RC sailboat racing rules

The basic Racing Rules for RC Sailboats

Basic Racing Rules:
1. If you go over the starting line before the official start sounds you must dip back below the starting line before beginning the race.
2. Starboard tack always has right of way over port tack. The boat is on starboard tack when the wind is coming across the starboard (right) side of the boat and the sail is out to the port (left) side of the boat.
3. An overtaking boat must keep clear of the boat it is overtaking when both boats are on the same tack.
4. When two boats are on the same tack, a boat to leeward (downwind) has right of way over a boat to windward.
5. When rounding a mark or when approaching within four boat lengths of a mark, the inside boat must be given room to round the mark.
6. Avoid collisions - they slow both boats down!
7. It is a good idea to get clear of the course after finishing the race.

If you would like a full set of the official racing rules, the American Model Yachting Association (AMYA) has adopted the International Sailing Federation's (ISAF) Racing Rules and Appendices. All of the rules for large boats apply to radio control yachts with the primary exception of when buoy room is being established. In model racing, when the bow of the lead boat is within 4 boat lengths of the mark, this boat has entered the zone and it is at this moment when buoy room has either been established by another boat having an inside overlap or not. If the inside boat does not have an ovelap when the bow of the lead boat enters the zone (4 boat lengths from the marker), then the inside boat cannot request room to round the buoy inside the lead boat. In big boat racing the zone is entered at 3 boat lengths from the marker. The full set of International Racing Rules has an appendix devoted to RC Model Yacht Racing.

Happy Sailing!