Question 1
A on starboard tack and X on port tack, both close-hauled, are approaching
a windward mark. X bears away and passes astern of A. A luffs slowly and
nearly stops head to wind with the mark abeam. While A is luffing, X tacks
to starboard and bears away towards the mark. A does not give X room at
the mark, and X luffs to avoid a collision. There is a valid protest from
X. What should the call be?
Answer 1
When A enters the zone, the boats are on opposite tacks on a beat to windward.
Therefore, rule 18 does not apply. When X has passed head-to-wind, the
boats are overlapped on the same tack and are both in the zone. Therefore,
rule 18 applies. There was neither an overlap nor were they clear ahead/clear
astern when the first of the two boats entered the zone. Rule 18.2(a)
applies and this requires A to give X as an inside boat mark-room. 18.2(e)
does not apply because the overlap was created during the tack and not
from clear astern. Although X is keep-clear boat, she is entitled to room
to sail to the mark and then room to sail her proper course while at the
mark. A fails to give this room. Penalize A.
Question 2
Would the answer be different if X completes her tack outside the zone?
Answer 2
No. However, if A is clear ahead when X passes head to wind, rule D1.1(b) applies
and X is not entitled to mark-room. By luffing, X keeps clear. No penalty.
Question 3
A reaches the zone of a windward mark to be left to starboard clear ahead
of X. Both boats are on starboard tack. A luffs slowly and nearly stops
next to the mark. X luffs and passes head to wind, and then passes head
to wind again back onto starboard tack. When X passes head to wind the
second time, she is overlapped to windward of A. Is A now required to
give X mark-room?
Answer 3
No. X is required to give A mark-room. At position 1, A enters the zone
clear ahead of X. Therefore rule 18 applies and X is required to give
A mark-room under rule 18.2(b). When X passes head to wind onto port tack
at position 2, rule 18 no longer applies because the boats are then on
opposite tacks on a beat to windward; see rule 18.1(a). When X passes
head to wind again at position 3, the boats are once again on the same
tack, and rule 18 therefore applies.
Because A was clear ahead when she reached the zone at position 1, rule
18.2(b) requires the other boat thereafter to give her mark-room. This
obligation remains in force provided that:
(1) rule 18 applies, and
(2) rule 18.2(b) is not turned off by any of the conditions in 18.2(c).
Thus, when the boats are again both on starboard tack and rule 18 reapplies,
rule 18.2(b) still requires X to give mark-room to A.