Rule discussion of the week!

I covered Section A (Right of Way) rules and now I will look at Part 2, Section B rules:
Remember, Section A rules determine the Right-of-Way (ROW) boat, Section B are the Obligations and Limitations.
We will take a look at the first rule of Section B (Rule 14) this week.
Section  B does not have a preamble message, but does have 4 rules that show obligations and limitations to

SECTION B – GENERAL LIMITATIONS

14 AVOIDING CONTACT
A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible. However, a right-of-way boat or one entitled to room or mark-room
(a) need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear or giving room or mark- room, and
(b) shall not be penalized under this rule unless there is contact that causes damage or injury.

Keep Clear
One boat keeps clear of another if the other can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action and, when the boats are overlapped on the same tack, if the leeward boat can change course in both directions without immediately making contact with the windward boat.

Rule 14 is there for the purpose of SAFETY!  Our hobby is very expensive and a collision with another boat can cost several hundred dollars to repair!  This fact needs to be a primary concern of each sailor.
As you read Section B rules, you will notice that the rule is talking to specific people.  Rule 14 is talking to both the ROW boat and the Keep Clear boat.  Rule 14a is talking to the ROW boat.  Rule 14b is talking to the Protest Committee.  It can’t be emphasized enough the responsibility to avoid contact!  If you are the Keep Clear boat, don’t wait until the last second to attempt to Keep Clear of a ROW boat!!  A ROW boat not only has the right to sail a course of its choice, but has the right to expect the Keep Clear boat to KEEP CLEAR .

This weeks discussion is on the second rule of Section B:

15 ACQUIRING RIGHT OF WAY
When a boat acquires right of way, she shall initially give the other boat room to keep clear, unless she acquires right of way because of the other boat’s actions.

Rule 15 is talking to a boat that has just acquired the ROW.  This can be from obtaining an overlap to leeward of another boat on the same tack or as a result of another boat tacking or changing tack (gybe).  This rule requires the new ROW boat to provide Room and Opportunity for the Keep Clear boat to start Keeping Clear.  The Keep Clear boat must start promptly to Keep Clear.  This rule does not allow the Keep Clear boat to decide when to start Keeping Clear, but requires the Keep Clear boat to start Keeping Clear promptly.  The second part of the rule states that Rule 15 does not apply when it was the action of the new Keep Clear boat that shifted the ROW to other boat.  An example would be a boat clear ahead of another.  The clear ahead boat suddenly tacks from Starboard to Port.   As the clear ahead boat passed head to wind during its tack, Rule 13 applied to the Clear Ahead boat and the Clear Astern boat now becomes the ROW boat.  If the clear ahead boat was so close to the clear astern boat that the clear astern boat could not avoid contacting the tacking boat or if the clear astern boat had to alter course to avoid contact, the the tacking boat would have broken rule 13 and could not claim that she was entitled to room and opportunity under Rule 15, because the clear astern boat became the ROW boat because of the actions of the clear ahead boat.

Today we talk about Rule 16 – Changing Course.

16 CHANGING COURSE
16.1 When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.
16.2 In addition, when after the starting signal a port-tack boat is keeping clear by sailing to pass astern of a starboard-tack boat, the starboard-tack boat shall not change course if as a result the port-tack boat would immediately need to change course to continue keeping clear.

Rule 16 is talking to the ROW boat.  Whenever a ROW boat changes course she must allow the Keep Clear boat “room to keep clear.” The term “course” means ROW’s compass course so if the wind shifts and ROW changes her compass course to keep the same relative wind angle, she has “changed course.” Similar to the discussion above under Rule 15 (Acquiring Right of Way), “room to keep clear” would be: the space needed by the Keep Clear boat to avoid the ROW boat presuming the giveway boat acts in a seaman-like way (based on the existing conditions) promptly after the ROW boat changes course.  This rule applies only to a boat’s change of course and not a change of speed or angle of heel or a change in position of her equipment.  If the ROW boat heeled over the in a puff and contacted the Keep Clear boat, the Keep Clear boat have broken one of the rules in Section A.  Keep Clear boat should ensure that she pays close attention to the ROW boat’s changes and maintains enough space to keep clear of her.  Rule 16.2 tells the ROW boat that she may not change course that would cause  the keep clear boat, sailing to pass astern of the ROW boat and attempting to keep clear, to change her course to continue to keep clear.

