Team Race - CALL H 01      

Rule 12 On the Same Tack, Not Overlapped
Rule 18.2 Giving Mark-Room
Rule 19.2 Giving Room at an Obstruction

Question 1
Three boats A, X and B, all on port tack, are approaching a gybe mark directly astern of each other. A enters the zone clear ahead of X, and then stops just inside the zone. B bears away onto a course to pass to leeward of X. X then bears away to pass to leeward of A, and B and X become overlapped. B bears away to avoid X and protests. What should the call be?

Answer 1
No penalty.
A is an obstruction to X and B, first because they are both required to keep clear of her under rule 12, and then because they are both required to give her mark-room under rule 18.2(b). At position 1, X has right of way over B and rule 19.2(a) allows her to choose which side to pass the obstruction A. When X and B become overlapped, B must give room to X under rule 19.2(b).

Question 2
If X and B are overlapped when X reaches the zone of the mark, how does this limit the boats’ actions?

Answer 2
X and B are required to give A mark-room under rule 18.2(b). B must also give X room to pass between her and A because A is an obstruction (see answer 1 above).
When X enters the zone, she is overlapped outside B and rule 18.2(b) requires her to give B mark-room, whether or not the overlap between them is subsequently broken. If X has been unable to give mark-room from the time the overlap began, she is not required to give mark-room, see rule 18.2(e). However, if X is able to give B mark-room by slowing and then luffing astern of A, rule 18.2(e) will not apply and, if X fails to do so, she will break rule 18.2(b).
The presence of A may mean both X and B have to pass the wrong side of the mark.


A boat racing is an obstruction for other boats if and only if they are required to keep clear of her or give her room.