US VMYG Guidelines for the Conduct and Management of Racing
Skipper conduct: Gentlemanly, sportsman-like behavior is required. The Corinthian spirit is encouraged at all times.
Governing Rules: Current (2021-2024) Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), as modified by Appendix E. These are a simplified version of those rules.
GENERAL RULES SUMMARY
Avoid Contact: A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible (RRS #14). Accidental nudges are not necessarily grounds for protest. Don’t be a sea lawyer. However, skippers are required to comply with the RRS, especially the basic rules of the road. Don’t try to squeeze in where there is no room.
Touching marks: Except for start and finish marks, touching marks on the course is allowed, as long as you round them on the proper side. We round marks to port, unless directed otherwise at the start of a regatta/race. Touching a start mark requires a 360-degree turn, which includes a tack and a jibe, without interfering with other boats. Touching a finish mark requires returning to the course side of the line, doing a 360-degree turn, and finishing correctly.
On opposite tacks: A port tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard tack boat (RRS #10).
On same tack, overlapped: A windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat (RRS #11).
On same tack, not overlapped: A boat clear astern shall keep clear of a boat clear ahead (RRS #12).
Passing marks; giving room, keeping clear: When boats on the same tack are overlapped at the four-length zone, the outside boat shall give the inside boat room to round the mark in a seaman-like manner (RRS #18). If there is reasonable doubt that an inside boat established an overlap in time, it shall be presumed that she did not and she shall thereafter keep clear. If there is any doubt, err on the side of keeping clear.
| You are the keep-clear boat when you are: | The other boat has the r-o-w when she is: | Applicable Rule: |
|---|---|---|
| Sailing on port tack | Sailing on starboard tack | RRS #10 |
| The windward boat | The leeward boat | RSS # 1 |
| The clear-astern boat | The clear ahead boat | RSS #12 |
| Changing tacks | Not changing tacks | RSS #13 |
| The outside overlapped boat at marks | The inside boat | RSS #18 |
| Avoiding Contact: A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible | RSS #14 | |
At the start: We will use either a one- or two-minute start sequence, depending on fleet size and wind conditions. No dip starts, which means that you must not cross the line from the course side after the midpoint of the countdown. If over the line early, you must sail around either end mark, and start properly.
Penalties: Infractions of rules require a 360-degree turn as soon as possible, which includes a tack and a jibe, without interfering with others. There is no protest committee. Skippers must resolve protests on the water in a gentlemanly, sportsman-like manner.
Scoring: The low point scoring system will be used, one point awarded for 1st place, etc. “Did Not Finish” (DNF) and “Did Not Start” (DNS) shall be scored fleet plus one. There will be one throw-out for every eight races/regattas and one regatta (day) throw-out for the season.
Regatta Entries: Each skipper may register no more than one model yacht in each Class in which he intends to sail. Skippers who lend another boat of the same Class must have that person register that boat. This is not an “additional boat.” For registration purposes, class Divisions (e.g., Traditional, High Flyer) are considered part of the same Class, and so boats in different Divisions of a Class must be registered separately to different skippers. Skippers are encouraged to sail different boats in different Classes as long as the regatta schedule does not provide a conflict. Reduced registration fees may apply to “additional boats” in different Classes.