Quick Rules Answers — Sailing Kiwi Shorts

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Type what happened on the water — plain English. We'll find the rules and the World Sailing cases that decide it.

She called "room to tack" — then lost the protest. Here's the rule she missed.

Over early but never heard the recall — do you still have to go back?

Fouled, hit the mark, won the protest — and still scored DNS.

One overlooked rule cost her the race twice over.

Yellow held right of way — and still got disqualified. Here's the rule that did it.

Too much mark-room turns into a Rule 11 disaster. Don't make this mistake.

Cause damage and penalty turns won't save you — it's an automatic DQ.

First to the mark doesn't mean safe — here's how the leader gets trapped.

"You can't luff me!" is the argument that gets windward boats disqualified.

Before the gun you can luff — and the windward boat still must keep clear.

Shouting "you can't come in here!" at the mark? The boat that shouts loses.

Having right of way won't save you when you owe room astern.

You called "room to tack!" — so why was it a foul? Rule 20, explained.

She won't tack at the mark — and somehow you're the one disqualified.

Trapped on port at an obstruction — one hail is what saves you.

First to the mark doesn't always own the mark-room.

Starboard had right of way but changed course without giving room — still wrong.

Same tack, overlapped — the windward boat must keep clear, every time.

Port tack meets starboard — one boat has to give way. Most beginners get this wrong.