Question 1
B reaches the zone of a port-hand windward mark on starboard tack clear
ahead of X. A approaches on port and tacks inside the zone ahead of X.
A reaches a close-hauled course and X has to bear away to avoid her because
of the presence of B. As a result X passes the wrong side of the mark.
X protests. What should the call be?
Answer 1
Penalize A.
As B reached the zone clear ahead of X, X must give her mark-room. After
A’s tack X must keep clear of her under rule 12, and can only do
so by passing the wrong side of the mark. A’s tack prevents X from
passing the mark. A breaks rule 18.3(a).
Question 2
The situation is the same except that A tacks slightly further to windward
and X establishes a leeward overlap on A. The presence of B prevents A
from giving X room, and X makes contact with A and the mark. X protests.
What should the call be?
Answer 2
Penalize A. Exonerate X under rule 18.5 for breaking rules 15 and 16.1.
A tacks inside the zone and X is fetching the mark. When X establishes
an inside overlap, A is required to give X mark-room. She fails to do
so and breaks rule 18.3(b).
X acquires right of way when she becomes overlapped to leeward of A and
must give A room to keep clear under rule 15. However, when X luffs, she
is rounding the mark on her proper course, and she will be exonerated
under rule 18.5(b) for breaking rules 15 and 16.1.
One boat prevents another from passing a mark when her actions compel the
other boat to sail the wrong side of the mark.
When a boat must alter course in order to round a mark, she is at the mark.