NEW RULES

IQ
2005-2008

Answers to the Rules IQ Test!

In the last issue (#87), we published an all-new Racing Rules IQ Test with 100 questions on the new 2005-2008 Racing Rules of Sailing. Since we didnt have room to print more than the basic answers, here are expanded explanations.To understand these answers, you need two things: 1) a copy of the new rules; and 2) the Rules IQ Test. If you dont have a copy of the last issue, simply e-mail a note to us at SpeedandSmarts@optonline.com, and we will mail or e-mail you a copy of the test for free.

TEST

9. False The definition Finish says a boat finishes when any part of her hull, crew or equipment in Basic Rules normal position crosses the finish 1. True When the racing rules line in the direction of the course apply, Rule 1.1 (Helping Those in from the last mark. You do not Danger) says you must give all pos- have to sail the course properly. sible help to any person or vessel in 10. False When boats are overdanger. This applies to both racing lapped on the same tack, the rightand non-racing boats. of-way boat must be able to change 2. False Ten years ago a boat course in both directions without could not be penalized under the immediately making contact, or else Fair Sailing Rule (Rule 2) unless no the other boat is not keeping clear other rule applied. Now a boat will (see definition Keep clear). be penalized only when she clearly 11. True The definition of violates recognized principles of Mark says an anchor line is not sportsmanship and fair play. part of the mark. 3. True There are certain times 12. False A boat begins to have when you cannot discard a DSQ, a proper course at her starting sigincluding a DSQ under rule 2 (Fair nal, which is before she starts. Sailing). This is explained both in 13. False An obstruction is an rule 2 and in rule 89.3b. object big enough to require a boat, 4. False The rulebooks Basic when she is one hull length away, Principle (Sportsmanship and the to make a substantial course Rules) says that when competitors change to pass it. It doesnt matter break a rule they will promptly take whether or not the boat actually a penalty . . . It does not matter has to change course while racing. whether anyone protests you; if you When Boats Meet (Part 2) know you broke a rule you must take an appropriate penalty. 14. True According to the Part 5. True This is a fundamental 2 preamble, the right-of-way rules principle of the racing rules, found apply between boats that are sailin rule 3a (Acceptance of the Rules). ing in or near the racing area and 6. False According to rule 86.1c, intend to race . . . So the racing class rules can change certain racrules almost always apply to boats ing rules such as 42 (Propulsion). before their warning signal. Class rules cannot change any rules 15. False If you are not racing that are not listed in 86.1c. and you interfere with a boat that is racing, for example, you break The Definitions rule 22 (Interfering with Another 7. False A boat is always on Boat) and you can be penalized. port or starboard tack, depending 16. False When a boat that is on which is her windward side (see racing meets a cruising boat under definition of Leeward/Windward). sail, the applicable rules (which 8. True The terms clear ahead, guide them both) are the IRPCAS clear astern, and overlap do not (International Regulations for the apply to boats on opposite tacks Prevention of Collisions at Sea). unless rule 18 applies. So two boats 17. True The Part 2 preamble on opposite tacks can be overlapped, now says that when a racing boat but only if they are about to round breaks an IRPCAS rule, she can be or pass a mark or obstruction. protested only by the race commit-

TRUE OR FALSE

tee or the protest committee. 18. False When two boats are tacking at the same time, they are both subject to rule 13 (While Tacking). So the one on the other's port side or the one astern shall keep clear. As far as rule 13 is concerned, it doesnt matter which one passed head to wind first. 19. False There does not have to be serious damage before a right-of-way boat can be penalized under rule 14. If she could have avoided contact that causes any injury or damage, the right-of-way boat must retire. (This answer was wrongly listed as True on the test.) 20. True Rule 14 (Avoiding Contact) never turns off, so boats must always be careful not to hit. 21. False This statement is usually true, but it doesnt apply when one boat acquires right of way due to the other boats actions. If a boat tacks right in front of you, for example, you dont have to give them room to keep clear because it was their action that caused the change in right of way. 22. False Rule 16 (Changing Course) has one exception, found in rule 18.2(d). When the right-of-way boat is changing course to round a mark, she does not have to give the other boat room to keep clear. 23. False Rule 16.2 now applies only when a port tacker (P) is passing astern of a starboard tacker (S). If P tries to cross ahead, S can hunt within the limits of rule 16.1 (Changing Course). 24. True When P is sailing to pass astern of S, rule 16 puts two limitations on any course change by S. First, S must give P room to keep clear. Second, S cannot force P to change her course immediately to keep clear. 25. False There is no limit on sailing below your proper course when you are racing upwind (see

