Beginners – suggested minimal basic Rules/Tips for RC sailing.
It can be daunting for new sailors – so many rules, trying to learn, remember and apply. Below are very basic tips on one page that are hopefully easier to absorb and will lead on to better understanding the complete rules of RC sailing, in time! This is not intended to replace any rules, just get you started on your journey into RC sailing.
Ask/ Discuss/ Understand with your Club Members /Fleet Caption /PRO
- What is a tack?
- What is a gybe?
- What is Port & Starboard?
- What is Windward /Leeward
- What is a proper course?
- What is the line of the course?
- How to control your boat speed and stay stationary but in control
- What is a penalty turn?
Suggested Tips /minimal Rules
- Plan your course/start knowing that the sailing rules are already in operation from the start of the countdown.
- Avoid collisions is the primary rule (Tip – learn to look outside your boat at others and where the wind is.–learn to plan & be gentle on the joysticks!)
- Do not force others in difficult tight spots thus avoiding collisions even if you have right of way according to the rules (often the boat in the right suffers loss of pace and time)
- Boats on Starboard tack have right of way over those on Port tack.
- Boats on same tack: Windward boat keeps clear of Leeward boat.
- Boats on same tack: overtaking boats must keep clear.
- Boats on same tack: yacht astern must keep clear of the boat ahead.
- Boats on same tack at a turning mark: inside boat at 4 boat lengths from mark is entitled to room to round the mark and leave that mark ahead of the other boat (The other boat cannot sail below the line of the course)
- A boat tacking or gybing must keep clear of a boat that is not.
- Boats over the line at the start should return to behind the starting line by rounding a buoy at either end of the starting line. This avoids more collisions.
- Boats missing a mark should return and round on the correct side of the mark.
- Boats touching a mark whilst round it are to take one penalty turn.
- A penalty turn is a 360 degree turn comprising a tack followed by a gybe or the other way round (practise it!)
