NIA Right of Way Rules

NIA Sailing Rules

1. A yacht in motion shall keep clear of a yacht stopped.
2. A yacht sailing OFF-THE-WIND shall keep clear of a yacht sailing ON-THE-WIND.
3. When two yachts are sailing ON-THE-WIND, the yacht on the PORT TACK shall keep clear of the yacht on the STARBOARD TACK. When two yachts are sailing OFF-THE-WIND, the yacht on the PORT TACK shall keep clear of the yacht on the STARBOARD TACK.
4. When two yachts sailing ON-THE-WIND are on the same tack, the WINDWARD YACHT shall keep clear. When two yachts sailing OFF-THE-WIND are on the same tack, the LEEWARD YACHT shall keep clear.
5. A right-of-way yacht shall not alter her course so as to mislead or prevent a non-right-of-way yacht from keeping clear. When a faster moving yacht approaches another yacht on the same tack from the rear, the faster yacht must not sail so close that the slower yacht cannot keep clear.
6. A yacht may not TACK or JIBE so as to involve the probability of collision with another yacht which, owing to her position or speed, cannot keep clear.
7. A yacht approaching and unable to clear an OBSTRUCTION with out fouling or endangering another yacht may signal the other yacht for room to clear. The signaled yacht shall at once give room and if it is necessary for her to TACK or JIBE, the signaling yacht shall also TACK or JIBE immediately thereafter.
8. When approaching or rounding a MARK, an OUTSIDE yacht shall keep clear and a faster moving yacht approaching another yacht from the rear shall stay clear of a yacht that has started her rounding maneuver.a. When yachts sailing ON-THE-WIND on opposite tacks are approaching a MARK, the PORT TACK yacht shall keep clear of the STARBOARD TACK yacht.
   b. Each yacht shall be entitled to room to cross the finish line. (Ref: rules interpretation on page 22)

The Interpretations of the National Iceboat Authority

December 1, 1973

1. The Sailing Rules and Race Management Rules are designed to provide a safe and fair race. The rules should not be used with tactical advantage a prime concern, but rather should be used to avoid collisions.   
2. Sailors should realize that iceboat racing rules differ from sailboat racing rules in a number of fundamental ways, most prominent of which are: starboard tack does not always have right-of-way; windward yacht has right-of-way off the wind; there is NO two length rule at an iceboat course mark.
3. The rules do not allow boats to collide at the start or shortly thereafter and all sailing rules apply here as they do elsewhere on the course. 
4. Right-of-way rule #8 giving each yacht room to finish is for the ends of the line and is designed to keep the race committee from getting killed and to avoid general havoc in the finishing area. Port tack yachts shall keep clear of starboard tack yachts except at the committee end of the line where port tack must be given room to finish. And at the ends of the line a windward yacht must allow a leeward yacht room to finish. 
5. Once the forward most part of the yacht catching up from behind has come past the after most part of the yacht ahead, one yacht is windward, the other leeward. The yachts must then be governed by their responsibilities as windward and leeward yachts.