PORT TACK
STARBOARD TACK
STARBOARD SIDE
PORT SIDE
STERN
BOW
RACING YOUR NIRVANA
Sailboat racing is a lot of fun. If you are already familiar with
yacht racing rules, those rules can be used when racing your
Nirvana. The following are five basic rules and race course will
allow you to compete on the water with experienced sailors.
Five Basic Rules of Racing
1. Port tack/starboard tack Rule
Port refers to the left side of the boat when facing the bow.
Starboard refers to the right side of the boat when facing the
bow. A boat in motion is on either port tack or starboard tack.
When the boom is left of the center of the boat, the boat is
sailing on starboard tack. When the boom is right of the center
of the boat, the boat is sailing on port tack.
RULE
When sailing on a collision course, boats sailing on
starboard tack have the ‘right of way’ over boats sailing on
port tack. Boats on port tack MUST yield to boats on starboard
tack.
