Rule 17 situation

Originally posted by Lukepiewalker Boats are either clear ahead, clear astern, or overlapped. There is no concept of overtaking (although apparently windsurfers still have it.

To some extent it is that, that causes the problem. It always seems to be that the most confusing situations for all are when Right of Way changes in rapid succession, which is exactly what happens when overtaking.

Curiously IRPCS rule 13 is specifically about overtaking and on the sea IRPCS take precedence over RRS, which makes this even more confusing.

It is probably why I got confused because I've owned cruising boats for over 10 years, which is more time than I have raced dinghies.

I fully expect this question to attract mass derision but here goes.

Edited by Do Different - 22 Dec 14 at 8:08pm

Its tricky though. At club level if you get a reputation for protecting your wind people will pass to leeward if they are faster, and often do it with minimal disturbance, which normally we want to encourage.

But if you get a reputation for aggressively protecting in both directions then there is no motivation for anyone to attempt to pass you with minimal disturbance, anything will do.

But the complication in this case is that in spite of the boats having different upwind and downwind speeds, the aggregate handicap is such that they are racing level, so they are effectively racing for a place on the water...

But overall I think its probably reasonable that the rules make it much more difficult to prevent a boat passing to leeward than to windward.

Originally posted by Brass You should also note that even if a leeward boat breaks rule 17, the windward boat must keep clear and if she does not she may be penalised:  a breach of rule 17 does not compel a breach of rule 11. Unless you are a miraculous long way ahead of the fleet, I can't see how you can ever afford to get into a luffing match when fleet racing.

Brass, thanks for your thoughts on this. Your summary is the revised viewpoint that I will take from now on - just assume that the overtaking leeward boat has rights, so don't let them go below you.