Two boats meet on opposite tacks at the start line — who keeps clear?

Name: Opposite Tacks At The Start Who Gives Way on the start line
Uploaded: 2026-08-17T12:00:00+12:00
Duration: 1 min
Description: Two boats meet on opposite tacks at the start line — who keeps clear? The port-tack boat. Before the starting signal there is no special starting right-of-way rule in play — Rule 21.1 only bites once a boat is returning to the pre-start side after her starting signal. Until then plain Rule 10 governs: port keeps clear of starboard, on the line exactly as anywhere else on the course.

Question

Accepted Answer

The port-tack boat. Before the starting signal there is no special starting right-of-way rule in play — Rule 21.1 only bites once a boat is returning to the pre-start side after her starting signal. Until then plain Rule 10 governs: port keeps clear of starboard, on the line exactly as anywhere else on the course.

Two boats meet on opposite tacks at the start line — who keeps clear?

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