Introduction
Sailing (sport)
Sailing refers to using sailboats for sporting purposes.Sailing is the main variety of yachting, and competitive sailing the main variety of yacht racing. A sailing competition is known as a regatta,
There is a broad variety of kinds of races and sailboats used for racing from large yacht to dinghy racing. Much racing is done around buoys or similar marks in protected waters, while some longer offshore races cross open water.All kinds of boats are used for racing, including small dinghies, catamarans, boats designed primarily for cruising, and purpose-built raceboats. The Racing Rules of Sailing govern the conduct of yacht racing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, model boat racing, dinghy racing and virtually any other form of racing around a course with more than one vessel while powered by the wind.
Types of races
Fleet Racing
Fleet races can have anywhere from four boats to hundreds of boats in a race. A regatta must have at least three races to be counted. Each boat's place in each race is added to compile a final score. The lowest scorer wins.
Match Racing
Main article: Match race
In match racing only two boats compete against each other. The best known competition of this type is the America's Cup. The tactics involved in match racing are different from those of other races, because the objective is merely to arrive at the finish line before the opponent, which is not necessarily as fast as possible. The tactics involved at the start are also special.[1]
Team Racing
Team racing is most often between two teams of three boats each. It involves similar technique to match racing but has the added dimension that it is the overall scoring of the race that matters. In three on three team racing, this means that the team that scores ten or less points wins. For this reason, many tactics are used to advance teammates to make stable combinations for winning. The stable combinations most commonly sought are "Play one", which is 1-2-anything, "Play two"or2-3-4, and "Play 4", a 1-4-5 combination. These are generally regarded as the best setups to win and the hardest for the opposing team to play offense against.
Race Format
Short Course Racing
A 1D35 near the race committee boat, Humber Bay, Toronto, Ontario
Harbor or buoy races are conducted in protected waters, and are quite short, usually taking anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. All sorts of sailing craft are used for these races, including keel-boats of all sizes, as well as dinghies, trailer sailors, catamarans, skiffs, sailboards, and other small craft.
Coastal/Inshore racing
Inshore racing is yacht racing not in protected waters but along and generally within sight of land or from land to nearby islands, as distinct from offshore racing across open water and oceans. The duration of races maybe daylight only, overnight or passage races of several days.
Task
RULES
The Racing Rules of Sailing (often abbreviated to RRS) govern the conduct of yacht racing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, model boat racing, dinghy racing and virtually any other form of racing around a course with more than one vessel while powered by the wind.
1997 saw the most dramatic simplification to the Racing Rules of Sailing since the 1940s. They are based on four main right of way rules: [Part 2, Section A]
- Boats on a port tack shall keep clear of boats on starboard tack (Rule 10).
- When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, the boat to windward (the boat closest to the wind) shall keep clear of a leeward boat (Rule 11).
- When boats are on the same tack and not overlapped, the boat that is astern shall keep clear of the boat ahead. (Rule 12).
- When a boat is tacking (changing tack) it shall keep clear of boats that are not tacking (Rule 13).
Four rules with general limitations: [Part 2, Section B]
- Even if you have right-of-way, it is your duty to avoid a collision, once it becomes apparent that the other boat is not keeping clear (Rule 14).
- If you acquire right of way, you must initially give the other boat room to keep clear, unless you get right of way because of the other boat's actions. (Rule 15)
- A boat that changes course, even if it has the right-of-way, shall do so in a manner that gives the burdened boat a chance to "keep clear" (Rule 16).
- If you catch up with another boat and you want to pass it to leeward, you may not sail above your proper course i.e. you shall not luff higher than you would have done if that boat wasn't there (Rule 17)
Race signals
Sail races are governed with flags and sound signals to indicate flag changes. The flags used are taken from the International maritime signal flag set. During a race and for any signal concerning the race, these flags are defined in the ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing but the signal can be modified by the Sailing Instructions.
