Laser Start?

There are 2  probable scenarios:

It is extremely improbable that  A was exactly head to wind . Head to wind is a very precise point, not a course  that a boat can remain on for more than a very short time. The rules only mention passing head to wind (a transition) and a boat is only considered to have passed head to wind when it is clear that she has done so (using the principle of "last point of certainty). Unless there is very definite evidence it is safer to assume that A was somewhere between a closehauled course on starboard and the point where she had clearly passed beyond head to wind.

The scenarios depend on how A got to this point of sailing
 
Scenario 1:

If A had luffed from a starboard close hauled course without passing head to wind she is still on starboard.
B approaches from astern. B is keep clear boat (rule 12)
B establishes an overlap to leeward and acquires right of way (rule 11). Rule 15 applies and B must give A room to keep clear. Room is the space needs in the existing conditions to manoeuvre in aseamanlike manner -which for a Laser stopped or sailing very slowly means room to bear away (more to full and by rather than close-hauled). If A does this promptly when B establishes the overlap (not before) than B must give A room to do so. If there is contact whilst A is acting promptly to keep clear then B has broken rule 15.

2 If A has clearly passed beyond head to wind and either returned to starboard tack (without reaching close hauled) or  passed head to wind having been on port tack, but has yet to reach a starboard close-hauled course, then rule 13 applies and A is a keep clear boat.

B does not acquire right of way when she establishes an overlap as she was already ROW boat (see rule 15). A must keep clear. However, if B changes course then rule 16.1 applies and B must give room to A to keep clear.

Hope this is clear

Gordon

Blueboy,
Contact without protest, both DSQ.

I would say the windward boat's case sounds good.


OP
Whoever first used the word 'overtaking' gets DSQ'd and has to get a round in, unless of course the incident was after sunset.

Basic Principle:
... a body off rules that they are expected to obey and enforce...

A rule was broken, if you are in the right you should protest, if you are in the wrong or unsure you should accept a penalty.








OK I admit my knowledge of R14 was out of date, that's why I read this forum, I've learned something, thanks!
(10 years is not very long in terms of rules knowledge around Portsmouth, when did 'overtaking' leave the rule book?, I heard it from a sailing sec last month I do believe!)

Originally posted by blueboy Gordon, would welcome an opinion on a related situation. Prestart, keelboats L and W are overlapped, both on starboard, luffing and almost stationary. W is clear of L by around a foot and every time W goes up, L closes the gap again to maximise her own gap to leeward. At the gun, L bore away sharply, rotating around her keel and causing her stern to swing to windward and make contact with W. No damage resulted. I was W. It appeared to me I was making all possible effort to keep clear, particularly since every time I went up, L also went up and that L broke 16.1 (changed course to bear away and did not give me room to keep clear). L considered I broke rule 11. There was no protest.

Keep Clear One boat keeps clear of another if the other can sail her course
with no need to take avoiding action and, when the boats are overlapped on
the same tack, if the leeward boat can change course in both directions
without immediately making contact with the windward boat.

If a witness had protested both boats what would have been the outcome?