Question
Two close-hauled boats on opposite tacks meet at a windward mark to be
left to starboard. S has adequate room to tack and round the mark with
due allowance for wind and current but instead of tacking, S holds her
course with the intention of forcing P to tack to keep clear. Can P disregard
rule 10 if she considers S to be sailing beyond her proper course and
to have sufficient room to round the mark?
Answer
No; rule 10 applies. Rule 18.1(b) states that the boats are not subject
to rule 18 because they are on opposite tacks and the proper course for
one of them (S), but not both, is to tack. Therefore, when S chooses to
hold her course, P must keep clear. While in certain circumstances boats
are prohibited from sailing above a proper course there is no rule that
requires a boat to sail her proper course.
RYA 1964/2 |