Keep Clear
One boat keeps clear of another if the other can sail her course
with no need to take avoiding action and, when the boats are overlapped
on the same tack, if the leeward boat can change course in
both directions without immediately making contact with the windward
boat.
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Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap
One boat is clear astern of another when her hull and equipment
in normal position are behind a line abeam from the aftermost point of the
other boats hull and equipment in normal position. The other boat is
clear ahead. They overlap when neither is clear astern
or when a boat between them overlaps both. These terms do not
apply to boats on opposite tacks unless rule 18 applies.
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They overlap when neither is clear astern
or when a boat between them overlaps both.
Finish A boat finishes when any part
of her hull, or crew or equipment in normal position, crosses the
finishing line in the direction of the course from the last mark,
either for the first time or after taking a penalty under rule 31.2 or
44.2 or, under rule 28.1, after correcting an error made at the finishing
line.
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Leeward and Windward A boats
leeward side is the side that is or, when she is head to wind, was
away from the wind. However, when sailing by the lee or directly
downwind, her leeward side is the side on which her mainsail lies.
The other side is her windward side. When two boats on the same
tack overlap, the one on the leeward side of the other is the
leeward boat. The other is the windward boat.
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Mark An object the sailing instructions
require a boat to leave on a specified side, and a race committee vessel
surrounded by navigable water from which the starting or finishing line
extends. An anchor line and objects attached temporarily or accidentally
to a mark are not part of it.
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Obstruction An object that a boat could
not pass without changing course substantially, if she were sailing
directly towards it and one of her hull lengths from it. An object that
can be safely passed on only one side and an area so designated by the
sailing instructions are also obstructions. However, a boat
racing is not an obstruction to other boats unless they are
required to keep clear of her, give her room or, if rule 21
applies, avoid her.
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Racing A boat is racing from her
preparatory signal until she finishes and clears the finishing line
and marks or retires, or until the race committee signals a general
recall, postponement or abandonment.
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Racing starts when the Preparatory Flag is raised with a blast from
a horn.
Room The space a boat needs in the existing
conditions while maneuvering promptly in a seamanlike way.
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Tack, Starboard or Port A boat is on
the tack, starboard or port, corresponding to her
windward side.
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Two-Length Zone The area around a
mark or obstruction within a distance of two hull lengths of
the boat nearer to it.
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