Tacking and keeping clear
World Sailing · 2025–2028After passing head to wind, a boat must keep clear of other boats until she reaches a close-hauled course. During that interval the ordinary opposite-tack, windward-leeward and clear-astern rules do not apply to her. Finishing a tack therefore means more than simply getting the sail onto the other side.
The rule
After passing head to wind, a boat must keep clear of other boats until she reaches a close-hauled course. During that interval the ordinary opposite-tack, windward-leeward and clear-astern rules do not apply to her. Finishing a tack therefore means more than simply getting the sail onto the other side.
In practice
If both boats are subject to the tacking rule, the boat on the other’s port side or the boat astern keeps clear. Special restrictions also apply when tacking from port to starboard inside the zone of a mark left to port. Plan room to complete the manoeuvre without forcing a protected approaching boat to avoid you.
Sources & approach ↗