by Kaluskap » Wed Jun 06, 2012 8:28 pm
Chuckles--this is an interesting one. Having read Tom's explanation, the RRS and several other online interpretations, I'll put forth the "interpretation" that--for OUR TYPICAL LEEWARD MARK followed by direct UPWIND leg course configuration--there is actually "never" allowance for a tactical rounding. Having thrown that grenade out there, here's my thinking (and the fact that the RRS allows such interpretations indicates a long way to go on their part in constructing proper rules). I'll refer to rule #s only when the rule is not obvious.
First, my key assumptions here:
*In all cases your A and B boat positions (overlapped, A inside) apply
*This is a typical rounding, leaving mark to port
*In all cases, the boats will therefor EXIT the rounding on PORT tack (going into an upwind leg). Simple physics. This ignores the fact that they may immediately tack onto starboard...but that is AFTER the rounding.
*We use the offered definition of "proper course" which assumes course behavior ..."in the absence of the other boats referred to..." SO...my key assumption here is that you ONLY desire to perform the tactical rounding BECAUSE of the other boats and without the other boats in or near "the circle" you would sail directly to and around the mark ("seamanlike rounding"). If you don't buy this assumption, then my below cases fall apart (well...some of them...you'll see why).
*As noted above, this is a classic leeward mark, not, say a mid-leg downwind mark requiring an easy rounding, but a mark that has us going from a run to a beat, which is your envisioned case, right?
So, for the cases that drive my analysis, it all comes down to who's the right of way (ROW) boat vs the give-room (GR) boat, and what tack each is on approaching our typical leeward mark.
*Case 1) your case: BOTH on PORT tack, A inside. Given the overlap, B is both the ROW and the GR boat. He gives room to A to round, but A must keep clear of B. No allowance required therefore of B to allow A to bear down for a tactical rounding. This is likely the EASIEST case.
*Case 2) Approaching on different tacks, A on STBD, B on PORT. A is now ROW boat, B is GR. You'd think boat A can do as he pleases, but the RRS makes an exception when a boat has to gybe at the mark (RRS18.4). In this case the boat A is required to sail proper course until the gybe is complete. Proper course under my assumption is a seamanlike rounding, NOT a tactical rounding. Again, no tactical rounding allowance required.
*Case 3) BOTH on STBD tack: Same as Case 2. A is ROW, B is GR. A has to gybe. No allowance for tactical rounding under 18.4, again.
*Case 4) Approaching on different tacks, A on PORT, B on STBD: Same situation as A. B is both the ROW and the GR boat. B must give room, but A must keep clear (B is STBD), and since A must keep clear there is no allowance for A to bear down into B for the "tactical" rounding.
So...four options in this situation, no tactical rounding allowed. Again--and this is the beauty of interpretation--if Chuck can say with a straight face that his "proper course" is ALWAYS an "enter wide, exit close" rounding--even WITHOUT the other boats in proximity, he has an argument for a tactical rounding but ONLY in cases 2 and 3 where A is the ROW boat. In many writeups I've seen that interpretation--that if the inside boat is ROW boat, then he can do the tactical rounding. However, I think the spirit of the definitions of "proper course" and "mark room" ("...to sail TO the mark, and then to sail proper course while AT the mark") are that the inside boats sails directly to, and then around, the mark.
Now...if we want to analyze the meanings of "TO" and "AT", thats a different thread. And I'm out of wind...though simple in principle, this took way too many words.
So...what did I miss? Please chime in, those of you who have real experience interpreting the RRS....thanks! This is one that comes up all the time and insight is appreciated.
Bruce W.
#663
BD Walton
#633