These articles are written for beginner to intermediate RC Yacht Racing Sailors yet may be a good refresher for those with more experience. They have been updated to reflect the Racing Rules of Sailing (the RRS) 2021 - 2024 that came into effect Jan 1, 2021.

The new version of the RRS 2025-2028 that come into effect Jan 1, 2025 has been published. The link to the new RRS may be found on my Reference Documents page.

A quick summary of the major changes in the RRS 2025-2028 may be found - here

I have prepared updates to all the chapters below for the new RRS but it is premature to publish them  while the current RRS still apply- I will make the change over in November.

The articles are organised into a series of chapters that begin with some basics, and then lead you around the race course from the Start, to the Weather Mark, the Downwind Gate, and the Finish. The Hailing article covers various rules around the Race Course. There are a couple of Bonus items that discuss issues like the difference between Proper Course, Mark Room and Right of Way(ROW); what happens in a Protest Hearing; and to avoid a protest hearing, how to take a Penalty Turn.

The Appendix contains short topics, usually based on answers to questions that have appeared in various forums plus info on the free software to create diagrams like the ones used in these articles.

Radio Sailing under the RRS 2021 - 2024

Chapter 1: The Definitions - For beginners – Racing 101 – Some sailing terms explained

         Chapter 1 - bonus - Simplified racing rules for beginners

Chapter 2: Starts How to get a better start

Chapter 3: Rule 18 and the Weather Mark How to gain (or not lose) places at a busy mark rounding

         Chapter 3 - bonus Weather Mark - the 'dreaded' Marks to Stbd

Chapter 4: Hailing and other rules around the race course 

Chapter 5: Rule 18 and the Downwind Gate Go left or go right?

Chapter 5-bonus: Tactical Roundings and Proper Course at a Downwind Mark

Chapter 6: The Finish Getting to the line, and after - your race is not over yet

Chapter 7: The Protest When and how to protest, and what happens in the hearing

Chapter 7-bonus Third Party Protests and Racing with Observers

Chapter 8: Proper Course Proper Course vs Right of Way vs Mark Room

Chapter 9: The Penalty Turn- a look at when and how to take a penalty

Appendix - a collection of short items

      A. How to create diagrams - for adding questions to the RRS forum

B. Mark Room and Depth Perception - When things go wrong!   

C. When is 'Tacking too close' too close?