Racing Rules: Approaching a mark on port meeting running boats

Print Page | Close Window

Approaching a mark on port meeting running boats

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Racing Rules
Forum Discription: Discuss the rules and your interpretations here
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13653
Printed Date: 24 Jan 26 at 11:17pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Approaching a mark on port meeting running boats

Posted By: davidyacht
Subject: Approaching a mark on port meeting running boats
Date Posted: 12 Aug 20 at 9:39pm

I shall risk pillory ... but I am interested in a better understanding.

Approaching a port handed windward mark on port tack (slightly over standing due to a wind shift) I was confronted my boats having rounded the mark on starboard or port gybe. My solution was to sail high to avoid them then run down when there was a gap to round the mark.

But as I read the rules they had previously completed their entitlement for mark room and so this becomes a port starboard windward leeward boat situation ... in which case I could have held my course to the mark and did not need to anticipate that they were going to bear off in front of me after they had rounded the mark.

Or would I have right of way over the port gybe boats but not the starboard?

In defence of the venue, we have rounded this Mark for many years without the need for a spacer mark!

-------------
Happily living in the past

Replies:

Posted By: Brass
Date Posted: 12 Aug 20 at 11:38pm

Rule 18 does not apply between a boat approaching a mark and one leaving it (rule 18.1(c)).

You are required to keep clear of starboard tackers (rule 10), and boats that gybe-set onto port under your nose will be windward of you, same tack and required to keep clear of you (rule 11).

Posted By: davidyacht
Date Posted: 13 Aug 20 at 7:23am

Thanks Brass (as ever), what was confusing me was “A give-way boat is not required to anticipate a right-of- way boat's alteration of course“ referred to in the case books, which made me think that a right of way boat cannot change course into the path of another boat even if that boat does not have rights ... but of course this happens all the time, so I was probably over thinking it.

My instinct at the time was as you interpreted ... I had rights over the boats that had gybed onto port but not on those that had borne off on starboard.

-------------
Happily living in the past

Posted By: Brass
Date Posted: 13 Aug 20 at 8:15am

So the case you are thinking about is

https://www.racingrulesofsailing.org/cases/1116" rel="nofollow - RYA Case RYA1993-05

Rule 16.1, Changing Course

Rule 36, Races Restarted or Resailed

Rule 60.1, Right to Protest; Right to Request Redress or Rule 69 Action

Rule 62.1(b), Redress

A give-way boat is not required to anticipate a right-of-way boat’s alteration of course.

While rule 36 may remove the possibility of a boat being penalized because the race was recalled, a boat is entitled to have her protest heard. If it is found as a fact in the protest that the other boat broke a rule of Part 2, the protest committee may go on to consider whether redress under rule 62.1(b) is applicable..

As always you can't just rely on the headnote, you need to read the case.

In this case the circumstances described make it clear that this is a dead set rule 16.1 "P had no opportunity to take evasive action, since S swung directly into the collision."

You're certainly not required to do anything before you are close, on converging courses, but woe betide you if you don't act promptly once you are.