Definitions

A term used as stated below is shown in italic type or, in preambles, in bold italic type. (Hardcopy rulebook only)

Abandon
An abandoned race is one which the race committee declares void at any time after the sailing signal, and which may be re-sailed at its discretion.

Beach Start
When the start line is on the beach, or so close to the beach that the competitor must stand in the water to start, it is a Beach Start.

Capsize
A board shall rank as capsized when it is not under way due to the sail being in the water and/or the competitor is water starting.

Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap
One board is clear astern of another when its right of way line is behind an imaginary line abeam from the after most point of the other's hull and equipment in normal position. The other board is clear ahead. They overlap when neither is clear astern. These terms do not apply to boards on opposite tacks

Discipline
A Discipline is a type of race or competition.

Division
A group of Men, Women, Youths or Masters, who are scored together for the purpose of awarding prizes. Divisions may share a start and course or race separately.

Finish
A board finishes when any part of her hull, or crew or equipment in normal position, crosses the finishing line in the prescribed direction.

Gybing
Is a transitional manoeuvre of changing tack with the wind aft. A gibe begins when the turn is started and it ends when the sail has filled mast forward on the new tack

Hearing
A protest committee holds a hearing to decide a protest or to consider giving redress, or when it acts under rule 69.1(a).

Interested Party
A person who may gain or lose as a result of a protest committee's decision, or who has a close personal interest in the decision.

Keep Clear.
A board keeps clear of another if the other can sail it's course with no need to take avoiding action.

Mark
An object the Sailing Instructions require a board to round or pass on a specified side or which bounds an area.

Overlap
See Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap.

Overtaking
A board shall rank as overtaking from the moment it gains an overlap until it gains right of way. If the overlap between two boards exists when approaching the starting line to start, the windward board shall be considered to be overtaking.

Party
A party to a hearing:; a protestor; a protestee; a board requesting redress; any other board or a competitor liable to be penalised, including under rule 69.1; a race committee in a hearing under rule 62.1(a).

Postpone
A postponed race is one which is not started at its scheduled time and which may be sailed at any time the race committee may decide.

Proper Course
A course a board would sail to finish as soon as possible in the absence of other boards referred to in the rule using the term.

Protest
An allegation by a board, a race committee or a protest committee that a board has broken a rule.

Racing
A board is racing from its preparatory signal until it has either finished and cleared the finishing line or retires, or until the race has been postponed, abandoned, or a general recall has been signalled.

Right of way line
Is an imaginary line projected abeam from the nose of the board.

Room
The space a board needs in the existing conditions while manoeuvring promptly in a seamanlike way.

Rule

(a) The rules in this book, including definitions, race signals, preambles, the rules of an appendix when it applies (but not titles);
(b) the prescriptions of the national authority concerned, when they apply;
(c) the Sailing Instructions and Notice of Race ;
(d) the class rules except any that conflict with the rules in this book;
(e) any other documents governing the event.

Starting
A board starts, when after her starting signal, when any part of her hull, rig or crew first crosses the starting line in the direction of the course to the first mark.

Tack, Starboard or Port
A board is on the tack, starboard or port, corresponding to its windward side.

Tacking
Is a transitional manoeuvre of changing tack with the wind ahead. A tack begins when the turn is started and it ends when it has borne away onto its proper course..

< back