Today’s rule is the last rule in Section B.

17 ON THE SAME TACK; PROPER COURSE
If a boat clear astern becomes overlapped within two of her hull lengths to leeward of a boat on the same tack, she shall not sail above her proper course while they remain on the same tack and overlapped within that distance, unless in doing so she promptly sails astern of the other boat. This rule does not apply if the overlap begins while the windward boat is required by rule 13 to keep clear.

Proper Course
A course a boat would sail to finish as soon as possible in the absence of the other boats referred to in the rule using the term. A boat has no proper course before her starting signal.

Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap
One boat is clear astern of another when her hull and equipment in normal position are behind a line abeam from the aftermost point of the other boat’s hull and equipment in normal position. The other boat is clear ahead. They overlap when neither is clear astern. However, they also overlap when a boat between them overlaps both. These terms always apply to boats on the same tack. They do not apply to boats on opposite tacks unless rule 18 applies or both boats are sailing more than ninety degrees from the true wind.

Rule 17 is talking to both the ROW boat and the Keep Clear boat.  If you establish a leeward overlap from clear astern of a Windward boat, and within two hull lengths, then the Leeward boat may not sail above her proper course while that overlap continues and any part of her boat is within the two hull length.   The Windward boat is always obligated to keep clear of the Leeward boat. However, the Leeward boat is limited to sailing at or below what would be her proper course in the absence of the Windward boat. Leeward’s proper course is a course she would sail in the absence of Windward to finish as quickly as possible.  You must also be aware that if the overlapped boats were required to steer a course around other boats, the proper course for the leeward ROW boat could be very different from a Proper Course in the absence of other boats.  There is an exception to the ROW requirement not to sail above her Proper Course, which is that the leeward boat may sail above a proper course, if as a result she sails clear astern of the Windward boat.  A question that is often asked by the Windward boat is, can the the ROW Leeward boat force the Windward boat to pass head to wind.  The answer is yes.  If the Proper Course for the ROW boat on a beat to windward and is close hauled and is pointing higher than the windward boat can, as long as the leeward boat is sailing close hauled, the windward boat must keep clear.  If keeping clear requires the Windward boat to tack, she must tact.   A good way to tell if a Leeward ROW boat has sailed above close hauled on a close hauled proper course, is when her sails start luffing.  Luffing sails are not the fastest way to sail around a course!  It is important that the Windward boat understands that her one and only job is to keep clear of the ROW boat.  If the Windward boat believes that the ROW boat broke a rule, protest her, but be sure to continue to keep clear.

Quiz of the week:

The answers are below the questions.
Remember that the black arrows are the wind direction!

1.Is the Green boat overlapped with the Blue boat?

2. Is the Green boat overlapped with the Blue boat?

3.  A.  Who is the ROW boat?
B.  Is the Committee Boat an obstruction?
C.  At 45 seconds to the start, is Green entitled to room to pass the committee boat to Starboard with Blue?

4.  Two overlapped boats at the “Starting Bell”!
A.  Who is the ROW boat?
B.  Can Green prevent Red from starting by sailing to the committee boat before starting?

Answers:
1. Yes. Because Red in between and is overlapped both Blue and Green
2. No.  Red is overlapped with Green and Red is overlapped with Blue “but not in between them”.
3. Blue
A.  Blue, Rule 11, Blue is overlapped with Green to leeward.
B. Yes, if defined as such in the sailing instructions and up until the boats are approaching the starting line to start.  Rule 19.1 and the Preamble to Section C rules.
C. Yes, Rule 19, Since, at 45 seconds prior to starting, neither boat is approaching the starting line to START at this time, Section  C rules apply.  Rule 19.1 states that Rule 19 does not apply to an obstruction that is also a mark that must be passed on the same side.  Since the boats are not approaching to start at this time, The committee boat is an obstruction that can be passed on either side and Rule 19.2 provides that the ROW boat can choose which side to pass the obstruction, and that the ROW outside boat must provide room for the inside boat to pass the obstruction on the same side.
4. Green
A.  Rule 11, Green is overlapped with Red to leeward. (Downwind start)
B. It depends!   If Green established an overlap to leeward of Red within 2 boat lengths, then at the starting bell, Rule 17 requires Green to sail no higher than her Proper Course.  Remember Prior to the Starting Bell, Green has no Proper Course and has full luffing rights over Red as the leeward boat.  At the Starting Bell, Green’s Proper Course would be to sail as fast as she can to the 1st mark which would also allow Red to start.  If the overlap began with Red overlapping Green to windward, then Green would not be restricted by Rule 17 at the starting bell and could continue to luff Red and sail to the end of the starting line before starting and forcing Red to miss the starting mark.

Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap
One boat is clear astern of another when her hull and equipment in normal position are behind a line abeam from the aftermost point of the other boat’s hull and equipment in normal position. The other boat is clear ahead. They overlap when neither is clear astern. However, they also overlap when a boat between them overlaps both.  These terms always apply to boats on the same tack. They do not apply to boats on opposite tacks unless rule 18 applies or both boats are sailing more than ninety degrees from the true wind.

10 ON OPPOSITE TACKS
When boats are on opposite tacks, a port-tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard-tack boat.

11 ON THE SAME TACK, OVERLAPPED
When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat.

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.
(c) When a boat is required to give mark-room by rule 18.2(b), she shall continue to do so even if later an overlap is broken or a new overlap begins. However, if the boat entitled to mark-room passes head to wind or leaves the zone, rule 18.2(b) ceases to apply.
(d) If there is reasonable doubt that a boat obtained or broke an overlap in time, it shall be presumed that she did not.
(e) If a boat obtained an inside overlap from clear astern and, from the time the overlap began, the outside boat has been unable to give mark-room, she is not required to give it.

19 ROOM TO PASS AN OBSTRUCTION
19.1 When Rule 19 Applies
Rule 19 applies between boats at an obstruction except when it is also a mark the boats are required to leave on the same side. However, at a continuing obstruction, rule 19 always applies and rule 18 does not.
19.2 Giving Room at an Obstruction
(a) A right-of-way boat may choose to pass an obstruction on either side.
(b) When boats are overlapped, the outside boat shall give the inside boat room between her and the obstruction, unless she has been unable to do so from the time the overlap began.
(c) While boats are passing a continuing obstruction, if a boat that was clear astern and required to keep clear becomes overlapped between the other boat and the obstruction and, at the moment the overlap begins, there is not room for her to pass between them, she is not entitled to room under rule 19.2(b). While the boats remain overlapped, she shall keep clear and rules 10 and 11 do not apply.

SECTION C – AT MARKS AND OBSTRUCTIONS Preamble
Section C rules do not apply at a starting mark surrounded by navigable water or at its anchor line from the time boats are approaching them to start until they have passed them. When rule 20 applies, rules 18 and 19 do not.

17 ON THE SAME TACK; PROPER COURSE
If a boat clear astern becomes overlapped within two of her hull lengths to leeward of a boat on the same tack, she shall not sail above her proper course while they remain on the same tack and overlapped within that distance, unless in doing so she promptly sails astern of the other boat. This rule does not apply if the overlap begins while the windward boat is required by rule 13 to keep clear.

This week rules discussion will be a brief look at Section C rules.  This section covers many situations and I hope you will take the time to ask me specific questions about the rules covering Marks and Obstructions.

SECTION C – AT MARKS AND OBSTRUCTIONS

(Preamble)
Section C rules do not apply at a starting mark surrounded by navigable water or at its anchor line from the time boats are approaching them to start until they have passed them. When rule 20 applies, rules 18 and 19 do not.

18 MARK-ROOM
18.1 When Rule 18 Applies
Rule 18 applies between boats when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is in the zone. However, it does not apply
(a) between boats on opposite tacks, on a beat to windward,
(b) between boats on opposite tacks when the proper course at the mark for one but not both of them is to tack,
(c) between a boat approaching a mark and one leaving it, or
(d) if the mark is a continuing obstruction, in which case rule 19 applies.

