2009 rule 18 from SA

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2009 rule 18 from SA

Postby s vernon » Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:27 am

I modified this to be 4 lengths. It is from Sailing Anarchy.

Q: Leeward mark rounding
Boat A & B are sailing downwind. Boat A is approaching the leeward mark on port jibe (port rounding). Boat B on port jibe has an inside overlap, acquired from outside the four boat length zone. Boat A gives boat B room to round on the inside. Boat B rounds the mark but comes out low, giving boat A room to round behind, but above boat B. Boat B tacks onto starboard immediately after rounding right in front of boat A (still within the four boat length zone). Before boat B became close hauled, boat A had to take a radical evasive maneuver (duck) to prevent contact.
Skipper of boat B said that the tack was part of the mark rounding so he had right of way.
Skipper of boat A said that boat B did not have room to complete the tack onto starboard before clearing/contact (tacking too close). Can a tack be part of rounding, with all of it's rights?

A: Only when a boat (B) is overlapped to windward (by A) and (B is)on the inside of another boat (A) does mark-room include room to tack. When B passes head to wind, rule 18 switches off, whether or not the boats at that moment are overlapped. However, if B at that moment is overlapped to windward and on the inside, she would be exonerated if she broke rule 13 while tacking round the mark. If B is clear ahead and then tacks without keeping clear, she breaks rule 13 and there would be no exoneration.

me. I finally understand that rule change. Yippee. I just do not think it is workable for us in a lot of situations.

How could model boat sailors standing on the shore possibly judge whether or not these boats were overlapped or not by a few inches at the MOMENT when B passes head to wind? I suppose one boat or the other would have the onus (I know we don't deal with onus anymore.) of proving that there was or was not an overlap. I would guess the protest would generally be won by boat B if the "facts" are unclear. ????

Another thing - In order for A to be to windward of B as the two boats approach the (port rounding) mark, they need to both be on starboard jibe or B on starboard and A on port. I just thought I would throw that in for further understanding/clarity of this difficult to understand rule. If they were both on port jibe then A would not be to windward of B.

Did I get any of this right?

Scott
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