GENERAL PRINCIPLES

1 Limitation on Interpretations

In radio sailing the boat and the competitor controlling her are usually separated by some, possibly significant, distance. The competitor may not be well placed to view any incident and to rapidly analyse the relative speed, angle and distance between the boats. Therefore, interpretations of the rules should be appropriate to the conditions and should take account of these limitations.

2 Definition: Keeping Clear

A boat is keeping clear if a right-of-way boat can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action. In accordance with WS Case 50, a right-of-way boat needs to take avoiding action when she has a genuine and reasonable apprehension of a collision. If, in such circumstances, she does not take avoiding action and there is contact, the right-of-way boat will break rule 14.

3 Definition: Room, meaning of 'manoeuvring promptly'

When the term room, as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing, is used, manoeuvring promptly includes the time needed by the competitor controlling the boat to analyse the situation and react accordingly. In radio sailing, this time may be longer than the time needed to carry out the manoeuvre itself.

4 Definition: Room, meaning of 'in a seamanlike way'

WS Case 21 states that 'extraordinary' and 'abnormal' manoeuvres are unseamanlike. Some actions that are abnormal in larger boats may be considered normal, and therefore seamanlike, in radio sailing. However, any manoeuvre that puts a boat at risk of damage is unseamanlike. It is also unseamanlike to hit a mark, a pontoon, a bank or a patrol boat.