2 boats proceeding on rhumb line course to the leeward mark, both on starboard tack, dead downwind with booms at right angles to the hull. Boats are Lasers.

 

Boat A is clear ahead.

 

Boat B is clear astern and to leeward.

 

Boat B overtakes boat A and overlaps close to A and in doing so sails over the mainsheet of A which is drooping from the end of the boom to the port stern corner. Both boats were and continue sailing straight ahead and neither alters course. B continues forward until its mast hits the boom of A. Once B sails over A's mainsheet, A is unable to manuever.

 

B claims A failed to give room to his overlap.

 

A claims B failed to give A room to keep clear.

 

Opinions?

 

MrBill

I would say B was at fault for sailing in to a gap that didn't really exist and expecting A to get out the way when she had no right to make that call.

I suppose B could argue that when the contact took place they were overlapped but I am sure there is something in the rules about sailing in to non navigable water somewhere (unless that is part of IRPCS which you fall back to).

Rule 12:

Then changes to Rule 11:

And B's actions are limited by Rule 17:

Depends where it hit the mainsheet, OP doesn't say - if it was near the boom its going to be well forward of the transom on a run.

But as soon as B overlapped then the onus is then on A to keep clear - A's line to the mark does not matter.

What gap  - OP doesn't say anything about gap so i have assumed clear water - therefore the last rule quote is valid and A must stay clear.

 

This same scenario has also occurred on the starting line in a number of races: A is approaching the line and luffing with his boom out at about 45 degrees. B comes from behind and sails into the gap between A's hull and the end of the boom but usually further away and so the end of the boom strikes B.

If all A has to do to start keeping clear is pull in the mainsheet, she doesn't need much time/room to keep clear. She must start responding as soon as the overlap is established.  If while A is pointing up and sheeting in B hits the mainsheet, B was in the wrong. If she attempts to do nothing and just shouts about room/time then A is in the wrong.

The "proper course" thing is a red herring.  If B overlaps to leeward it doesn't matter if A has to tack/gybe/derig and swim home, as long as B maintains her proper course.  It doesn't mean B is in the wrong if A is unable to maintain her proper course while keeping clear.

 

First, let me define that my "boat" consists of the hull, boom out to leeward, and the mainsheet back to the transom. Thus my boat occupies an approximate triangle. Any boat astern (such as B) of that triangle and sailing faster is an overtaking boat according to the international rules of sailing, and must keep clear. There is no "overlap", as long as B is astern of that triangle even though the bow of B is ahead of the stern of A. If B is outside an imaginary line parallel to the hull of A drawn from the tip of the boom rearward then she is not an overtaking boat, and can establish an overlap and do as she pleases.

 

One may say that if the bow of B passes the stern of A out near but inside the tip of the boom, then B has an overlap. I say that no, B is still a boat overtaking and must keep clear and the overlap rules are not applicable.

 

In essence, an overtaking boat has no right to sail over the top of a boat in front (boat clear astern must keep clear of a boat clear ahead) just as in driving, a car behind must give room to the car ahead.

 

People focusing on the issue of "overlap" are looking too narrowly and forgetting there are other rules than those in the racing rule book.  International Rules of Sailing take precedence and B is an overtaking boat.

 

Sorry MrBill, there is an overlap as soon as B's bow is ahead of a perpendicular line from the stern of A.

 

As PeterG states 'if' the contact with boat 'A's mainsheet happened almost immediately the overlap was gained thus preventing A from keeping clear then, and only then, would boat B be at fault. However you state that 'B overlapped A within about 2 feet, and there were just seconds from the overlap to contact with the sheets.' The debatable point would be if A could have kept clear in the 'just seconds' before the contact with the sheets.

 

Sorry Jim, I can't pick up that link.

Originally posted by jeffers B established overlap from astern and must not sail above her proper course therefore as long as A was sailing her proper course (as both boats were Lasers proper course is the same for both). I would say B was at fault for sailing in to a gap that didn't really exist and expecting A to get out the way when she had no right to make that call. I suppose B could argue that when the contact took place they were overlapped but I am sure there is something in the rules about sailing in to non navigable water somewhere (unless that is part of IRPCS which you fall back to). Rule 12: ON THE SAME TACK, NOT OVERLAPPED When boats are on the same tack and not overlapped, a boat clear astern shall keep clear of a boat clear ahead. Then changes to Rule 11: ON THE SAME TACK, OVERLAPPED When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat And B's actions are limited by Rule 17: ON THE SAME TACK; PROPER COURSE If a boat clear astern becomes overlapped within two of her hull lengths to leeward of a boat on the same tack, she shall not sail above her proper course while they remain on the same tack and overlapped within that distance, unless in doing so she promptly sails astern of the other boat. This rule does not apply if the overlap begins while the windward boat is required by rule 13 to keep clear.

 

I agree with other posters that rule 17 was probably a red herring:  there was no suggestion in the OP that B was not sailing her proper course (but the proper course of the windward boat doesn't absolutely prove the proper course of a leeward boat, even if they are the same one-design)

 

Jeffers has left out rule 15 which is specifically designed to cover the situation where right of way transitions in an instant, such as this, where B (Clear Astern, keep clear boat, rule 12) becomes B, (overlapped, right of way boat, rule 11) on the instant she crosses the line abeam of A's aftermost point:

 

ACQUIRING RIGHT OF WAY

When a boat acquires right of way, she shall initially give the other boat room to keep clear, unless she acquires right of way because of the other boat’s actions.

