Question of the week:
Situation:
W and L are overlapped approaching an offset mark on Starboard Tack. Within the zone. W is ahead by about 1/2 to 3/4 boat length There is another boat A in front of W, that is clear ahead and starting to round.. The mark is to rounded to port with no tack involved.
W and L are carrying more speed than the A boat. W falls off to avoid hitting the clear ahead boat. L cries foul for W coming down on him. W says he was due mark room and had to give room to the boat ahead.
The Call:
1. Determine the ROW (Right of Way) boat or boats. A is clear ahead of W and L and is the ROW boat. L is Leeward of W and and is the ROW boat over W.
18.2 Giving Mark-Room
(a) When boats are overlapped the outside boat shall give the inside boat mark-room, unless rule 18.2(b) applies.
(b) If boats are overlapped when the first of them reaches the zone, the outside boat at that moment shall thereafter give the inside boat mark-room. If a boat is clear ahead when she reaches the zone, the boat clear astern at that moment shall thereafter give her mark-room.
Mark-Room
Room for a boat to sail to the mark, and then room to sail her proper course while at the mark. However, mark- room does not include room to tack unless the boat is overlapped to windward and on the inside of the boat required to give mark-room.
2. W is overtaking A but must stay clear of A as she is entitled to Mark-Room. W is entitled to Mark-Room from L because she is the inside overlapped boat at the zone. L must give W Mark-Room to round the Mark in a seaman like manner. Since W must also give Mark-Room to A, L must allow W room to avoid A and still give W enough Mark-Room to sail to the mark and while at the mark, sail her proper course.
3. If L failed to allow Mark-Room to W and room for W to avoid A, then W would be exonerated under Rule 18.5 for breaking rule 11.
18.5 Exoneration
When a boat is taking mark-room to which she is entitled, she shall be exonerated
(a) If as result of the other boat failing to give her mark-room, she breaks a rule of Section A, or
(b) if, by rounding the mark on her proper course, she breaks a rule of Section A or rule 15 or 16.