Leeward Mark

Originally posted by Sam.Spoons Originally posted by Brass Originally posted by Sam.Spoons So, while my reasoning was incorrect my conclusion was not? Not sure what 'conclusion' you are talking about. That the inside boat doesn't have the right to claim mark room then proceed to wear round when the 'proper course' is to gybe. If they rely on being leeward boat they can luff but not tack so can't wear round that way either.

There is no meaning to the term 'claim mark room or room'. A boat is either entitled to room or she is not.

Let's look at two clear cut examples.

First conditions moderate, perfectly possible for a competent but not expert crew to gybe. Once the first boat has reached the zone rule 18.4 will require the inside right of way boat to gybe to sail her proper course. If she attempts to luff and tack she breaks rule 18.4 at least. If the inside boat wants to luff and tack she needs to do it before the zone.

Second, heavy conditions, where it would not be safe and seamanlike for a boat with competent but not expert crew to gybe. No boat needs to gybe.Rule 18.4 will not apply, and as the inside boat luffs, it's going to be rules 11 and 16, then after the tack rule 18 again.

In these conditions you would expect boats to be keeping plenty of separation so each tacking should not be a problem.

Somewhere in the middle is the case where the inside boat judges (and a protest committee would agree) that it is not safe and seamanlike to gybe (maybe characteristics of the boat) but the outside boat can, and wants to gybe.

Here's the rub. The inside boat can avoid problems by luffing before the zone but once rule 18 applies, she might have problems with 18.4, or else a protest committee might conclude that it did not apply.

Edited by Brass - 22 Feb 17 at 7:50am

Originally posted by Brass Originally posted by Sam.Spoons So, while my reasoning was incorrect my conclusion was not? Not sure what 'conclusion' you are talking about.

Originally posted by Sam.Spoons Originally posted by JimC In this case it all follows as Brass says. Inside may luff up but not tack, and may not sail beyond the mark without gybing. So if A wants to go beyond the mark and tack round she needs to plan early, slow down and let B go ahead. So, while my reasoning was incorrect my conclusion was not? Just asking as I would have gone with it if I was in that situation (except, assuming no other boats too close, I think I would actually, as the outside boat B, have sailed high enough to gybe and either try to cross astern of the inside boat A or at least be out of the way). Edit :- the op doesn't say if he was inside boat or outside boat but, I think, if I didn't feel myself capable of making the gybe in the conditions I would certainly not expect an outside boat to give me enough room to wear round so I'd try to get to the outside out of everybody's way.

Originally posted by JimC In this case it all follows as Brass says. Inside may luff up but not tack, and may not sail beyond the mark without gybing. So if A wants to go beyond the mark and tack round she needs to plan early, slow down and let B go ahead.

Edited by Sam.Spoons - 21 Feb 17 at 10:47am

Interested in your views on whether and how 18.4 applies in this scenario Brass.