Question
A and X are approaching a windward mark to be left to starboard. X is
overlapped outside A at the zone and must give A mark-room. She does so,
including giving room for A to tack at the mark. At position 3 X has luffed
slightly while giving A room to keep clear. A responds just enough to
keep clear, but there is no longer enough room for her to tack. A protests.
What should the call be?
Answer
No penalty.
Mark-room includes room to tack for A because she is overlapped to windward
and on the inside of X. The proper course for A at the mark was to tack
and X gave her room to do so. The requirement for X to give mark-room
ceases when she has given A ‘room to sail her proper course while
at the mark’ (see Definition Mark-Room). At position 3, the boats
are no longer at the mark and, as a result, X no longer has an obligation
under rule 18.2(b) to give mark-room. A has kept clear as required by
rule 11.
|