If you have read Bill Worrall’s article “Let’s Race With The Rules” in Model Yachting issue 158, he talked about applying the Section C rules at the starting marks.  Bill Worrall sent out a correction that explained how rule 18 never applies at a starting mark.  Most sailors believe that you are not required to give Mark-Room at the starting mark, and they are right.  If you look at the preamble to Section C, you will note that it specifically does not apply at the starting mark surrounded by navigable water or its anchor line from the time boats are approaching them to start until they have passed the marks.    Since the preamble is talking about your final run at the starting line to start, what about when you are making some practice timing runs at the starting line?  If you read Rule 18.1 (When Rule 18 Applies),   you will see that rule 18 “applies between boats when they are required to leave a mark on the same side! “  Since Rule 28.2 (Sailing the Course) only requires you to leave the starting mark on the correct side when you start, you can pass to either side of it prior to the start, but must pass the starting mark on the correct side and from the pre-start side of the starting line to start the race.  The Preamble to Section C covers the time during your last run at the starting line to start and it states that Section C rules (rules 18, 19 & 20) do not apply at a starting Mark surrounded by navigable water.   This would include a committee boat used for a starting mark.  If one of the starting marks was an end of a pier or a breakwater, then Rules 19 and 20 (Obstructions) would apply except during your last run to start .   Remember that the finish line is just another mark that ” applies between boats when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is in the zone.”   Finish marks have a 4 boat zone around them just like the other marks.  The starting marks do not have a zone as prior to the start, boats can pass them on either side and when you are actually starting, required to leave the mark on the correct side, at this time, the Preamble to Section C rules state Section C rules do not apply.   You should also note that Rule 18 provides Mark-Room  for boats at marks while Rule 19 and 20 provide only Room  and obstructions do not have a zone.  Always remember that Section A rules do apply!

Definitions:
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.

Room
The space a boat needs in the existing conditions while maneuvering promptly in a seaman-like way.

28 SAILING THE COURSE

28.1 A boat shall start, leave each mark on the required side in the correct order, and finish, so that a string representing her track after starting and until finishing would when drawn taut
(a) pass each mark on the required side,
(b) touch each roundingmark, and
(c) pass between the marks of a gate from the direction of the previous mark.
She may correct any errors to comply with this rule. After finishing she need not cross the finishing line completely.
28.2 A boat may leave on either side a mark that does not begin, bound or end the leg she is on. However, she shall leave a starting mark on the required side when she is approaching the starting line from its pre-start side to start.

How do we deal with a starting mark that is also an obstruction (committee boat)?

We now know that during your final run at the starting line, to start, turns off Section C rules, which include rule 19 and 20.  During the time prior to your final run, a committee boat would be an obstruction and rule 19 and 20 would apply.   Since a committee boat is surrounded by navigable water, you can pass it on either side.   Remember that Rule 28 (SAILING THE COURSE) requires you to pass a starting mark on a specific side to start.  Prior to starting, you can pass them on either side.  Prior to your final approach to start, if two overlapped  boats are approaching a committee boat (obstruction) Rule 19.2a tells us that the ROW boat at that time can choose which side of the obstruction she wants to pass the obstruction.  19.2b also tells us that when boats are overlapped , the outside boat shall give the inside boat Room  between her and the obstruction.  Remember that this requirement is for Room , not Mark-Room  and is turned off during your final run to start!

Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap
One boat is clear astern of another when her hull and equipment in normal position are behind a line abeam from the aftermost point of the other boat’s hull and equipment in normal position. The other boat is clear ahead. They overlap when neither is clear astern. However, they also overlap when a boat between them overlaps both. These terms always apply to boats on the same tack. They do not apply to boats on opposite tacks unless rule 18 applies or both boats are sailing more than ninety degrees from the true wind.

19 ROOM TO PASS AN OBSTRUCTION
19.1 When Rule 19 Applies
Rule 19 applies between boats at an obstruction except when it is also a mark the boats are required to leave on the same side. However, at a continuing obstruction, rule 19 always applies and rule 18 does not.
19.2 Giving Room at an Obstruction
(a) A right-of-way boat may choose to pass an obstruction on either side.
(b) When boats are overlapped, the outside boat shall give the inside boat room between her and the obstruction, unless she has been unable to do so from the time the overlap began.
(c) While boats are passing a continuing obstruction, if a boat that was clear astern and required to keep clear becomes overlapped between the other boat and the obstruction and, at the moment the overlap begins, there is not room for her to pass between them, she is not entitled to room under rule 19.2(b). While the boats remain overlapped, she shall keep clear and rules 10 and 11 do not apply.

