Racing Rules: Tack when by the lee

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Tack when by the lee

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Racing Rules
Forum Discription: Discuss the rules and your interpretations here
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13783
Printed Date: 24 Jun 25 at 10:25pm
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Topic: Tack when by the lee

Posted By: tink
Subject: Tack when by the lee
Date Posted: 16 May 21 at 6:44am

RRS say

‘Tack, Starboard or Port A boat is on the tack, starboard or port,

corresponding to her windward side.’

Therefore by the definition it is the gunwale the wind blows over that determines the tack, and a boat BTL can flick from port to starboard without the boom changing side.

However I have seen some net posts saying it is the boom side which I feel is wrong however would make interpretation much easier. A observer would find it difficult to spot a boat was BTL especially if the sail is wet and telltales not working very well.

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Tink
https://tinkboats.com

http://proasail.blogspot.com

Replies:

Posted By: MartinG
Date Posted: 16 May 21 at 7:31am

But you need to look at the definitions of leeward and windward.

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49er 865
K6 159
RS800 1133 (sold)

Posted By: sargesail
Date Posted: 16 May 21 at 11:47am

Exactly MartinG. In The RRS in the definition Tink quotes the word windward is in italics, indicating that the term is defined. Reference to that definition resolves Tink’s confusion.

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 16 May 21 at 11:53am

Yes, I suggest everyone has a bookmark to the definitions in their rules book. Its just as important as the actual Part C rules.

Posted By: GML
Date Posted: 16 May 21 at 12:54pm

Buy the RYA version and you don't need a bookmark as the definitions are immediately inside the front cover (precisely so that you can find them without having to hunt for them).

Posted By: tink
Date Posted: 16 May 21 at 5:25pm

Thanks one and all, I knew my logic was flawed but hadn’t deleted deep enough.

Leeward and Windward A boat’s leeward side is the side that is or, when she is head to wind, was away from the wind. However, when sailing by the lee or directly downwind, her leeward side is the side on which her mainsail lies. The other side is her windward side. When two boats on the same tack overlap, the one on the leeward side of the other is the leeward boat. The other is the windward boat.

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Tink
https://tinkboats.com

http://proasail.blogspot.com