Dave Perry’s excellent book on rules
Dave Perry writes really good books explaining the rules and how they can – and can’t – be used.
But for many people who aren’t currently racing, or who are new to the sport, even Dave’s book with its simple and clear explanations are still too much for them to absorb.
Along comes a note from Jason Evans, the Race Administrator at Rochester Yacht Club, with the following set of simple rules. For those with low key sailing programs, they are probably a really good place to start. Jason wasn’t sure where they came from, but that doesn’t really matter – they just make sense.
RACING RULES FOR KIDS AND SMALL BOAT TACTICIANS
As a small boat skipper or tactician, I am too busy with steering or trimming to get into arcane details (of the rules). I
offer the following as a lighthearted collection of very basic rules. While it mixes right of way rules with tactical rules of thumb, I find it quite a good place to start. Experience and study will fill in the blanks.
1. Don’t hit other boats. Collisions are slow and arguments are slower.
2. Keep out of the way of boats in front of you.
3. Port tack boats usually have to stay out of the way of everyone else.
4. Windward boats must stay away from leeward boats.
5. The inside boat gets to go round the mark first.
6. Don’t hit marks. Doing circles is slow.
7. Don’t hit the committee boat. First, it is a mark (see Rule 6) and second, it really makes them mad.
8. Nothing good ever happens on a layline.
9. The port tack layline is a very ugly place.
10. Control your own destiny: stay out of the Protest Room. Protest Committees are uncontrollable: with a 100% solid case, you have a 50% chance of being DSQ.
