Rights to water after unwinding

Incident is at a mark to be rounded to port at the end of a run/reach.

Boat A rounds mark the wrong way about six boat lengths ahead of Boat B. On realising his mistake A then gybes and tacks to unwind incorrect course all within the 2 boat circle. B is then within 2 boat circle and refuses to give water to A who is approaching from the opposite direction and will have to gybe to re-round mark within 2 boat circle.

Should B have given water to A?

Boat A looses her right of way under rule 18.2(c) as soon as her head passes head to wind. Which is when she tacks first to get back (RRS 18.2(c) final sentence)
If my drawing is correct, she then becomes inside boat when boat B enters the circle. Boat B has to give her room under 18.2(a). Which means including room to gybe.



Edited by Spyderman

Isnt Spyderman's diagram the wrong way around?

("Incident is at a mark to be rounded to port at the end of a run/reach.")

Sorry about that.
It's because we Dutch don't name the windward side, but use the leeward side to name the tack.... Bakboord (translates as Port) means that your sail is on the port side and therefore you say "On Starboard tack"
I know, it's our own fault in never changing that in the rulebook....

Anyway, I gather: "a mark to be rounded to port" means: you have to leave it on the port side, yes? So here's the new drawing:
It does not change the rules as far as Blue looses ROW from 18.2(c) after passing head to wind in position 6.
She then becomes inside boat under rule 18.2(a).
AND - this is different from the other way round - ROW boat under rule 10 (starboard tack)
She may not sail passed the mark further then needed to sail her proper course under rule 18.4. After her gybe she's windward boat and only entitled to room from Yellow until both have passed the mark.

This rule normally comes into play at a windward mark, where a clear ahead boat tacks around the mark. From the moment she tacks she is no longer ROW boat under 18.2 (c), but keep clear boat under 13.

Because of the unique situation in this case were the boat returns to go to the correct side of the mark, it also applies here.
But don't regard it as a "penalty". Normally a tacking boat is also a keep clear boat.
The final sentence in rule 18.2(c) just states that 18.2(c) is off, not any other rules.
So they apply as soon as the boat passes head to wind. If she's inside boat at that moment she's entitled to room. She's is keep clear boat until she has turned to a close hauled course, and then after that - depending on which tack she is on - either row boat on starboard or keep clear boat on port.
Rule 18.2(a) applies regardless.

Unless the outside boat is UNABLE to give room. a valid point already made by Garry.