At Elon there were about 4 or 5 boats sailing slowly and tightly packed side by side and sadly a trailing boat sailing in a puff established an overlap on the inside boat at 4 lengths. In our case the speedy skipper stepped in a muskrat hole, made a hard right and we heard the sound of boats hitting each other, but the rules situation is what is important and can be seen at the Sailing Breezes website.

Scroll down to the last example on the Sailing Breezes web page showing a group of boats approaching the leeward mark.

http://www.sailingbreezes.com/Sailing_B ... 6/dell.htm



Scott

I'd say the outside boats in the example have to luff and give room or do penalty turns.

they have the option to go head to wind ( all three boats) and the inside boat which would have headway could clear the mark unincumbered