Speed & Smarts #88

RULES IQ TEST ANSWERS

(continued from page 11)

rule 17.2). Of course, a windward boat must still be sure to keep clear of a leeward boat. 26. False Rule 16.2 says a boat may not sail below her proper course when she has a boat within two lengths that is either overlapped to leeward or clear astern steering a course to leeward of her. 27. False Rule 18 does not apply when boats are on opposite tacks on a beat. However, it does apply to boats on opposite tacks that are about to round a leeward or jibe mark. 28. True According to ISAF Case 84, Almost always, a boat two hull lengths from a mark is about to round or pass it, but this is sometimes so at a greater distance too. A good example is in high winds when boats are going fast. 29. False When an inside overlapped right-of-way boat must jibe at a mark to sail her proper course, rule 18.4 says that, before jibing, she may not sail farther from the mark than needed to sail her proper course. In other words, she must jibe to round the mark. 30. True When two boats approach a mark and theres a question about whether or not they are overlapped, the rules still place an onus, or burden of proof, on the boat that claims to obtain or break the overlap at the last moment. 31. False Under the old rules this statement would have been true. But rule 19 has been revised so a boat can hail for room to tack when she is closehauled or above. 32. True If you approach an obstruction and you need to make only a slight course change to avoid it, you are not permitted to hail for room to tack. In fact, under the new rules, you will actually break rule 19 if you hail in this situation. 33. False Its OK to interfere with a boat on another leg if you do not change your course. Also, you can change course as long as interfering with another boat is not your only purpose for this (e.g. youre doing it to sail a proper course).

34. True When you make a penalty turn, rule 22.2 says you must keep clear of any boat that is not taking a penalty. 35. False A boat that is moving backward loses rights (over boats not moving backward) only when the reason she is moving astern is because she was backing a sail. If she simply drifts backward, she keeps her normal rights (rule 20.3).

Conduct of a Race (Part 3)

36. False The race committee must publish written SIs (see rule 89.2a), but they do not have to give these to the competitors. If you are not given the SIs, ask for a copy. 37. False In the standard starting system (rule 26), your class flag is first displayed at the warning signal, not at the prep signal. It remains displayed until the start. 38. True According to rule 27.2, the RC may move a starting mark up until the preparatory signal. So check the line within four minutes. 39. True Once youve finished, you may not go back and correct errors you made sailing the course (except for errors made right at the finishing line). 40. False Rule 30.3 (Black Flag Rule) ends with, If this rule applies rule 29.1 does not. Since 29.1 specifies the use of flag X and one sound for boats that are OCS, these are not used with the black flag. 41. False This was true in the past, but now a new warning signal (not a prep signal) is made 1 minute after the first substitute is lowered 42. False Rule 30.1 is still titled the Round-an-End Rule, but it no longer requires boats to sail around an end (though this usually happens). Boats need only sail across an extension of the line from the course side to the pre-start side. Also, they do not have to wait until the starting signal to do this. 43. True A boat is racing until she finishes and clears the finishing line and marks. If she touches a mark before this, she must take a one-turn penalty as provided in rule 31.2. After taking her penalty she must sail to the course side of the line before finishing.

44. False A boat no longer has to make a complete circle after touching a mark, but there is no minimum number of degrees she must turn. Rule 31.2 requires only one turn with a tack and a jibe. 45. False Rule 32.1 has been specifically changed to cover races that are shortened at a gate. In that case, the finish line is between the two gate marks (and the nearby RC boat is not part of the line). 46. False When the race committee wants to move the next mark to starboard, they should display a green triangle (see rule 33a2), not a rectangle. (This answer was listed incorrectly as True on the test.)

