Racing Rules for Electron R/C Yachts June 2023
1. Opposite tacks – Port starboard. The port tack boat shall keep clear of the starboard tack boat.
2. Same tack – windward leeward. The windward boat shall keep clear of theleeward boat.
3. When boats are on the same tack a boat clear astern shall keep clear of a boat clear ahead.
4. If a boat clear astern becomes overlapped within two of her hull lengths to leeward of a boat on the same tack, she shall not sail above her proper course while they remain on the same tack and overlapped within that distance, unless in doing so she sails astern of the other boat.
5. After a boat passes head to wind she shall keep clear of other boats until she is on a close-hauled course.
6. Changing course.
[a] When a right of way boat changes course she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.
[b] When a boat acquires right of way she shall initially give the other boat room to keep clear.
[c] On a beat to windward when a port-tack boat is keeping clear by passing to
leeward of a starboard-tack boat, the starboard-tack boat shall not bear away if as a result the port-tack boat must change course immediately to continue keeping clear.
7. Start. Any boat over the line at the start signal will return completely behind the line and restart, without interfering with any other boats, otherwise penalties will apply.
8. Marks.
[a] Windward mark.
[1] Rules 1. And 2. Apply.
[2] If boats are overlapped when the first of them reaches the zone, the outside boat at that moment shall thereafter give the inside boat mark room. If a boat is clear ahead when she reaches the zone, the boat clear astern at that moment shall thereafter give her mark room.
[3] If a boat in the zone, of a mark to be left to port tacks from port to starboard and is then fetching the mark, she shall not cause a boat that has been on starboard tack since entering the zone, to sail above close hauled to avoid contact and she shall give mark room if that boat becomes overlapped inside her. Rule 8. [a] [2] does not apply when this rule applies.
[b] Leeward mark.
[1] Rule 8. [a] [2] applies.
[2] When an inside overlapped right-of-way boat must gybe at a mark to sail her proper course, until she gybes she shall sail no further from the mark than needed to sail that course. This does not apply at a gate mark. There is no penalty for boats touching marks.
9. Obstructions. When boats are overlapped the outside boat shall give the inside boat room between her and the obstruction, when she has been called to do so.
10. Penalties. After getting well clear of other boats as soon as possible a boat that has caused an incident, will take a one turn penalty including a tack and a gybe.
11. Exoneration. When as a consequence of breaking a rule a boat has compelled another boat to break a rule, the other boat is exonerated for her breach.
12. Avoidance of collisions. A boat shall make all possible effort to avoid a collision, otherwise a penalty must be taken.
13. Definitions.
Zone The area around a mark within a distance of 4 boat lengths of the boat nearer to it. A boat is in the zone when any part of her hull is in the zone. Proper course A course a boat would choose in order to sail the course and 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.
Version 1; 29 June 2023
