Team Race - CALL F 02      


Rule 11 On the Same Tack, Overlapped
Rule 19.1 When Rule 19 Applies
Rule 19.2 Giving Room at an Obstruction
Definitions Obstruction

Question 1
Three boats, A, X and B, are reaching on proper courses. B is approximately two lengths directly behind A’s stern. X is overlapped to windward of B and half a length ahead. A slows, intending to luff X. X hails for room to pass to leeward of A and bears away, causing B to have to bear away to avoid her. B protests. What should the call be?

 

Answer 1
Penalize X.
A is a right-of-way boat and is therefore an obstruction to X and B. Because B is a right-of-way boat with regard to X, B may choose to pass A on either side. X must keep clear of B, but if B chooses to pass A to leeward, she must give X room between her and A. When X bears away between positions 1 and 2, she fails to keep clear as windward boat and breaks rule 11.

Question 2
Would the answer be the same if B is sailing a course to pass to leeward of A?

Answer 2
No. If at position 1, B is sailing a course to pass to leeward of A and X hails for room to pass to leeward of A as well, then at the point when X needs to commit to passing to leeward of A, B is the outside boat and must give X room under rule 19.2(b). If she fails to do so, penalize B.
If, when it becomes clear that B is not giving room, the umpires decide that X could have kept clear of B, also penalize X for breaking rule 11; otherwise exonerate X under rule 64.1(c).

Question 3
A and X are sailing on a broad-reach leg and are approaching Y, who is moving slowly. A’s bow is about half of a boat-length behind X’s bow and X is steering a course to pass to leeward of Y. At position 1, A hails for room to pass to leeward of Y. At position 2, X is overlapped to leeward of Y and there is no longer room for A to pass between them. A luffs to keep clear of Y and protests. What should the call be?

Answer 3
No penalty. When, after position 1, boats A and X are at the obstruction Y, rule 19 requires the outside boat X to give the inside boat A room between X and Y. However, at position 2, X is no longer required to keep clear of Y and, as a result, Y is no longer an obstruction. Because Y is not an obstruction, rule 19 no longer applies between A and X, and X is therefore no longer required to give A room to pass to leeward of Y. A keeps clear of X and Y as required by rules 11 and 12, respectively.

Question 4
Similar to question 3, except that A’s bow is about half of a boat-length ahead of X’s bow and X is steering a course directly toward Y’s transom. At position 2, A becomes overlapped to windward of Y. Shortly thereafter, X bears away and passes to leeward of Y. A protests. What should the call be?

Answer 4
No penalty. Rule 19 begins to apply between positions 1 and 2 when A and X are at the obstruction Y. Rule 19.1(a) gives X the right to choose which side to pass the obstruction. At the time rule 19 begins to apply, neither A nor X is outside or inside with respect to Y, and therefore rule 19.2(b) is not applicable.
At position 2, A becomes overlapped to windward of Y. A is now the outside boat, and must give X room between her and the obstruction under rule 19.2(b) if X chooses to do so. However, X chooses to go below Y. When X becomes overlapped to leeward of Y, X becomes an obstruction to A and Y and, accordingly, A must give Y room between her and X. A gives Y room as required by rule 19.2(b) and keeps clear of her as required by rule 11.

Question 5
Similar to question 5, except that A and X are steering a course to pass to leeward of Y. At position 2, A becomes overlapped to leeward of Y. Y luffs to keep clear and protests. What should the call be?

Answer 5
No penalty. A and X are sailing a proper course and therefore do not break rule 17. At position 1, A keeps clear of X as required by rule 11. At position 2, A becomes overlapped to leeward of Y. X is now an obstruction to A and Y. As the outside boat, Y must give A room between her and X, provided that she is able to do so from the time the overlap began. Y must also keep clear of A under rule 11. Y gives room and keeps clear by luffing.