Other Requirements (Part 4)

47. False Rule 43.1(a) is clear: You are never allowed to wear clothing to increase your weight. And the weight of your clothing must not exceed the limit in rule 43.1b (unless your boat has lifelines). 48. True When a boat breaks a right-of-way rule before the start, she doesnt have to wait until the starting signal before taking her Two Turns penalty. She may, and in fact must, take her penalty ASAP. 49. False When a boat breaks a right-of-way rule near the finishing line, she can take her Two Turns Penalty anywhere, but she must sail completely to the course side of the line before finishing (rule 44.2). 50. True A boat can take a TwoTurns Penalty only when she has

May/June 2005

broken a rule of Part 2 (When Boats Meet) while she is racing. Since the Propulsion rule (44) is not in Part 2, a boat that breaks it cannot exonerate herself with penalty turns. 51. True There are only a few reasons why you are permitted to leave your boat intentionally during a race (rule 47.2). Swimming is one of those reasons but if you swim, all crew must be back on board before the boat continues racing. 52. True Rule 41 (Outside Help) now permits boats to receive information from sources that include other boats in the race. However, this info must be both unsolicited and from someone who is disinterested (i.e. with no interest in your finish position).

ling any sail . . . but only once for each wave or gust of wind. (42.3c) 57. True This is permitted by rule 42.3(e), a new exception to the propulsion rule. It says, A boat may reduce speed by repeatedly moving her helm. 58. True Rule 42 now allows sculling only when you are above a closehauled course and either stationary or moving slowly (e.g. on the starting line). In that situation, you are permitted to scull (i.e. repeatedly move your helm in a forceful way) to turn to a closehauled course. 59. False Sculling is prohibited, and rule 42 makes no exception for sculling around a mark. The only time when you might be able to do this is at the windward mark if you are sailing above closehauled and either stationary or moving slowly.

to keep clear, you could get redress.

The Appendices
65. True If you look in the Introduction of the rulebook, youll see a section on Appendices that says, When the rules of an appendix apply, they take precedence over any conflicting rules in Parts 1-7. 66. True Rule 89.3(a) now says all races and series will be scored using the Low Point Scoring System unless the SIs say otherwise. 67. True The Low Point Scoring System allows boats to exclude their worst score. This applies no matter how many races are in the series unless the SIs say otherwise. 68. True In the Low-Point Scoring System, boats that are scored DNS, DNF, RAF and DSQ all receive the same number of points (one more than the number of boats entered in the series rule A4.2). 69. False When a boat breaks a rule of Appendix G (Identification on Sails), one option for the protest committee is to give her a warning (see rule G4). However, the PC also has the option to penalize her. 70. True According to Appendix H, the procedure for weighing clothing is first to saturate it with water and then let it drain freely for one minute before weighing it. 71. False When two boats are tied at the end of a series, the fact of who beat whom in more races is not used as a tiebreaker. If they have the same number of firsts, seconds, thirds, etc., the tie will be broken by using the boats scores in the last race.

Protests, Redress . . . (Part 5)

60. True A protest flag must be red but it does not have a required shape. However, according to ISAF Case 72, ... a flag is used as a signal to communicate the message I intend to protest. Only if the object used as a flag communicates that message, with little or no possibility of causing confusion ... will the object qualify as a flag. A flag must be seen primarily to be a flag. 61. True Rule 62.2 explains the requirements for filing a request for redress. The last sentence of this rule says, No red flag is required. 62. False There are several times when a boat can be penalized without a hearing. These situations are listed specifically in rule 63.1 (including failure to start, failure to finish and getting a starting penalty under rule 30). At all other times a boat cannot be penalized without a protest hearing. 63. False While you are entitled to seek redress if you give help to an injured person, this does not apply if that injured person is part of your own crew (rule 62.1c). 64. True Rule 62.1(b) says you may be entitled to redress when you suffer injury or physical damage because of the action of a ... vessel not racing that was required to keep clear. If the motorboat failed

Kinetics (Rule 42)

53. True The new ISAF Interpretations of Rule 42 say, Adopting any static crew position or any static setting of the sails or centerboard, even when stability is reduced, is permitted by rule 42.1 and is not prohibited by rule 42.2b. 54. True The first exception to the basic propulsion rule is rule 42.3(a), which says simply, A boat may be rolled to facilitate steering. 55. False Rule 42.2(b) says that steering your boat in a way that induces rocking (repeated rolling of the boat) is a prohibited action. 56. False When surfing or planing is possible, a boats crew may pull the sheet and the guy control-

Rules for bigger boats

72. True The definition of rule states, for a boat racing under a handicap or rating system, the rules of that system are class rules. 73. True According to the definitions, a mark is any object that a boat must pass on a required side, including a government buoy that must be left on its channel side. 74. True Rule 41 (Outside Help) says that while youre racing its OK to get information freely available to all boats. This includes listening to public marine radio forecasts.

