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Rules
(1) Sailing Race Rules
The racing rules are revised and published every four
years by the International Sailing Federation, the international authority for
the sport. The new edition came into effect on 1st. April 2001. |
| The Sailing Rules can be viewed at the
International Sailing Federation website at www.sailing.org. |
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(2) Rules on the Water
90% of fatal accidents involve the Skipper not having enough boating
knowledge and experience.
Every boat, whether it is a ship, a dinghy, a sailboard or a personal
water craft (PWC) such as a jetski, must have a person in charge - a
Skipper. It is the Skipper's responsibility to ensure safety, which
includes knowing and understanding the rules that apply before heading out
on the water.
Lookout
You must keep a good lookout at all times. It
is your responsibility to stay alert for other boats, swimmers, hazards
and obstacles. Listen as well as look.
Speed
All boats must travel at a safe speed,
taking into account the amount of boat traffic in the area, whether
conditions and visibility is affected by glare or city lights.
Specifically, you must not exceed a speed of 5 knots (a fast
walking speed) if you are; |
- within 200 metres of the shore
- within 200 metres of a boat displaying a
divers flag
- within 50 metres of any other boat
- within 50 metres of a person swimming
- on a power boat if any person has any part of
their body outside the rails or edge of the deck.
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You must be over the age of 15
years to operate any power boat which is capable of speed exceeding 10
knots. This includes dinghies and PWCs. |
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When Two Boats Meet
There are rules which apply just as there
are for cars on the road. You must understand and obey these rules and do
everything to avoid a collision.
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When two boats are
approaching each other, one has the right of way and is called the
stand on boat. The other boat is called the give way
boat. The give way boat must make an early and
obvious manoeuvre so their can be no confusion. The give
way boat must pass astern of (behind) the stand on boat,
while the stand on boat maintains the same course and speed.
Every boat that is overtaking must give way. You are
overtaking if you are approaching another boat anywhere in a 135
degree sector at its stern. |
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In Channels and Harbours
- every boat must keep to the starboard
(right) side of any channel.
- Inside a harbour (as shown on the chart)
you must keep out of the way of any ship over 500 tons (which is
about 50 metres in length).
- do not create a wake which causes
unnecessary danger to other boats or people.
- you must not anchor in a channel.
- all small craft must keep out of the way
of larger vessels which are restricted by the channel.
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- you must give way to another boat on your
starboard (right)
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- if you meet head on, both boats must turn to
starboard (right)
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When Things Go Wrong
When Power Meets Sail
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the power boat gives way, unless the sail boat
is overtaking.
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a sailing boat has to give way to a special
case power boat, which displays certain lights or day shapes.
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sailing boats should avoid sailing in a narrow
channel. They have to give way to power boats restricted by the channel.
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Lights For Small Boats
At night all boats are identified by the
pattern of lights they display. This pattern of lights also helps you to
know which way a boat is heading. All boats must comply with the
regulations concerning lighting. Check that the lights fitted to your boat
are showing through the correct arc. Lights must be switched on from
sunset to sunrise and in rain and fog.
These are the international lighting requirements for all vessels
underway.
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| Powerboats less than 12 metres in
length |
Powerboats over 12 metres in
length |
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| May combine their stern and
masthead lights to one all round white light. |
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| This includes a sailing boat
if it is operating with its engine. Display red and green
sidelights, a white sternlight and a white masthead light. |
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Powerboats less than 7 metres in
length and not capable of speeds over 7 knots
Need only display an all round white light
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| Sailing Boats |
Sailing Boats motoring or
motor-sailing |
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Must show red and green
sidelights and a white sternlight. These three lights may be
combined into a single tri-colour light mounted at the top of the
mast on yachts less than 20 metres in length. |
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Considered to be powerboats
and must display sidelights, a sternlight and a masthead light
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Masthead Light
Masthead lights shine forward in 225 degree arc and must be at least 1
metre above the sidelights. |
Anchor Light
Every boat at anchor must show only a white light visible from all
directions between sunset and sunrise. |
Range of Light
On boats up to 12 metres in length, white lights must have a range of
2 miles and side lights a range of 1 mile. |
Channel Markers
These show well-established channels and indicate
port (left) and starboard (right) sides of the channel. One of the
following may be used. |
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| Port Mark- a red can
shape. Red flash at night. |
Starboard Mark- a green
conical shape. Green flash at night |
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The Coming In - Going Out Rule
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upon entering harbour the
red port mark should be kept on the boat's port (left) side and
the green mark on the boat's starboard (right) side.
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when leaving harbour the
red port mark should be kept on the boat's starboard (right) side
and the green mark on the boat's port (left) side.
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Each indicates where there is deep
water close to a danger and they show this relative to the compass.
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Special Marks - Yellow.
Indicates a special area and you should beware. Flashing yellow light at
night. The top mark is a single yellow cross. Check your chart to see what
is special in that area. |
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Isolated Danger - Red and
Black. Indicates an isolated danger, such as a rock and so tells you not
to pass too close. Coloured with one or more horizontal red bands. If lit
at night, it shows a group of two white flashes. The top mark has two
black spheres. |
Underwater Cable Marks -
These are indicated by a white triangle on the foreshore. When in pairs,
they indicate the direction of the cable. Do not anchor near these cables. |
To obtain your book on Safe Boating - an
essential guide visit the Whangarei branch of the Maritime Safety
Authority.
Second Floor,
Manaia House,
Corner Rathbone & Dent Sts.,
Whangarei. |
| Maritime Safety Authority
(www.msa.govt.nz) |
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