by tag1945 » Sun Feb 17, 2013 5:50 pm
Mark
Your first Graphic shows Blue clear ahead of Yellow. It appears that it is Yellow that is creating the overlap to windward and in that case, Blue would have full luffing and can luff up to head to wind and Rule 17 does not apply. Blue still must comply with Rule 14 and 16.
Your second Graphic Shows Blue obtaining an overlap on the same tack outside of 2 boat lengths and Blue would again have full luffing rights but must comply with any limitations such as Rule 14 and 16.
Your third Graphic shows, At position 1, that both Blue and Yellow are overlapped on the same tack. At position 4, Blue has luffed to head to wind and forced yellow to tack off to keep clear. Since you have not indicated how the overlap began, I cannot call this graphic. If the overlap began by blue overlapping yellow from clear astern within 2 boat lengths, the blue is limited to not sail above her proper course. Since luffing to head to wind can not be her proper course, Blue would break Rule 17.
Your forth Graphic shows, At position 1, Blue is on Starboard and Yellow is on port. At position 2, yellow has tacked onto starboard and she has obtained an overlap to windward of Blue. Since the overlap did not begin from clear astern within 2 boat lengths, Blue has full luffing rights up to head to wind. Rule 17 does not apply but Rule 14 and 16 do apply.
Your fifth Graphic shows, At position 1, Blue is on port tack and yellow is on starboard and blue must keep clear of yellow. At position 2, Blue has tacked onto starboard and completed her tack to leeward and overlapped with yellow within 2 boat lengths. Since Blue did not obtain the overlap from clear astern within 2 boat lengths, Rule 17 does not apply and Blue has full luffing rights and can luff yellow to head to wind. Rule 14 and 16 still apply.
17 ON THE SAME TACK; PROPER COURSE
If a boat clear astern becomes overlapped within two of her hull lengths to leeward of a boat on the same tack,
she shall not sail above her proper course while they remain on the same tack and overlapped within that distance,
unless in doing so she promptly sails astern of the other boat.
This rule does not apply if the overlap begins while the windward boat is required by rule 13 to keep clear.
Tom Germer
AMYA #6571