Speed & Smarts #88

she would sail if D was not there). 92. T Same reason as #91. (continued from page 13) The fact that C has the right to sail above her proper course does not 75. False When lifelines are change this situation (unless the required by the class rules, rule boats are team racing). 49.2 says they (both upper and 93. B The ISAF Cases are lower lifelines) shall be taut. authoritative interpretations of 76. False According to rule 51 the rules, but they do not rank as (Movable Ballast), All movable rules. The official rules are listed ballast shall be properly stowed, in the definition of rule. They and water, dead weight or ballast include national prescriptions, the shall not be moved for the purpose notice of race and class rules. of changing trim or stability. 94. B, D Rule 89.3(b) lists four 77. True A boat that tries to get site tacks so rule 10 says the boat times when a boat cannot drop a unstuck after running aground on starboard tack (B) has right of DSQ, including a) when you sail a must still comply with rule 42 way. However, B has probably race after you are notified that you (Propulsion). That rule allows the broken rules 15 and/or 16. were black-flagged (rule 30.3) and use of an engine only to help a 85. A This boat is on starboard b) when a boat is disqualified under person or another vessel in danger. tack because starboard is her wind- rule 69.1(b)(2) for gross misconduct. 78. False Rule 42 (Propulsion) 95. B Rule 44.4a says, When says a boat may use only the wind ward side. The definitions say, A boats leeward side is the side that a boat intends to take a penalty as and water to increase, maintain or is ... away from the wind. However, provided in rule 44.1 [a Two-Turns decrease her speed. This would when sailing by the lee or directly Penalty] and in the same incident prohibit anchoring, but rule 45 downwind, her leeward side is the has touched a mark, she need not makes a specific exception to this. side on which her mainsail lies. The take the penalty provided in rule 79. True When different size other side is her windward side. 31.2 [a one-turn penalty]. boats are near an obstruction or a 86. B See the answer to #85. 96. C Rule 18 applies when mark, the two-length zone is the 87. B When a boat is head to boats are about to round or pass a area around a mark within a dismark . . . until they have passed it. tance of two hull lengths of the boat wind, her leeward side is the side that was away from the wind. So in So this rule doesnt turn off until that is closer to the mark (see the this case, starboard is her leeward both boats have passed the mark. definition of two-length zone). side. That means port is her wind(In order for C to be correct, Boat 1 80. False Once you put up a ward side, so she is on port tack. must have also passed the mark.) yellow flag to take a scoring penal88. A This boat is tacking, but 97. A, B, C, D Rule 14 says ty, you must also comply with all she is still considered to be on a you shall avoid contact with anoththe other parts of rule 44.3a. This tack. The wind is coming over her er boat if reasonably possible. So includes displaying the flag until starboard side, so that is her wind- you must always make an effort to you finish and notifying the race ward side, and she is on starboard avoid any kind of contact. committee at the finishing line. tack. (Of course, rule 13 says she 98. B, C, D A right-of-way boat must keep clear of other boats on a must always try to avoid contact. MULTIPLE CHOICE tack until she is closehauled.) However, she will not be penalized 89. T C is an inside overlapped unless contact results in damage or 81. B These boats have not yet injury (see rule 14b). gone past head to wind, so A is still boat with right of way, so D must 99. C, D According to rule on port tack and B is on starboard. give her room and also keep clear. C can take as much room as she 44.1, a boat that breaks a right-ofTherefore, B has the right of way. needs, but until she jibes she cant way rule may exonerate herself with 82. B Boat A is on port tack sail farther from the mark than a Two-Turns Penalty, but if she and Boat B is on starboard tack. caused injury or serious damage ... Since they are on opposite tacks, B needed to sail her proper course. 90. S C has an inside overlap her penalty shall be to retire. (on starboard) has the right of way. 100. B, C, D Rule 62.1b says 83. A Though B may appear to but not the right of way, so D just a boat may be entitled to redress have the right of way because she is has to give her enough room to round the mark. C can take enough when she suffers injury or physical on starboard tack, these boats are room for a seamanlike rounding. damage from another boat or vesnear a mark and therefore subject 91. T C has an inside overlap sel that was required to keep clear. to rule 18. If A entered the zone and right of way, so she can make a The damage does not have to be clear ahead of B, rule 18.2(c) says serious, but it must be substantial the boat astern [B] shall thereafter tactical rounding. In other words, she can sail her proper course enough to make the boats finishing keep clear. So A has right of way. around the mark (i.e. the course position significantly worse. 84. B The boats are on oppo-

RULES IQ TEST ANSWERS

NEW RULES

IQ
TEST
2005-2008

May/June 2005