Who's right of way at Leeward Mark?

   Brass, the rules are there to ensure that sailing is a safe, non-contact sport.

 I agree that a boat that is not entitled to room has no rights if they try to force a passage. If in doing so they sail themselves into a solid object such as a steel navigation mark that is being used as a mark that is their problem.

However,  the boat entitled to room does have an obligation to avoid contact, and should not deliberately sail in such a way that the "passage forcing" boat is faced with either hitting a boat or the mark in such a way that there is damage. To do so would, IMHO, not be fair sailing and break rule 2. 

The boat entitled to room should sail in such a way that neither boat is damaged and protest.

Gordon

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gordon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Sep 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1037	Post Options Post Reply Quote gordon Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Who's right of way at Leeward Mark? Posted: 22 Oct 09 at 9:55am
	Brass, the rules are there to ensure that sailing is a safe, non-contact sport. I agree that a boat that is not entitled to room has no rights if they try to force a passage. If in doing so they sail themselves into a solid object such as a steel navigation mark that is being used as a mark that is their problem. However, the boat entitled to room does have an obligation to avoid contact, and should not deliberately sail in such a way that the "passage forcing" boat is faced with either hitting a boat or the mark in such a way that there is damage. To do so would, IMHO, not be fair sailing and break rule 2. The boat entitled to room should sail in such a way that neither boat is damaged and protest. Gordon
	Gordon

damp_freddie Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 20 Oct 05 Location: Aruba Online Status: Offline Posts: 339	Post Options Post Reply Quote damp_freddie Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 22 Oct 09 at 8:07pm
	I think gordon touches a good point here- i presume that the other boat was either 1) more experienced and arrogant enough to try it on 2)cheeky, aggressive ignorant....what ever their experience 3) misinterpreted the situation In cases one and two then a call on rule 18 and dispute over their 'room to keep clear' would be nicely followed up with a protest under rule 2- enough to DSQ them from a series if I remember case history! What ever, as in down-the-pub assault cases or COLREG incidents at sea, it is worth counter protesting and teaching the blighter the use of the room and the bitter taste of DSQ on revised results.