Assumed Facts
As boats approach a downwind finishing line, a tidal current takes one
of them outside one of the finishing marks. She sails beyond the entire
finishing line, rounds the other finishing mark, and then crosses the
finishing line from the direction of the last course mark.
Question
Has the boat complied with rule 28.1?
Answer
Yes. When the course requires boats to pass between two marks at a finishing
line or at a gate, a boat complies with rule 28.1 if the string representing
her track when drawn taut passes between the marks from the direction
of the previous mark. She complies with rule 28.1 even if the string also
passes one mark of the finishing line or gate on the non- required side.
In this case the boat passed the buoy serving as a mark of the finishing
line on the non-required side before passing it on the required side.
See Case 90 for a discussion of a similar incident at a starting line.
RYA 2004/4 |