Boats start together from a line after a timed countdown, sail a course around set marks, usually a beat to a windward mark and a run back, and finish by crossing a finishing line. The fastest boat, or the best corrected time on handicap, wins.
Most club races follow the same pattern.
- Before the race. The club publishes a notice of race, saying who can enter and when, and sailing instructions, which set out the courses, signals, penalties and any changes to the standard rules. Read both. On the day, boats may need to sign on, and the course for the race is usually displayed on the committee boat or announced by radio.
- The start. A countdown of flags and sounds, usually five minutes long, ends with the starting signal. Boats must be behind the start line at that moment and then cross it. Starting well, in clear air at full speed, is a large part of doing well.
- The course. Boats sail around a series of marks in a set order, leaving each on the required side. A common club course is a beat to a windward mark, a run back to a leeward mark, one or more laps, and a finish. Longer harbour races may use fixed navigation marks and island courses.
- The finish. A boat finishes when any part of her hull crosses the finishing line from the course side. The race committee records the time and usually makes a sound signal.
- Results. In a one-design class, where all boats are the same, the first boat home wins. In a mixed fleet, each boat's elapsed time is corrected by her handicap.
Between boats that are racing, the Racing Rules of Sailing replace the right-of-way rules of the collision regulations. Their core is familiar: port keeps clear of starboard, windward keeps clear of leeward, and a boat clear astern keeps clear of one clear ahead. One difference from the collision regulations: a boat catching up from astern gains right of way once she overlaps to leeward, though she must first give the other boat room to keep clear. A boat that breaks a rule can take a penalty turn on the water; if not, the other boat may protest, and the matter is heard ashore after the race. Towards boats not racing, including ships and ferries, the collision regulations still apply.
The best way to start is to crew for someone in a club race. Clubs often welcome new crew, and a season of racing teaches a great deal about trim and boat handling.
More in the book: Chapter 15, Your first race