The raising (hoisting) or removing of a visual signal is accompanied by the emission of a sound signal to draw attention to the new signal. The type of the sound signal (one short sound, two short sounds, one long sound, etc.) is described by the rule according to the type of signal. The usual meanings of these flags are as follows:
Postponement signal
The Answering Pennant (AP) with or without a numerical pennant is used to indicate a postponed race. A numerical pennant below the AP denotes the time, in hours, of the race postponement.
| Flag signal | Number of sound signals when raised | Number of sound signals when lowered | Description | |
 |
AP |  |
|
Races not yet started are postponed. |
 |
AP 1 |
|
|
Races not yet started are postponed 1 hour. |
 |
AP 2 |
|
|
Races not yet started are postponed 2 hours. |
 |
AP 3 |
|
|
Races not yet started are postponed 3 hours. |
 |
AP A |
|
Races not yet started are postponed. No more racing today. | |
 |
AP H |
|
Races not yet started are postponed. More information ashore. |
Preparatory signal
These signal flags are used before a race start and most commonly as part of a start sequence/procedure.
| Flag signal | Number of sound signals when raised | Number of sound signals when lowered | Description | |
 |
P | |
|
Normal preparatory signal - no starting penalties are in effect. A boat over the line at the start can return through the line or round an ends but must keep clear of boats not returning.If they fail to return through the line however they will be scored OCS |
 |
I | |
|
The Round-an-End Rule 30.1 will be in effect. A boat over the line during the minute before the start must sail to the pre-start side of the line around either end before starting. If they fail to do this they will be scored OCS |
 |
Z | |
|
The 20% Penalty Rule 30.2 will be in effect. A boat within the triangle formed by the ends of the line and the first mark during the minute before the start will receive a 20% scoring penalty |
|
I Z |
|
|
Both the I flag rule and the Z flag Rule will be in effect during the minute before the start. If they fail to round and end then they will be scored OCS |
 |
|
|
The Black Flag Rule 30.3 will be in effect. A boat within the triangle formed by the ends of the line and the first mark during the minute before the start will be disqualified without a hearing |
Start signal
These signal flags are used in the pre-start procedure. Class flags can be numeral pennants 1 , 2 , and 3 however they can be substituted to avoid confusion with the postponement signals relating to a particular class.
| Flag signal | Number of sound signals when raised | Number of sound signals when lowered | Description | |
| , |
1 ↑ | |
Warning Signal. 5 minutes to race start when class flag raised. | |
|
1 P ↑ |
|
Preparatory signal. 4 minutes to start when P flag raised. Flag P used or if a starting penalty applies I, Z, Black flag or I over Z is used in place of P. | |
|
1 P ↓ |
Long sound |
Preparatory signal. P flag removed 1 minute before start. Flag P used or if a starting penalty applies I, Z, Black flag or I over Z is used in place of P. | |
|
1 ↓ | |
Start Signal. Race start when class flag removed. |
Recall signal
| Flag signal | Number of sound signals when raised | Number of sound signals when lowered | Description | |
 |
X | |
Individual recall.
One or more boats did not start correctly and must return and do a proper start. The X flag is displayed until the earliest of the following: all boats over the line early have returned correctly, 4 minutes from the start or until one minute before the next start. (The sound signal is in addition to the start sound signal) |
|
 |
1st Sub | |
|
General recall.
All boats are to return and then a new start sequence will begin. Signaled when there are unidentified boats over the line or subject to one of the starting penalties, or there has been an error in the starting procedure. The new warning signal for the recalled class will be made 1 minute after the 1st substitute is removed. (The two sound signals when the first substitute is displayed are in addition to the start sound signal) |
Course change signal
| Flag signal | Number of sound signals when raised | Number of sound signals when lowered | Description | |
 |
S | |
Shortened Course.
When displayed at a rounding mark the finish is between the nearby mark and the mast displaying the S flag. When displayed at a line that boats are required to cross at the end of each lap the finish is that line. When displayed at a gate the finish is between the gate marks. |
|
 |
C | ... |
Course Change.
When displayed at a rounding mark, the position of the next mark has been changed. If the direction to the mark has changed it shall be indicated by displaying the new compass bearing or a green triangular flag (or board) for a change to starboard or a red rectangular flag (or board) for a change to port. If the length of the leg has changed then this shall be signalled by displaying a "-" if the leg will shorter or a "+" if the leg will be longer. Repeated sound signals should be made to draw attention to the signal. |
Abandonment signal
| Flag signal | Number of sound signals when raised | Number of sound signals when lowered | Description | |
 |
N | |
|
All races that have started are abandoned. Return to starting area for a new start. The first warning signal will be made 1 minute after N is removed. |
|
N A |
|
All races are abandoned. No more racing today. | |
|
N H |
|
All races are abandoned. More information ashore. |
Other signals
| Flag signal | Number of sound signals when raised | Number of sound signals when lowered | Description | |
 |
L | |
When displayed afloat means: Come within hail or follow this boat.
