Rule 13: Keeping Clear While Tacking
Rule 13 of the Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028 covers a boat in the middle of a tack. Once she passes head to wind, she keeps clear of other boats until she is on a close-hauled course, and rules 10, 11 and 12 are switched off for her while she does.
The window opens when the bow passes head to wind and closes when she settles close-hauled on the new tack. Not when the sails fill, and not when she is back up to speed. Heading up into the no-go zone she keeps her old rights; past head to wind, she has none.
This is what makes a tack close to another boat risky. Tack onto starboard just ahead of a port-tacker and you hold right of way only once you are close-hauled. If she has to change course to avoid you before then, you broke rule 13, and once you have your rights, rule 15 still makes you give her room to keep clear.
When two boats tack at the same time, the one on the other's port side keeps clear; failing that, the one astern.
Sail it
No Rules Lab drill stages rule 13 on its own. Open the Rules Lab, pick the port and starboard cross, and tack away as the port-tack boat: you sail through it.
Questions
When does a tack end under the racing rules?
When the boat is on a close-hauled course on her new tack. Her heading decides it, not her speed or whether the sails have filled.
Can I tack in front of a boat on starboard?
Only with room. Tack onto starboard close ahead or to leeward of her and you keep clear until you are close-hauled (rule 13), then give her room to keep clear (rule 15). A tack that makes her change course before that is a foul.
Does rule 13 apply to a jibe?
No. Rule 13 is about passing head to wind. A jibe changes tack without passing head to wind, so rules 10, 11 and 12 keep applying through it.
Paraphrased from rule 13 of the Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028, not quoted. The rule text is World Sailing's, and the rulebook is what a protest hearing reads.