Rule 19 Room to Pass an Obstruction
Rule 64.1(c) Penalties and Exoneration
Rule C2.4 While Tacking or Gybing
Question 1
Blue and Yellow are sailing directly downwind on starboard tack with Blue
clear ahead of Yellow. The boats are heading directly toward a long seawall.
Blue gybes to port when she is at the obstruction. While Blue is gybing
Yellow has to alter course to avoid a collision. There is a Y-flag. What
should the call be?
Answer 1
Penalize Blue.
While Blue is gybing she must keep clear of Yellow, which she fails to
do. Yellow is not obliged to give room until the boats become overlapped
and, as Yellow has to take avoiding action before this time, Blue breaks
13.2. Because Blue was not compelled to break rule 13.2, she cannot be
exonerated under rule 64.1(c).
Question 2
Would the answer be different if the boats became overlapped on the same
tack before Blue gybed?
Answer 2
No - penalize Blue.
Before the boats become overlapped, Blue has right of way and can choose
to pass the obstruction on either side. As soon as the boats become overlapped,
Yellow acquires right of way and now she may choose to pass the obstruction
on either side.
When the boats become overlapped Yellow is required by rule 19.2(b) to
give Blue room, and Blue is required by rule 11 and then rule 13.2 to
keep clear of Yellow. When Blue continues to bear away and gybe, Yellow
has to alter course to keep clear of her and Blue breaks rules 11 and
13.2. Blue could have luffed and passed the obstruction on the other side.
Blue is not compelled to break rule 11 or rule 13.2 so she cannot be exonerated
under rule 64.1(c). Rule 15 does not apply to Yellow as she acquired right
of way because of Blue’s action.
If, by continuing to bear away Blue compels Yellow to break rule 19, Yellow
will be exonerated for that breach under 64.1(c).
Question 3
When Yellow establishes an overlap, Blue luffs and passes the obstruction
on her port side. What should the call be?
Answer 3
If when Yellow establishes the overlap Blue is not yet passing the continuing
obstruction and is able to give room but does not, penalize Blue under
rule 19.2(b).
However, if the overlap is established when Blue is passing the continuing
obstruction and there is not room for Yellow to pass between Blue and
the obstruction, penalize Yellow under rule 19.2(c).
If when Blue luffs she breaks the overlap, rule 19.2(c) will apply while
the boats are passing the continuing obstruction and Yellow will only
be entitled to room if she re-establishes the overlap and there is room
for her to pass between Blue and the continuing obstruction.