Home · The Upwind Beat

The upwind beat — crossings, obstructions, and room to tack

Most race-rules incidents happen on the beat. Port-starboard crossings, obstructions on the layline, room to tack, and the long-overlap rules.

Rule 10 — Port and Starboard: Who Has Right of Way?

The most common rules mistake at club level.

Rule 11 — Windward Boat Keeps Clear

Same tack, overlapped — who has to move?

Rule 15 — You Just Acquired Right of Way (Now Give Room)

Rule 15 — acquiring right of way.

Room to Tack at an Obstruction (Rule 20, Case 10)

Port tack trapped on the layline. What you're allowed to call.

The Wrong Way to Hail for Room to Tack

The hail most sailors get wrong at obstructions.

Two Boats Passing a Starboard Boat — Who Owes Room? (Case 11)

Rule 19.2(b) overrides Rule 11 at an obstruction.

You Tacked in Front of a Starboard Boat — Whose Fault? (Rule 13)

Rule 13 ends at close-hauled — then you owe room.

She Answered "You Tack" Instead of Tacking — Is That Legal? (Case 35)

"Room" is what you need to manoeuvre — not a cushion.

She Hailed for Room Too Early — Can I Ignore It? (Case 33)

A bad hail doesn't free you from responding.

You Fouled a Boat and Did Your Turns — But There Was Damage (Rule 44)

Take a turn for a foul; retire if you caused damage.

Pinned Between Starboard and the Bank — Can I Call for Room? (Case 43)

Port keeps clear of starboard — even pinned against the bank.

The Boat That Touched No One Got Disqualified (Rule 19.2(b))

Right-of-way boat as an obstruction — the outside boat owes inside room.

No Contact Is Still a Foul — Rule 10 (Case 50)

No contact isn't the test — if starboard has to avoid you, port has fouled.

About to Hit the Rocks — Room to Tack at an Obstruction (Case 54)

Trapped near the shore — how to hail for room to tack at an obstruction.

When the Other Boat Isn't Racing, the Racing Rules Switch Off (Case 67)

Meet a boat that isn't racing? The racing rules switch off.

Is Covering a Rival Cheating? (Case 78)

Covering to win is fair. Covering out of spite breaks Rule 2.

Even the Right-of-Way Boat Must Avoid Contact (Case 87)

Right of way doesn't excuse you from avoiding a crash you still can't prevent.

Avoiding the Crash Isn't the Same as Keeping Clear (Case 88)

No contact isn't proof you kept clear — if she had to swerve, you broke Rule 10.

Short-Handed? You Still Don't Get Extra Room (Case 103)

A small crew doesn't earn you extra room.

She Said "You Tack" — Then Won the Protest (Case 101)

"You tack" gives you room — not right of way.

Must You Dodge an Out-of-Control Boat? (Case 99)

Right of way doesn't mean you must risk your own boat.

He Touched Your Boat on Purpose — and You Got DSQ'd? (Case 73)

Fake a foul by touching a boat — that's the foul.