A term used as stated below is shown in italic type or, in preambles, in bold italic type.
Abandon
A race that a race committee or protest committee abandons is void but
may be resailed.
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
do not apply to boats on opposite tacks unless rule 18 applies or both boats
are sailing more than ninety degrees from the true wind.
Fetching
A boat is fetching a mark when she is in a position to pass to windward of it
and leave it on the required side without changing tack.
Finish
A boat finishes when any part of her hull, or crew or equipment in normal position,
crosses the finishing line from the course side. However, she has not finished
if after crossing the finishing line she
(a) takes a penalty under rule 44.2,
(b) corrects an error under rule 28.2 made at the line, or
(c) continues to sail the course .
Interested Party
A person who may gain or lose as a result of a protest committee's decision,
or who has a close personal interest in the decision.
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 .
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.
Mark
An object the sailing instructions require a boat to leave on a specified side,
and a race committee boat surrounded by navigable water from which the starting
or finishing line extends. An anchor line or an object attached temporarily
or accidentally to a mark is not part of it.
Mark-Room
Room for a boat to leave a mark on the required side. Also,
(a) room to sail to the mark when her proper course is to sail close to it,
and
(b) room to round the mark as necessary to sail the course.
However, mark-room for a boat does not include room to tack unless she is overlapped
inside and to windward of the boat required to give mark-room and she would
be fetching the mark after her tack .
Obstruction
An object that a boat could not pass without changing course substantially,
if she were sailing directly towards it and one of her hull lengths from it.
An object that can be safely passed on only one side and an area so designated
by the sailing instructions are also obstructions. However, a boat racing
is not an obstruction to other boats unless they are required to keep
clear of her or, if rule 22 applies, avoid her. A vessel under way, including
a boat racing, is never a continuing obstruction.
Overlap
See Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap.
Party
A party to a hearing is
(a) for a protest hearing: a protestor, a protestee;
(b) for a request for redress: a boat requesting redress or for which redress
is requested, a race committee acting under rule 60.2(b);
(c) for a request for redress under rule 62.1(a): the body alleged to have made
an improper action or omission;
(d) a boat or a competitor that may be penalized under rule 69.2.
However, the protest committee is never a party .
Postpone
A postponed race is delayed before its scheduled start but may be started
or abandoned later.
Proper Course
A course a boat would sail to finish as soon 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.
Protest
An allegation made under rule 61.2 by a boat, a race committee or a protest
committee that a boat has broken a rule.
Racing
A boat is racing from her preparatory signal until she finishes
and clears the finishing line and marks or retires, or until the race
committee signals a general recall, postponement or abandonment.
Room
The space a boat needs in the existing conditions, including space to comply
with her obligations under the rules of Part 2 and rule 31 , while manoeuvring
promptly in a seamanlike way.
Rule
(a) The rules in this book, including the Definitions, Race Signals, Introduction, preambles and the rules of relevant appendices, but not titles;
(b) ISAF Regulation 19, Eligibility Code; Regulation 20, Advertising Code; Regulation 21, Anti-Doping Code; and Regulation 22, Sailor Classification Code;
(c) the prescriptions of the national authority, unless they are changed by the sailing instructions in compliance with the national authority's prescription, if any, to rule 88;
(d) the class rules (for a boat racing under a handicap or rating system, the rules of that system are ‘class rules’);
(e) the notice of race;
(f) the sailing instructions; and
(g) any other documents that govern the event.
Start
A boat starts when, having been entirely on the pre-start side of the
starting line at or after her starting signal, and having complied with rule
30.1 if it applies, any part of her hull, crew or equipment crosses the starting
line in the direction of the first mark.
Tack, Starboard or Port
A boat is on the tack, starboard or port, corresponding
to her windward side.
Zone
The area around a mark within a distance of three hull lengths of the boat nearer
to it. A boat is in the zone when any part of her hull is in the zone.
Windward
See Leeward and Windward.