But I'd add that the way I read the OP I thought that B really had sail over A's mainsheet.....I am interested in this.  Imagine it drooping under water - no contact obvious.

1. A luffs - gap opens.  A keeps clear, and has (arguably) proven that B gave room).

Now change it:

2. A decides to sheet in as part of his luff - his sheet hits B.  Would you find that B hadn't given room - or that 1. was available and therefore A hadn't kept clear.

Now try again:

3.  A initiates the luff by sheeting in, and without using the rudder - would that change your answer to my question at 2?

Matt

I understood the OP saying that B 'sails over' the mainsheet of A to mean that 'sails over and makes contact with'.

 

While it may be possible for the mainsheet of a Laser to droop and touch or go an inch or two under the surface of the water, I don't think the mainsheet is long enough for it to be  possible for the sag in the mainsheet to sink so far under water that another Laser could sail over the sagging portion without almost immediately making contact with the mainsheet.

 

Even if it was possible for B to sail into the space above the underwater sag of the mainsheet, once A luffs to get clear of B, the 'outer arm' of the sagging mainsheet will be dragged closer to and will make contact with B, thus proving that A did not keep clear, but leaving B with her rule 15 limitation.

Originally posted by sargesail Now change it: 2. A decides to sheet in as part of his luff - his sheet hits B.  Would you find that B hadn't given room - or that 1. was available and therefore A hadn't kept clear.

  Since they were sailing dead downwind, B as the rearmost boat was windward boat and thus should have kept clear.

Mine too, how I missed Rule 15 when flicking through is anyones guess!

I knew there was a reason. Plus (to be fair) gaining an overlap with only 2 feet of clearance is a bit dodgy to say the least (IMO).

 

Phil

This is an interesting and somewhat quirky scenario.

 

 

Consider the following diagram of the incident described.

 

 

RACING RULES OF SAILING

All the relevant rules and definitions are contained in the http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/RRS20092012with2010changes-%5b8222%5d.pdf - Racing Rules of Sailing which can be viewed and downloaded http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/RRS20092012with2010changes-%5b8222%5d.pdf - @2 and @3 B is overlapped (Definitions: Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap) on A and is to leeeward of A (Definitions: Leeward and Windward).

 

@1 B (clear astern) shall keep clear (Definitions: Keep clear) of A (Rule 12).

While B was clear astern of A, B kept clear of A. B did not break rule 12.

@2, from the time that B and A become overlapped, and @3, A (to windward) shall keep clear of B (to leeward) (Rule 11).

While A was overlapped to windward of B there was contact between A and B. A did not keep clear of B. A broke rule 11. This conclusion is correct, regardless of any suggestion that B caused the contact or caused A to break rule 11. This issue can be dealt with by exoneration as discussed below.

THIRD APPLY THE RULES OF PART 2 SECTION B GENERAL LIMITATIONS

Always leave rule 14 Avoiding Contact till last. If contact has occurred, then one boat or other will always (except in a couple of obscure freak situations) have failed to keep clear of the other (broken a right of way rule) and one boat may have broken a giving room rule (rules 15 and 16).

Rule 17 is a 'supplemental' rule that only sometimes applies. it doesn't apply in this scenario and we can disregard it.

Rule 16 applies when a right of way boat changes course. In this scenario neither boat changes course while she is right of way boat and rule 16 does not apply.

Rule 15 is the rule that is specifically designed to cope with situations like this where right of way changes over ('transitions') between boats in an instant. It certainly does apply.

There is no action of A that caused B to acquire right of way over A by becoming overlapped to leeward of A. Rule 15 applies and requires B to initially give A room to keep clear.

Room to keep clear means the space that A needs in the existing conditions while manoeuvring promptly in a seamanlike way to keep clear (Definitions: Room).

It is evident from the scenario description and the diagram that between the instant that B crosses the 'line abeam' and becomes overlapped on A, there isn't sufficient time or space for A to manoeuvre so as to keep clear of B. B did not initially given A room to keep clear. B broke rule 15.

FOURTHLY CONSIDER RULE 14 AVOIDING CONTACT

If contact occurred because B did not give A room to keep clear, then it was not reasonably possible for A to avoid contact, and A does not break rule 14.

Once B had achieved the close hook-up on A it was clear that A did not and could not keep clear, but B could have avoided contact by bearing away and opening the gap.  It was reasonably possible for B to avoid contact, starting from when it was clear to B that A was not keeping clear (rule 14(a)), and thus B broke rule 14.

If there was no injury or damage, B, the right of way boat would be protected from penalisation under rule 14, but not under any other rule, by rule 14(b).

LASTLY CONSIDER EXONERATION.

When a right of way boat breaks a rule, exoneration should be considered.

Rule 64.1( c ) provides that:

When as a consequence of breaking a rule a boat has compelled another boat to break a rule [the rule requiring that all boats breaking rules to be penalised] does not apply to that boat and she shall be exonerated.

In this scenario, B's failure to give A room to keep clear when B initially acquired right of way by becoming leeward boat, prevented A from keeping clear of B and thus compelled A to break rule 11.

THE BOTTOM LINE

B broke rule 15 by not initially giving A room to keep clear.

B broke rule 14 by not avoiding contact when it was reasonably possible to do so.

A broke rule 11 by not keeping clear of B, a leeward overlapped boat, but A is exonerated for breaking rule 11 because she was compelled to do so by B breaking rule 15.

On valid protest, penalise B.