Rule 11 – Same Tack, Overlapped: Racing Rules 2025-2028

This post has been updated for the 2025-2028 Racing Rules of Sailing.

Two boats side by side on the same tack: who has to stay out of the way? The windward boat, nearly every time.

Rule 11 – On the Same Tack, Overlapped is the second right-of-way rule in Part 2, Section A of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS). This post covers what you need to know about Rule 11, with the rule text, definitions, overlap examples, animations, and a quiz on each scenario.

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 2025, SailZing is updating these articles for the 2025-2028 Racing Rules of Sailing.

Our thanks to UK Sailmakers for generating the animated scenarios.

Rule 11 – On the Same Tack, Overlapped

11 ON THE SAME TACK, OVERLAPPED
When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat.
Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028, Part 2, Section A (World Sailing)

There were no changes to Rule 11, or to the definitions it uses, for 2025-2028.

What Rule 11 Means in Plain Words

Same tack, side by side: windward keeps clear. If two boats are on the same tack and overlapped (neither is clearly behind the other), the boat on the windward side, closer to the wind, must stay out of the leeward boat’s way.
Windward and leeward are about the wind side. The leeward boat is the one on the side away from the wind. When sailing by the lee or dead downwind, the definition uses the side the mainsail is on instead.
It applies upwind and downwind. Two boats on port tack can meet with one sailing upwind and one sailing downwind. Rule 11 still applies, as Scenario #1 shows.
Overlap or not decides between Rule 11 and Rule 12. If one boat is clear astern, Rule 12 applies instead: the boat behind keeps clear.
Leeward boats have limits too. A leeward boat that changes course must give the windward boat room to keep clear (Rule 16), and one that came from clear astern may be limited by Rule 17.

Definitions

Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap. One boat is clear astern of another when her hull and equipment in normal position are behind a line abeam from the aftermost point of the other boat’s hull and equipment in normal position. The other boat is clear ahead. They overlap when neither is clear astern. However, they also overlap when a boat between them overlaps both. These terms always apply to boats on the same tack. They apply to boats on opposite tacks only when rule 18 applies between them or when both boats are sailing more than ninety degrees from the true wind.

Tack, Starboard or Port. A boat is on the tack, starboard or port, corresponding to her windward side.

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.

Keep Clear. A boat keeps clear of a right-of-way boat
(a) if the right-of-way boat can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action and,
(b) when the boats are overlapped, if the right-of-way boat can also change course in both directions without immediately making contact.

— RRS 2025-2028 Definitions

Clear Astern, Clear Ahead, Overlap – Examples

overlap examples – Grey, Yellow, Blue and Green boats showing clear astern and overlapped positions

Definition Questions

Use the diagram above. Decide your answer, then reveal it.

Is Grey overlapped with Yellow?

No. Yellow is clear astern of Grey, since she is behind the line abeam of the aftermost point of Grey’s hull and equipment.

Is Blue overlapped with Yellow?

Yes. Blue is overlapped with Yellow, since neither boat is clear ahead.

Is Green overlapped with Blue?

Yes. Green is overlapped with Blue, since neither boat is clear ahead.

Is Yellow overlapped with Green?

Yes. Yellow is overlapped with Green, since Blue overlaps both Yellow and Green.

Breaking an Overlap

Blue and Yellow are overlapped, sailing downwind. Think of two things Yellow could do to break the overlap.

How can Yellow break Blue’s overlap?

Yellow could speed up, if possible.

Yellow could also head up to a broad reach.

Rule 11 Insights

The World Sailing Case Book adds insights to the right-of-way rules. You can search all cases, by rule, on the racingrulesofsailing.org cases page.

Rule 11 Scenarios

For each scenario, read the description, watch the animation, and choose your answer. Then reveal the answer to check your thinking.

#1 – “Upwind – Downwind”

Description: Red is sailing upwind toward Green, who is sailing downwind. As they approach each other, Red calls for right of way. Green does not respond, so Red changes course to avoid Green.

Rule 11 scenario 1 – animation of upwind Red and downwind Green on port tack, with Red changing course to avoid Green

Which boat(s) should promptly take a penalty?

Green should take a penalty. Both boats are on the same tack (port). Neither boat is clear ahead, so the boats are overlapped. Therefore, Rule 11 applies. Green is the windward boat and must keep clear of Red.

#2 – “Downwind”

Description: Blue and Yellow are sailing downwind. Yellow is heading up to get to a puff. Blue did not see Yellow. Blue’s boom contacts Yellow’s stern.

Rule 11 scenario 2 – animation of Yellow heading up downwind and Blue’s boom touching Yellow’s stern

Which boat(s) should promptly take a penalty?

Blue should take a penalty. Both boats are on the same tack (starboard). Neither boat is clear ahead, so the boats are overlapped. Therefore, Rule 11 applies. Blue is the windward boat and must keep clear of Yellow.

Yellow’s heading up was a change of course, so Rule 16.1 required her to give Blue room to keep clear. Blue had that room but didn’t keep clear.

#3 – “Starting Line”

Description: Blue and Yellow are approaching the starting line, before the start. Yellow alleges she is the leeward boat. Blue alleges she is entitled to mark room. Yellow does not give Blue room to pass to the left of the RC boat.

Rule 11 scenario 3 – animation of Blue and Yellow approaching the race committee boat before the start

Which boat(s) should promptly take a penalty?

No boat should take a penalty. Yellow is the leeward boat, and Blue kept clear as Rule 11 requires. The race committee boat is a mark, but Yellow is not required to give Blue mark-room. Mark-room is covered in Rule 18, but the preamble to Part 2, Section C says:

“Section C rules do not apply between boats when the mark or obstruction referred to in those rules is a starting mark surrounded by navigable water or at its anchor line, from the time boats are approaching it to start until they have left it astern.” (RRS Part 2, Section C)

Summary

If you remember one thing, make it this: on the same tack and overlapped, the windward boat keeps clear. Check the overlap first. If one boat is clear astern, it’s Rule 12, not Rule 11.

At a starting mark, the leeward boat doesn’t owe you room to squeeze in. Plan your approach so you don’t need it.

Rule 12 – On the Same Tack, Not Overlapped comes next.