When displayed ashore means: A notice to competitors has been posted. |
|
 |
M | ... |
Indicates a boat or an object displaying this signal replaces a missing mark.
Repeated sound signals should be made to draw attention to the signal. |
|
 |
Y | |
All people on board should wear a personal life jacket or personal buoyancy. | |
 |
BLUE | When displayed the race committee boat is in position at the finishing line. |
Evaluation
Ballast
Extra weight carried for stability, usually lodged in the keel.
Boom
A horizontal pole or spar to which the bottom of a sail is attached.
Catamaran
A boat with parallel twin hulls.
Centreboard
A movable, fin-shaped protrusion under the hull that prevents a boat from sliding sideways and is used to right capsized dinghies.
Dinghy
A small sailing boat or rowing boat.
Elliott 6m
A three person keelboat used for women's match racing at the Olympic Games and making its debut in 2012.
Finn
A one person centreboard dinghy class used for open competition in the Olympic Games. It was first used at the Olympic Games in 1952 and has been part of every Olympic Games since.
Forestay
The rigging that secures the mast forward.
49er
A two person, high-performance dinghy class with a low hull and wings, used for open competition in the Olympic Games.
470
A two person dinghy class used for men's and women's competition in the Olympic Games. It was the equipment for the first women’s sailing event in the 1988 Olympic Games.
Genoa
The larger triangular forward sail in a sloop-rigged boat.
Headsail
The sail in front of the mast.
Hull
The main body of a vessel.
Jib
The smaller triangular forward sail in a sloop-rigged boat.
Keel
A fixed, fin-shaped protrusion on the bottom of the hull that prevents a boat from sliding sideways.
Keelboat
A sailing boat with a fixed keel.
Kite
Colloquial for "spinnaker", a large, billowing, often colourful sail used to obtain greater boat speed during downwind sailing, usually set in front of or instead of the jib and carried by the 470, 49er and Elliott 6m Olympic classes.
Laser
A one person centreboard dinghy class, the most popular one-design class in the world, used for men-only competition in the Olympic Games.
Laser radial
A one person centreboard dinghy class, with a slightly smaller rig and sails than the “Laser”, used for women-only competition in the Olympic Games. The Laser Radial made its Olympic debut in 2008.
Mainsail
The larger sail behind the mast.
Mainsheet
The rope which controls the movement of a mainsail.
Mast
A vertical spar or pole to which a sail or sails attach.
Rig
Term used to collectively refer to the mast, sails and supporting wires.
RS:X
A windsurfer class used for men's and women's competition in the Olympic Games. The RS:X made its Olympic debut in 2008.
Rudder
A vertical board hinged to the back of a boat that turns the craft.
Sailboard
A lightweight, surfboard-like craft with a mast, boom and sail, on which the rider stands; also known as a "windsurfer".
Sheet
A rope used to control and tension the sail.
Skiff
A lightweight, high performance dinghy used for men's competition in the Olympic Games
Skud18
A two person keelboat used for open competition at the Paralympic Games.
Sloop rig
A sail plan composed of two sails - a mainsail and a jib, or genoa.
Sonar
A three-person keelboat used for open competition in the Paralympic Games.
Spar
A general term referring to a boat's mast, boom and spinnaker pole, usually of an aluminium or carbon-fibre composition.
Spinnaker
A large, billowing, often colourful sail used to obtain greater boat speed during downwind sailing, usually set in front of or instead of the jib and carried by the 470, 49er and Elliott 6m Olympic classes; also known as a "kite".
Star
A two-person keelboat used for men's competition in the Olympic Games. The oldest Olympic Class, having made its debut at the 1932 Games.
Stay
A strong rope, commonly made of wire, used to support a mast.
Tiller
A handle attached to the rudder and used by the skipper to control steering.
Tornado
A two-person catamaran class was used in open competition in the Olympic Games from 1976 to 2008.
Trapeze
Gear fitted to enable crew to put all of their weight outboard. The crew wears a harness which attaches to a wire attached to the mast.Used by the 470 and 49er Olympic classes.
2.4MR
A one person, displacement keelboat class used for open competition in the Paralympic Games.
Windsurfer
A lightweight, surfboard-like craft with a mast, boom and sail, on which the rider stands; also known as a "sailboard".
Yngling
A three person keelboat used for women-only competition at the Olympic Games in 2004 and 2008.
Conclusion
