Racing Rules For Beginners #7: Hey, No Barging!

A Leeward boat has Right-of-Way at the start and is allowed to sail above her Proper Course to shut-out any boat heading into the start before the start signal. After the start signal, the Leeward boat must assume her proper course.

Basically, any boat to leeward that you can potentially hit should be considered a brick wall.

As always with Montreal Sailing, you can click the graphic, and usually get a larger view. This is the seventh post from the Milwaukee Yacht Club's "Basic Sailboat Racing Rules All Racers Should Know". I'm posting segments on a roughly daily basis. - Ralph, Montreal Sailing