Approaching the windward mark

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 sure I understand. Was he already on starboard on the layline and you tacked in front of him? If so, there are limits on how close you can tack, but you can - in theory - get pretty close. Basically you need to be back on a close-hauled course before he needs to start avoiding action. However if it came to a protest, you'd probably find the committee would expect you to prove you left enough room, which can be hard to do.

I did some expensive damage to a keelboat once in this kind of situation. While I am sure I did not tack too close, the other guy just took no avoiding action at all and ploughed into my windward quarter, producing nasty graunching sounds and cracks in the hull. I didn't see how I could prove I was in the right in a protest so I did turns, then made an insurance claim. It all got a bit unpleasant. Best avoided, I'd say.

13 WHILE TACKING

After a boat passes head to wind, she shall keep clear of other boats until she is on a close-hauled course.

we were both on the lay line but you had to tack round the mark. we were sailing towards it on starboard and then you had to round it on starboard.

Originally posted by flat is fast we were both on the lay line but you had to tack round the mark. we were sailing towards it on starboard and then you had to round it on starboard.

I still don't follow you - round it on starboard or to starboard? If on starboard, why did you need to tack?

From what I understand  ..... the leading boat is required to keep clear of the 2nd boat whilst tacking, therefore the solution would be to sail up to head-to-wind (do not allow the sails to tack) and hope that
1. the 2nd boat can't sail between you and the mark
2. the 2nd boat would be forced to sail to leeward of the you - enabling you to tack
If neither of those work, then you may have to wait until the 2nd boat tacks around the mark, then follow (worst case scenario)

In that case you have to keep clear of the boat behind as you tack and also once you are on port. This is why starboard-hand windward marks are used in team racing - they provide an overtaking opportunity. Not so good in fleet racing.