Marks and Obstructions
at Starting Line

In the world of competitive sailing, Part 2, Section C of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) covers “At Marks and Obstructions.” Rules 18, 19, and 20 are the “big three” that govern how boats interact when they aren’t just in open water, but are maneuvering around buoys or hazards.

However, 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.

Starting Line Scenarios

A Leeward boat has Right-of-Way at the start and is allowed to sail above her Proper Course to shut-out any boat heading into the start before the start signal. After the start signal, the Leeward boat must assume her proper course. Basically, any boat to leeward that you can potentially hit should be considered a brick wall.

Reaching Boat (Red) is Barging

Before the start signal, Green has the right to go “head-to-wind” and force a Windward Overlapped boat (RED) over the start line or into a position that it must avoid the Committee Boat or Start Mark by turning away.

Leeward Boat (Green A) Has Right of Way

Red must keep Clear of Green A. Green A has the right to go “head-to-wind” to force Red over the start line before the start signal. Green A is not close enough to committee boat to shut-out Green B.

Once the start signal has sounded, Green A must resume sailing a proper course.

Proper Course. A course a boat would choose in order to sail the course as quickly as possible in the absence of the other boats referred to in the rule using the term. A boat has no proper course before her starting signal.