Definitions

A term used as stated below is shown in italic type or, in preambles, in bold italic type.

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Abandon  A race that a race committee or protest committee abandons is void but may be resailed.

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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 always apply to boats on the same tack. They do not apply to boats on opposite tacks unless rule 18 applies or both boats are sailing more than ninety degrees from the true wind.

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Fetching  A boat is fetching a mark when she is in a position to pass to windward of it and leave it on the required side without changing tack.

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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 44.2 or, after correcting an error made at the finishing line, under rule 28.1.

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Interested Party A person who may gain or lose as a result of a protest committee's decision, or who has a close personal interest in the decision.

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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.

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Leeward and Windward A boat's leeward side is the side that is or, when she is head to wind, was away from the wind. However, when sailing by the lee or directly downwind, her leeward side is the side on which her mainsail lies. The other side is her windward side. When two boats on the same tack overlap, the one on the leeward side of the other is the leeward boat. The other is the windward boat.

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Mark An object the sailing instructions require a boat to leave on a specified side, and a race committee vessel surrounded by navigable water from which the starting or finishing line extends. An anchor line or an object attached temporarily or accidentally to a mark is not part of it.

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Mark-Room  Room for a boat to sail to the mark, and then room to sail her proper course while at the mark. However, mark-room does not include room to tack unless the boat is overlapped to windward and on the inside of the boat required to give mark-room.

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Obstruction An object that a boat could not pass without changing course substantially, if she were sailing directly towards it and one of her hull lengths from it. An object that can be safely passed on only one side and an area so designated by the sailing instructions are also obstructions. However, a boat racing is not an obstruction to other boats unless they are required to keep clear of her, give her room or mark-room or, if rule 22 applies, avoid her. A vessel under way, including a boat racing, is never a continuing obstruction. (effective 1 Jan 2010)

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Overlap See Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap.

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Party A party to a hearing: a protestor; a protestee; a boat requesting redress or for which redress is requested by the race committee or considered by the protest committee under rule 60.3(b); a race committee acting under rule 60.2(b); a boat or competitor that may be penalized under rule 69.1; a race committee or an organizing authority in a hearing under rule 62.1(a). (effective 1 Jan 2010)

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Postpone  A postponed race is delayed before its scheduled start but may be started or abandoned later.

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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.

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Protest  An allegation made under rule 61.2 by a boat, a race committee or a protest committee that a boat has broken a rule.

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Racing  A boat is racing from her preparatory signal until she finishes and clears the finishing line and marks or retires, or until  the  race  committee  signals  a  general  recall, postponement, or abandonment.

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Room  The space a boat needs in the existing conditions while manoeuvering promptly in a seamanlike way.

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Rule  (a) The rules in this book, including the Definitions, Race Signals, Introduction, preambles and the rules of relevant appendices, but not titles;
(b) ISAF Regulation 19, Eligibility Code; Regulation 20, Advertising Code; Regulation 21, Anti-Doping Code; and Regulation 22, Sailor Classification Code;
(c) the prescriptions of the national authority, unless they are changed by the sailing instructions in compliance with the national authority's prescription, if any, to rule 88;
(d) the class rules (for a boat racing under a handicap or rating system, the rules of that system are 'class rules');
(e) the notice of race;
(f) the sailing instructions; and
(g) any other documents that govern the event.

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Start  A boat starts when, having been entirely on the pre-start side of the starting line at or after her starting signal, and having complied with rule 30.1 if it applies, any part of her hull, crew or equipment crosses the starting line in the direction of the first mark.

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Tack, Starboard or Port  A boat is on the tack, starboard or port, corresponding to her windward side.

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Windward  See Leeward and Windward

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Zone  The area around a mark within a distance of three hull lengths of the boat nearer to it. A boat is in the zone when any part of her hull is in the zone.

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Fundamental Rules
Part 2 - When Boats Meet
Part 2A - Right of Way
Part 2B - General Limitations
Part 2C - At Marks and Obstructions
Part 2D - Other Rules
Part 3- Conduct of a Race
Part 4 - Other Requirements When Racing
Part 5A - Protests
Part 5B - Hearings and Decisions
Part 5C - Gross Misconduct
Part 5D - Appeals

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