Types of Penalty

Penalties can be awarded if a team breaks any of the following rules:

Race Start

A boat is penalized for being on course side (OCS) if any part of its hulls are on the course side of the starting line when the starting signal is given.

Boats can also be penalised before the start of a match race depending on their entry position.

The port entry boat must:

be on the course side of the starting line and its extensions 10 seconds prior to the preparatory signal, and
must have any part of its hulls cross the entry line up to one minute before the starting signal, the first time from the windward side to the leeward side.

The starboard entry boat must:

at the preparatory signal be outside the line that is at a 90 degree angle to the entry line through the entry mark at her assigned end, and
must have any part of its hulls cross the entry line up to one minute before the starting signal, the first time from the windward side to the leeward side.

Giving Way

A boat on port tack (wind coming from the left hand side) must give way to a boat on starboard tack (wind coming from the right hand side). This rule has governed international waters for centuries.

Overlapping

When boats overlap while going in the same direction, the boat closest to the wind must keep out of the way. That boat is referred to as the windward boat. This means the boat furthest from the wind - the leeward boat - has the controlling position.

When boats are not overlapped and are sailing in the same direction, the boat behind must keep clear of the boat in front.

Boundaries

The SailGP course is raced within a boundary, to keep the action tight. There is an 80m zone defined inside the entire course boundary; when two boats are inside that zone, the one closest to the boundary is allowed to sail the fastest route into and out of the zone.

Marks

Turning marks have a circle zone around them 50m in diameter with the mark at its center.

When boats overlap as they enter the mark zone, the boat on the inside must be given room to go around the mark. The boat on the outside must allow the inside boat to take the turn as they wish.

When boats are not overlapped, the boat that entered the zone first has the right to go around the mark.

Teams will fight hard for the inside line, especially at the all-important first mark.

Right of way

When a team with right of way makes a significant change in their direction, they need to give boats in close proximity time to react. Even with right of way, they must do everything they can to avoid a collision.

SailGP Explained