An owner having flown a protest flag should continue the protest, as it is often unfair to other competitors to withdraw it. Moreover, it may be fairly argued that an owner who observes an infringement of the rules by a competitor, and does not protest as ordered in Rule 30, himself breaks the rules by such omission, and subjects himself to disqualification by the sailing committee. If there were more protests there would soon be far less necessity for them. _Duties of a Sailing Master_ A skipper is responsible to the owner, his employer, for the correctness of the yacht's rating, as shown on her certificate; he must also see that she is properly prepared for each race, and properly raced; thus:-- He should not start unless the owner or a qualified representative is on board (Rule 10). He should have the yacht's colours carried properly (Rule 11). He should carefully study the written or printed instructions and follow them in every detail (Rule 12). At the start he should look out for his recall numeral (Rule 12). He should prevent any paid hand joining or leaving the yacht after the signal to start (Rule 14). He should be careful to comply with the ballast rule, and see that the dead-weight is not altered after 9 P.M. of the day previous to a race (Rule 15). He should see that boats and life-buoys are carried in accordance with Rule 16. He should be specially careful not to infringe any sailing rule between the guns at the start (Rule 17). If late at the start, he should know that the yacht is not disqualified (Council Y.R.A., 1881). A good skipper will know Rules 18 to 29 by heart. By Rule 18:-- (_a_) _A yacht going free keeps clear of a yacht close hauled._ (_b_) _A yacht close hauled port keeps clear of a yacht close hauled starboard._ (_c_) _When going free on opposite tacks the yacht with wind on port keeps clear._ (_d_) _When going free on same tack the windward yacht keeps clear._ (_e_) _A yacht with wind aft keeps clear of all others._ By (_b_) a yacht on port tack can be disqualified: first, if she strike or be struck by a yacht on starboard tack; secondly, if the latter luff, tack, or bear away to avoid being struck. When yachts which overlap are rounding a mark or passing an obstruction, the outside yacht must give room to and keep clear of the inside yachts (Rules 19 and 20). When yachts approach an obstruction close-hauled, and the leeward yacht cannot tack and clear the windward yacht, the helmsman of the former should 'hail for water' when required, and the two yachts must then tack together (Rule 22). An overtaking yacht must keep clear of an overtaken yacht, which may luff, but must not bear away out of her course to obstruct the passage on her leeward side (Rule 21).