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. On the run, 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 two-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 (i.e. the line is at right angles

to the centerline of the boat) cuts or falls behind the boat astern.

Room: The space a boat needs to maneuver 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.]

10 A port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard-tack boat.

11 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.

14 A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible.

15 A boat acquiring right of way shall initially give other boats room to keep clear.

16 A right-of-way boat changing course shall give other boats room to keep clear.

17.1 A leeward boat shall not sail above her proper course while passing windward boat.

17.2 Off the wind, a windward boat shall not sail below her proper course while being

passed to leeward. [On the wind, rule 11 applies. The intent of rule 17 is to encourage a

boat to pass another boat by sailing to leeward of that boat, not to windward.]

18.1 The starting mark is not a mark of the course; i.e. no room need be given.

18.2 An inside boat, having established an overlap, shall be given room to pass a mark or obstruction.

18.3 A boat which tacks within the TWO-length zone to pass a mark has no rights to room.

[That is, the rule encourages you to do any tacking required to pass the mark outside of the

two-length zone.]

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; i.e. no room need be given.

2 A boat shall compete in a sportsmanlike way.

20 A premature starter 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.]

22 A boat shall not interfere with a boat making penalty turns.

31.2 A boat shall not touch a mark while racing.

31.3 A boat wrongfully compelled to break a rule by another boat shall be exonerated.

44.1 A boat shall take her penalty at the time of the incident. [Before the next mark]

E5.3.1 A skipper shall not knowingly make a false call.

E5.3.2 The penalty for breaking a rule shall be a 360° turn.