Olympic Games 1996

Olympic yachting was all fleet racing from 1908 until 1988. A discipline combining fleet and match racing (currently in Soling-class boats) was added in 1992. Fleet/match continues for 1996, and has been confirmed for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

From one discipline to another there are only minor variations in the racing rules -- and these are mostly technical and procedural. The "right-of-way rules" are essentially the same for all disciplines. While our all-encompassing rulebook is long (over 100 pages) and complicated, the section on right-of-way rules is fairly brief and straightforward.

As you will see below, the right-of-way rules are similar to "rules of the road" for automobiles. Depending upon the proximity and relationship of the boats to each other and to the wind, one boat has "right-of-way" and the other must "keep clear." When boats collide, the "keep-clear" boat is penalized. "keep-clear" is also penalized if "right-of-way" is forced to change course to avoid a collision. If "right-of-way" fails to attempt to avoid a collision that results in serious damage, right-of-way is also penalized.

Sailors are proud that their sport, similar to golf, is largely self-policing. Competitors who realize they have violated a rule are obligated to take the applicable penalty. For most infractions the penalty is to sail in one or two tight circles (a "360" or "720") before continuing in the race. Failing to take the prescribed penalty may result in being protested by another competitor and disqualified from the race.

The racing rules are supplemented by local rules ("sailing instructions") that prescribe the courses to be sailed, starting times, special race committee signals, etc. Think of the Sailing Instructions as the local driving rules such as one-way streets, speed limits and special road signs.

In non-nautical terms, below are the key racing rules that govern most competitive sailing, including Olympic fleet and match racing:

1 SAFETY

When in a position to do so, give all possible assistance to any vessel or person in peril. This is the fundamental rule of the sea as well as our sport.

2 RACING

You are technically "racing" from your "preparatory signal" (five minutes before your starting signal) until you have cleared the finish line. You are subject to most racing rules, and penalties for violating them, only while you are racing.

3 PROPULSION ("kinetics")

You may propel your boat only by sailing -- using only the natural action of the wind and water. For example, you may not:

There are two exceptions: to help tack the boat, when some rolling is permitted; and to help the boat start surfing or planing, when some pumping is permitted.

In Olympic racing, the judges are on the course in motor boats specifically to enforce the propulsion rule. If the judges observe you violating this rule, they blow a whistle, display a yellow flag and point at you. You must then take a "720" penalty (see rule 16). More severe penalties apply for repeated violations.

4 PREMATURE STARTER

If your boat is on or over the starting line at the starting gun, you must go back to the pre-start side of the line to re-start. While doing so you must keep clear of boats that started properly.

5 TOUCHING A COURSE MARK

If you touch a course mark (starting vessel/buoy, a rounding buoy, or finishing vessel/buoy), you must take a "360" penalty (see rule 16).

6 DEFINITION OF TACK

While sailing, you are either:

(While it is easier to remember tack by which side the wind is coming over, technically you are on the tack opposite to the side on which you are carrying your mainsail. Normally the wind blows the mainsail to the opposite side of the boat).

7 PORT-STARBOARD

When two boats are on opposite tacks, you must keep clear if the wind is coming over the left side of your boat ("port tack"). "starboard tack" has right-of-way over a Òport tackÓ boat.

8 WINDWARD-LEEWARD

When two boats are on the same tack and sailing alongside, you must keep clear if you are the boat closest to the wind ("windward"). "leeward" has right-of-way over a "windward" boat.

9 OVERTAKING

When two boats are on the same tack and you are behind and overtaking ("clear astern"), you must keep clear. "clear ahead" has right-of-way over a yacht "clear astern." If the boats are on opposite tacks, Port-Starboard (see rule 7) applies.

10 CHANGING COURSE

When you have right-of-way and change course, or you change course and thereby gain right-of-way, you must give boats affected by your course change a reasonable amount of time and distance to make any necessary changes in their courses to keep clear of you. During that time you become the keep-clear boat, even though you would otherwise have right-of-way.

11 LUFFING

This is the one major exception to Changing Course. When two boats are on the same tack and you are trying to pass the other by going between that boat and the wind (passing "to windward"), the other ("leeward") boat may turn ("luff") abruptly into your path without warning or giving you time and distance to respond. Leeward may make this very aggressive move, and you must keep clear, until you have pulled enough ahead -- defined as when you as skipper are even with or in front of leeward's mast ("mast abeam"). At that time leeward may no longer "luff," and must return to a normal course.

12 CHANGING TACKS ("tacking" and "gybing")

When you are changing course radically, enough that the wind causes the mainsail to change from one side of the boat to the other ("changing tack"), you must keep clear of boats which are not changing tack.

You change tacks either by:

13 ROOM AT A MARK ("buoy")

You must give "buoy room" to any boats "overlapped" inside of you at a mark of the course or the finish line -- enough room so that they can round or pass the mark without touching it or other boats. A boat is "overlapped" with you when its bow or other equipment (such as a spinnaker) is in front of an imaginary line perpendicular to the back ("aft") end of your boat. "overlap" or "no overlap" is determined when you, as the outside boat, reach two boat-lengths from the mark -- only boats overlapped inside of you at that moment are subsequently entitled to room.

This rule does not apply:

14 KEEPING CLEAR

When these rules require you to keep clear, you must:

If you fail to keep clear, you must take a "720" penalty. (The penalty in the Olympics for the less-maneuverable Tornado multihull is a "360"; in the highly-tactical match racing, a "270" -- see rule 16).

15 AVOIDING MAJOR COLLISIONS

If you fail to make a reasonable attempt to avoid a major collision (one that results in serious damage to either boat), you are subject to disqualification even if:

16 PENALTIES and PROTESTS

You take a "720" penalty by promptly sailing in two tight circles before continuing in the race. While doing so you must keep clear of other boats. A "360" penalty is the same but only one circle.

If you believe another competitor has violated a rule and not taken the prescribed penalty, you may "protest" by displaying a red protest flag and, ashore after the race, filing a formal complaint.

At the Olympics a panel of expert sailing judges from around the world (the "international jury") calls a hearing with the parties involved plus any witnesses. After the parties have given testimony, any witnesses are called to do the same. The parties are allowed to question each other and the witnesses. The judges also ask questions, and finally the parties make summary statements. Then the parties are excused, and the jury decides which, if any boat, violated any rules.

Boats judged to have violated a rule are normally disqualified from that race, though penalties for certain minor technical and procedural rules may be lesser or even waived. For gross violations of the rules or serious misconduct, the jury may apply more severe penalties up to disqualification from the entire event.