Two boats running downwind side by side — how do I tell who's leeward?
Both boats are on the same tack and overlapped, so Rule 11 decides it: the windward boat must keep clear of the leeward boat. Downwind neither boat sits directly below the other, so use the wind: leeward is the side the wind is blowing towards. The windward boat must head up, not bear away, to keep clear — bearing away steers straight at the leeward boat.
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<p><a href="https://sailing.kiwi.nz/v/ixDCdazWdeg/">Source: Sailing Kiwi</a></p>Recommended reading
- The Rules in Practice 2025-2028 by Bryan Willis — The clearest guide to the racing rules around the racecourse — updated for the current 2025-2028 rulebook.
- Advanced Racing Tactics by Stuart H. Walker — The classic deep-dive on racing tactics — starting, beating, reaching and mark rounding.
📋 The full sailing reading list — all 13 books, free and tickable — opens in ABC, a free checklist app. No login, works offline; some titles carry an Amazon link inside it.
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