20 ROOM TO TACK AT AN OBSTRUCTION
20.1 Hailing and Responding
When approaching an obstruction, a boat sailing close-hauled or above may hail for room to tack and avoid another boat on the same tack. After a boat hails,
(a) she shall give the hailed boat time to respond;
(b) the hailed boat shall respond either by tacking as soon as possible, or by immediately replying ‘You tack’ and then giving the hailing boat room to tack and avoid her; and
(c) when the hailed boat responds, the hailing boat shall tack as soon as possible.
20.2 Exoneration
When a boat is taking room to which she is entitled under rule 20.1(b), she shall be exonerated if she breaks a rule of Section A or rule 15 or 16.
20.3 When Not to Hail
A boat shall not hail unless safety requires her to make a substantial course change to avoid the obstruction. Also, she shall not hail if the obstruction is a mark that the hailed boat is fetching.

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.

Here is a 6 question quiz on the rules.  Let me know how you have done.

The answers at the end.

The Arrow is the wind direction.

1. If Red obtained an overlap to Leeward of Green within 2 boat lengths, who is the ROW boat and does Rule 17 apply?

2.  If Red obtained an overlap on Green within 2 boat lengths, who is the ROW boat and does Rule 17 apply?

3. Who is the ROW boat?

4.  Who is the ROW boat?

5. Who is the ROW boat?

6.  Who is the ROW boat?

Answers:
1.  Red      On the same tack with Red Leeward of Green.  Rule 11 and Rule 17 applies to Red
2.  Green   Green is on Starboard tack and Red on Port tack and must stay clear.  Rule 10 and Rule 17 does not apply
3.  Green  On the same tack with Green Leeward of Red.  Rule 11
4.  Green  On the same tack with Green Leeward of Red.  Rule 11
5.  Green   On the same tack, Green is clear ahead, Red must stay clear.  Rule 12
6.  Red      On opposite tacks, Red on Starboard, Green must stay clear. Rule 10

17 ON THE SAME TACK; PROPER COURSE
If a boat clear astern becomes overlapped within two of her hull lengths to leeward of a boat on the same tack , she shall not sail above her proper course while they remain on the same tack and overlapped within that distance, unless in doing so she promptly sails astern of the other boat. This rule does not apply if the overlap begins while the windward boat is required by rule 13 to keep clear.

Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap
One boat is clear astern of another when her hull and equipment in normal position are behind a line abeam from the aftermost point of the other boat’s hull and equipment in normal position. The other boat is clear ahead. They overlap when neither is clear astern. However, they also overlap when a boat between them overlaps both. These terms always apply to boats on the same tack. They do not apply to boats on opposite tacks unless rule 18 applies or both boats are sailing more than ninety degrees from the true wind.

Quiz of the week:

Question 1,
Can the Green Leeward ROW boat prevent Red boat from crossing the starting line if the starting bell had sounded?  (Note downwind start)

Question 2,
Can the Clear Ahead Red boat sail below her proper course to block the Green Keep Clear boat from overtaking the Red boat to leeward?

Answers:
1. It depends…  If the Green boat established an overlap to leeward of Red within 2 hull lengths, then, at the starting bell, Rule 17 requires the Green boat to not sail above her proper course.  Since the Green boat’s proper course is to sail to the 1st mark, she is required to sail that course to that mark which would required her to cross the starting line and which would allow the Red boat to also cross the line to start.   If the overlap began by the Red boat overtaking the Green boat to windward, then Green boat would have full luffing rights over Red and could sail to the end of the starting line, preventing Red boat from crossing the starting line.   Remember that this graphic is a downwind start!

2. Yes.  Until Green boat establishes an overlap to leeward of Red, Red can attempt to block Green boat by bearing off her course and blocking Green boat.  As soon as Green boat has established an overlap to leeward of Red, Rule 11 requires Red to keep clear of Green and Green is obligated under Rule 15 to allow Room and Opportunity for Red to initially keep clear of Green.  After Green boat establishes an overlap with red, Rule 17 allows the Green boat sail no higher than her Proper Course.  The old Rule 17 use to have a part 2 that prevented the clear ahead boat from blocking a boat attempting to pass to leeward.  Rule 17 today, does not include Rule 17.2.