How to Perform a Safe Ducking Maneuver in Sailing

If you're in doubt of crossing and don't have rights, you'd better duck and be decisive about it. Safe ducking will keep the insurance companies off your back and will keep you out of the protest room, the shipyard and the hospital.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Sailboat Racing Rule Book
• 1 Air Horns
• 1 Pair Binoculars
• 1 Pair Sailing Gloves
• Main Sheets
• Sailboats
• Tiller Extensions
• Winch Handles

1. Know your rights. If you don't have rights, be prepared to maneuver around your competitor.
2. Communicate with your crew members, and tell them to assume their ducking roles.
3. Wave the converging boat ahead.
4. Appoint a crew member to help with calling out distances.
5. Drive from the low side to give you a better view of the traffic to the leeward side.
6. Ease your traveler and main sheet, and crack off just a bit on the jib to give the helmsman greater control.
7. Fall off early enough to avoid any drastic maneuvers, and then head up as soon as it's safe.
8. Readjust for upwind sailing once clear.

Tips & Warnings

• Put some speed in the bank. By falling off and easing your sails, you can maintain maximum boat speed, giving you the room to duck without losing ground.
• Understand that being greedy and chancing a cross can cause you to lose the entire regatta - not just a boat length.
• Be safe. You'll have more fun racing if everyone on the course comes home with limbs in tact.
• No collision is worth the risk. Injury and even death can result from a sailboat collision.