Racing sailors frequently encounter situations where port and starboard tackers converge on the open racecourse. While the rules clearly give right of way to the starboard tacker, there’s often a ...

The stress-free and safest port-tack approach (above, at left), aka Tim's Lane, is a port layline that's just shy of the three-boatlength mark zone with a tack below any boats that are overstood.

Many sailors believe that it’s best to avoid the port-tack layline whenever possible, simply because the rules are tricky. More often than not, the port-tacker leaves the protest room disappointed.