Question 1
X and A overlapped on port tack enter the zone of a windward mark that
is to be rounded to port. Both boats are close-hauled and X is keeping
clear of A. X luffs to tack and, after she passes head-to-wind, there
is contact between the boats. A protests. What should the call be?
Answer 1
From the time one of the boats enters the zone, rule 18 applies and A
is required by rule 18.2(b) to give X mark-room. Because X is overlapped
to windward and on the inside of A, mark-room includes room to tack.
Although rule 18 ceases to apply after X passes head-to-wind, because
the boats are now on opposite tacks on a beat, the subsequent contact
shows that before X passed head-to-wind, A had failed to give X mark-room.
Penalize A for breaking rule 18.2(b) and exonerate X under rule 18.5(a)
for breaking rule 13, a rule of Section A.
Question 2
The situation is the same, except that the contact happens while both
boats are subject to rule 13.
Answer 2
As soon as both boats are on starboard tack, the boats become overlapped,
and rule 18.2(a) requires that A gives X mark-room.
Penalize A for breaking rule 18.2(a). Because X is on A's port side while
both boats are tacking, X is keep-clear boat under rule 13 until she completes
the tack by getting down to a close-hauled course. X therefore breaks
rule 13. However, because rule 13 is a rule of Section A, X is exonerated
under rule 18.5(a).