Approaching the windward mark

Are you talking fleet racing?

If so, 1st boat just tacks when the 2nd boat tacks. There is no reason for the 2nd boat to go beyond the layline. Yes the 1st boat will be behind as a result. Presumably they got into this situation by tacking into the safe leeward position under 2nd boat and that was a mistake. They should have ducked then tacked on the starboard-tack layline to windward of 2nd boat.

After the finish, 1st boat explains to the race officer why starboard-hand windward marks are best saved for team racing:)

Since you seem incredibly clued up on this rounding the mark malarky, could u help on a slight problem??!! I would like to know, a) how you know which one is windward, and which one isn't, sorry that's such a simple question but im ill at the mo, and can't get my head round it and b) what racing rule 18 is - it should be something to do with rounding a mark....

oh well, it'd be great if you could help, ta!!

Like Knightmare I couldn't find a definition of a windward mark but I think his logic is good.

And my understanding is that the inside boat does have right of way in these circumstances and so the outside boat will have to wait for the inside boat to tack.  Even if the inside boat is behind - although he must be overlapped.

i had a situation at my club this weekend where by we were approcing the windward mark on starboard and my dad sailing the same type of boat behind me did not have an overlap but he said i tacked in his water who was in the right??

Not always true I think; Outside can be on dodgy ground even if Inside is not overlapping. The situation we are talking about is two boats close-hauled on starboard approaching a mark to be taken to starboard. Then rule 18 applies if they are both on starboard at the two-boatlength circle and Inside, if overlapping, has rights.

However if they are not bang on the layline and Outside tacks onto port outside the 2BL circle, rule 18 does not apply (18.1b). Therefore whether overlapped or not, Inside has right under rule 10 (port/starboard) and also possibly under rule 13 (keeping clear while tacking).