Boating Tips - How To Avoid Collisions in a Sailing Race
How To Avoid Collisions in a Sailing Race
- Know your rights: Starboard tack boat always prevails. If both boats are on starboard but one boat is sailing upwind and the other downwind, the downwind boat must yield. If both boats are on the same tack, then the leeward boat maintains rights so long as there is an overlap.
- Appoint crew members to call out traffic, and to pay special attention at the start and mark roundings.
- Respect the two-boat circle rule at mark roundings. Forcing yourself between the mark and another speeding boat puts you at unnecessary risk.
- Yell out "starboard!" with plenty of time to allow the other boat to recognize your right of way and make their adjustment.
- Steer aggressively and make deliberate course changes to signal to the other boats that you have seen them.
- Stay on top of the main and jib sheets so you can ease them quickly, if necessary, to give the skipper greater control of the helm.
- Be mobile in the cockpit to increase your visibility and awareness of your surroundings.
Tips:
- Pay attention: Most collisions occur when people see the problem too late and have little time to react.
- Race according to your goals: If youre out there for fun with family there is no reason to be so aggressive that you put yourself in dangerous situations.
Warnings:
- When boats collide it is not just wood, fiberglass or metal that gets broken. A bad collision can send people overboard and to the hospital.