Rule 13 – While Tacking is the fourth and final right-of-way rule in Part 2 of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS). This post covers what you need to know about Rule 13, with video, animations, questions and answers, and links to the World Sailing Casebook.

In 2018, the Inland Lake Yachting Association (ILYA) and SailZing, LLC partnered on a Fair Sailing initiative. As part of this initiative, SailZing worked with the ILYA and UK Sailmakers to develop a series of articles on the rules. With the rules changes in 2021, SailZing is updating these articles and adding video summaries.

Our thanks to UK Sailmakers for generating the animated scenarios.

Rule 13: While Tacking

“After a boat passes head to wind, she shall keep clear of other boats until she is on a close-hauled course. During that time, rules 10, 11, and 12 do not apply. If two boats are subject to this rule at the same time, the one on the other’s port side or the one astern shall keep clear.”

Definitions

Previously-defined terms (click to refresh your memory): Keep Clear

Notes

• Note that the rule says, “until she is on a close-hauled course.” “Close-hauled course” is not formally defined, but it refers to the course (heading) of the boat, not whether the sails are trimmed.
• If two boats are tacking at the same time, the last sentence means, “boat on the right wins.”

Scenarios

For each scenario, read the description, watch the animation by clicking on the link below the picture, and decide your answer to the question. Then click the Answer link to check your thinking.

#1 – “Tacking too Close”

Description: Blue and Yellow are sailing upwind. Blue tacks. During Blue’s tack, Yellow heads up to avoid Blue. There was no contact. Yellow alleges Blue broke Rule 13. Blue alleges she kept clear.

Which boat(s) should promptly take a penalty? Answer

#2 – “Tacking too Close”

Description: This situation is similar to #1 above, except that this time, Blue begins her tack earlier. However, during Blue’s tack, Yellow again heads up to avoid Blue. There was no contact. Yellow alleges Blue broke Rule 13. Blue alleges she kept clear.

Which boat(s) should promptly take a penalty? Answer

#3 – “Tacking and Luffing on the Starting Line”

Description: At the starting line, Blue tacks to leeward of Yellow and hails Yellow to “keep it up.” Yellow changes course, but alleges Blue broke rule 13. Blue claims she kept clear while tacking and was on starboard when Yellow changed course.

Which boat(s) should promptly take a penalty? Answer

#4 – “Tacking and Luffing on the Starting Line”

Description: At the starting line, Blue tacks to starboard and immediately luffs. Yellow changes course, but alleges Blue broke rule 13. Blue claims she kept clear while tacking and was on starboard when Yellow changed course.

Which boat(s) should promptly take a penalty? Answer

#5 – “Simultaneous Tacks”

Description: Blue sails behind Yellow and then tacks. Yellow also begins a tack. At position 3, Yellow and Blue make contact. Both boats allege the other broke Rule 13.

Which boat(s) should promptly take a penalty? Answer

World Sailing Case 27 – No need to anticipate that another boat will break a rule
World Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing