Rule 16.1 Changing Course
Definitions Room
Question 1
Blue is sailing to leeward of Yellow. Rule 17.1 does not apply. Both boats have
spinnakers set. Blue luffs Yellow. What are the obligations on Blue and Yellow.
Answer 1
Yellow is required to keep clear and Blue is required to give Yellow room to
respond to her luff. While Yellow is able to keep the majority of her spinnaker
filled and drawing she is not entitled to additional room to drop her spinnaker.
If Blue continues her luff so that Yellow, in order to keep clear, has to luff
beyond the point where she can keep her spinnaker filled and drawing, then Blue
must give Yellow room to drop her spinnaker.
Whether or not Yellow drops her spinnaker at that time, she is still required
to keep clear. If she does not drop her spinnaker at that time, then Blue is
not required to give her additional room to drop the spinnaker later in that
luff.
Question 2
If Yellow does not drop her spinnaker and passes head to wind to keep clear,
is Blue giving Yellow room to keep clear in a seamanlike way?
Answer 2
Yes. Blue may continue to luff as long as she has previously given Yellow room
to drop her spinnaker.
Question 3
Does either answer change if Blue does not have a spinnaker set, or if Blue
has a different type of spinnaker set?
Answer 3
No.