DEFINITIONS

A term used as stated below is shown in italic type or, in preambles, in bold italic type. The meaning of several other terms is given in Terminology in the Introduction

ABANDON

CLEAR ASTERN AND CLEAR AHEAD; OVERLAP

COMMITTEE

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

CONTINUING OBSTRUCTION

FETCHING

FINISH

KEEP CLEAR

LEEWARD AND WINDWARD

MARK

MARK-ROOM

OBSTRUCTION

OVERLAP

PARTY

POSTPONE

PROPER COURSE

PROTEST

RACING

ROOM

RULE

SAIL THE COURSE

START

SUPPORT PERSON

TACK, STARBOARD OR PORT

WINDWARD

ZONE

Abandon      A race that a race committee or protest committee abandons is void but may be resailed.

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 boat’s hull and equipment in normal position. The other boat is clear ahead. They overlap, when neither is clear astern. However, they also overlap when a boat between them overlaps both. These terms always apply to boats on the same tack. They apply to boats on opposite tacks only when rule 18 applies between them or when both boats are sailing more than ninety degrees from the true wind.

Committee      The protest committee, the race committee or the technical committee.

Conflict of Interest     A conflict of interest, exists if a person

Continuing Obstruction      An obstruction is a continuing obstruction when the boat with the shortest hull referred to in the rule using the term will pass alongside it for at least three of her hull lengths. However, the following are not a continuing obstruction: a vessel under way, a boat racing, or a race committee vessel that is also a mark.

Fetching      A boat is fetching a mark when she is in a position to pass to windward of it and leave it on the required side without changing tack.

Finish     A boat finishes when, after her starting signal, any part of her hull crosses the finishing line from the course side. However, she has not finished if after crossing the finishing line she

After finishing she need not cross the finishing line completely. The sailing instructions may change the direction in which boats are required to cross the finishing line to finish.

Keep Clear     A boat keeps clear of a right-of-way boat

Leeward and Windward      A boat’s 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.

Mark      An object the sailing instructions require a boat to leave on a specified side, a race committee vessel surrounded by navigable water from which the starting or finishing line extends, and an object intentionally attached to the object or vessel. However, an anchor line is not part of the mark.

Mark-Room      Room for a boat

Obstruction      An obstruction is

However, a boat racing is not an obstruction to other boats unless they are required to keep clear of her or, if rule 22 applies, avoid her.

Overlap     See Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap..

Party      A party to a hearing is

However, the protest committee is never a party.

Postpone      A postponed race is delayed before its scheduled start but may be started or abandoned later.

Proper Course      A course a boat would choose in order to complete the leg she believes she is on as soon as possible in the absence of the other boats referred to in the rule using the term. A boat has no proper course before her starting signal.

Protest      An allegation made under rule 60 by a boat or a committee that a boat has broken a rule.

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.

Room    The space a boat needs in the existing conditions, including space to comply with her obligations under the rules of Part 2 and rule 31, while manoeuvring promptly in a seamanlike way.

Rule

Sail the Course      A boat sails the course when

Start      A boat starts when, her hull having been entirely on the pre-start side of the starting line at or after her starting signal, and having complied with rule 30.1 if it applies, any part of her hull crosses the starting line from the pre-start side to the course side.

Support Person     Any person who

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

Windward     See Leeward and Windward.

Zone      The area around a mark within a distance of three hull lengths of the boat nearer to it. A boat is in the zone when any part of her hull is in the zone