Things to remember are:

• the finish definition requires you to cross the line in the (general) direction from the last mark. So, if the RC boat is on the wrong side of the finish mark for buoys to port for example, the requirements of the Finish definition take precedence over the buoys to port requirement.
• while the Finish definition plus rule 28.1 states that you finish when the first part of your boat or crew in normal position crosses the line, and that the whole boat does not need to cross the line, you are nevertheless still racing until you have cleared the finish line.  And as long as you are racing you are subject to being penalized for breaking a right-of-way rule. If this should happen to you, your first crossing of the finish line would be null and void and you will not be counted as finished until you have properly re-crossed the line after doing your Penalty.
• and don't forget, even after you are no longer racing, you are subject to protest if you interfere with a boat that is still racing (e.g. take their wind, etc.) - and in this case, you can't do a Penalty to atone for your sin!

Basic protest procedure (rule 61) has changed. If you intend to protest an infraction committed on the course, you need no longer show a protest flag on a boat less than 6 metres long but you must as soon as possible, clearly indicate your intention by yelling the actual word: "Protest!" - - - “words to that effect” are no longer considered clear enough! If the boat you intend to protest is too far away to hail (e.g. hits a mark 100 metres away from you in noisy, windy conditions), you must inform them of your intention to protest at your first opportunity.

You need not inform the Race Committee of your protest as you finish but it is considered wise, after you have finished, to draw their attention to the fact that you are protesting someone.

The old Rule 33, under which a third could protest two others who had contact and get them both penalized, is gone. Now a witness can still protest an incident but the result will be a hearing in which only the guilty gets the axe.