Rule 14, Avoiding Contact
Rule 16.1, Changing Course
Rule 18.1, Mark-Room: When Rule 18 Applies
A right-of-way boat need not act to avoid a collision until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear. However, if the right-of-way boat could then have avoided the collision and the collision resulted in damage, she must be penalized under rule 14.
Summary of the Facts |
Decision
P, as the keep-clear boat, failed to keep a lookout and to observe her primary
duties to keep clear and avoid contact. She broke both rule 10 and rule 14.
An important purpose of the rules of Part 2 is to avoid contact between boats.
All boats, whether or not holding right of way, should keep a lookout at all
times. Rule 18 did not apply because S and P were not required to leave the
mark on the same side (see rule 18.1). When it became clear that P was not keeping
clear, S was required by rule 14 to act to avoid contact with P (see rule 14(a)).
Before the positions shown in the diagram it became clear that the boats were
on converging courses and that P was not keeping clear. At that time S could
have luffed and avoided contact with P. Such a change of course by S would have
given P more room to keep clear and would not have broken rule 16.1. The contact
caused damage. Therefore, S broke rule 14 and must be penalized for having done
so (see rule 14(b)).
P was correctly disqualified under rules 10 and 14. S is also disqualified,
for breaking rule 14.
RYA 1971/4