RULES QUESTIONS
April 29, 2009
This week I have been running through a bunch of rules conversations with folks who were racing last weekend or already this week. While the rules always seem to elicit discussions – with the so-called new rules in place there are all sorts of great questions popping up. Sadly, one of the things that I’ve been discussing quite a bit is how often people are not doing their penalty turns for their fouls. I guess some things never change. Remember: the most important thing you have in your sailing bag is your reputation.
This morning I fielded a question about a common rules scenario that happened yesterday on the Potomac River. Here is what the email said:
Boat A overlaps Boat B – A is westward and behind of B.
As both boats approach the downwind mark, Boat A’s boom is over to starboard, Boat B’s boom is over to port.
The wind is from 200 degrees, while the course is 360.
Boat A requests room from Boat B as they approach within 3 boat lengths for the downwind mark. Boat B informs Boat A that Boat A has no rights, because A is port while B is on starboard.
Boat A gibes about to avoid hitting the mark.
Question: Was Boat B correct?
First and foremost it is really important to frame any rules situation using the racing rules definitions. They can be found in the back of your rules book. Often times the definition will clarify a situation simply through the words themselves. Moreover, if you are going to file a protest it is imperative that your description be clear and concise, with out contradiction.
Based on the description I had a few follow up questions for the writer. I wrote:
Thanks for sending this along – I need to ask a few clarifying questions before I answer.
Boat A is or is not overlapped with Boat B? The first line is contradictory – a boat is either overlapped or it is ahead/behind.
Are the boats in the zone or not? As they approach and within are contradictory.
After boat A gybes – where does she go? Does she hit B? Does she go astern of B and then round?
Based on my questions here is what the author wrote back:
Boat A is overlapped with B.
Boats are in the zone.
Boat A didn’t hit B.
B turns to port and goes around and doesn’t hit A in this maneuver (see above). Oh … B tacks, doesn’t gybe (just noticed that, looking at the diagram).
They included the following diagram:
The diagram helps to clarify a lot in this situation. I suggest before you file a protest you make a diagram, make sure you have consensus with your crew and then read the rule that you think pertains to the situation.
In this instance the author realized that they had not gybed – but rather tacked at the mark. This sort of disagreement would lead some protests committee members to be more than dubious of the fact being presented.
The other important thing that is missing here is where – if ever – the boat that tacked away protested by saying protest and immediately flying a red flag. I would diagram the situation like this:
Ok, working with what we have I think the situation is fairly clear. Two boats enter the zone. STOP! Right there we know we are working with Rule 18 MARK ROOM. Rule 18.1 states that 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. That seems to be the case here.
The boats are overlapped. STOP! Here is where a definition is pretty darn important. Boats that are not on the same tack cannot be overlapped according to the definition of Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlapped. The DEFINITION reads:
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 boats hull and equipment in normal position. The other boat is clear ahead.
They overlap when neither is clear 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.
It is that last part that is the kicker, eh? They are clearly on opposite tacks, but because they are sailing downwind they are overlapped. Because Rule 18 applies – they are overlapped.
So they are overlapped – big deal. Well it is a big deal, because reading a little more into Rule 18 we find that Rule 18.2 states:
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 either boat passes head to wind or if the boat entitled to mark-room 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.
So the bottom line here is that the OUTSIDE boat (regardless of what tack she is on) is required to give the INSIDE boat mark-room if they were overlapped at the zone. In this case the outside, starboard tack boat (Boat B in the original discussion, the yellow boat in the first diagram, and the green in the second – sorry for the confusion) needed to give the inside boat (PORT TACK) Mark-Room. She fouled and should have taken a penalty.
Tactically what this means is that the downwind race isn’t to the mark… it is to the ZONE! If you are behind, but can get an inside overalp at the Zone… then you get to go on the INSIDE of the track. What a cool way to pass!
Of course…what is mark-room? Leave a comment with your thoughts and keep the questions coming!
Comments
8 Responses to “RULES QUESTIONS”
Got something to say?
About me
I am the owner of Gale Force Sailing and write about all things related to coaching, instruction and team building. contact me>>
Be in the know with the latest adventure, finest dark and stormy and whereabouts of Kristen Berry, owner of Gale Force Sailing. 
Show your true sailing colors today by purchasing Gale Force Sailing's speciality tees, mugs hats and much more.
Hey KB,
Really interesting rules scenerio. It made me think of some additional questions. Also, I wanted to let you know that I can’t see the diagram you drew…and I really want to see it.
What do you do if two boats are on starboard tack near the windward mark. One is approaching the mark (Boat A) and one has just rounded and is falling off away from the mark (Boat B). Their paths intersect…who has right of way? Could you provide your thoughts in a situation if they are both in the mark zone, and then another situation if they are both outside of it? Obviously, if they are inside the zone, the boat approaching the mark (Boat A)would have to tack to make the mark, yet it is still intersecting the path of the boat falling off away from the mark (Boat B). Maybe you would prefer a diagram, but does that description make sense?
Additionally, there is no difference between “tapping” a boat and hitting it, is there? I had someone try to tell me that because they briefly tapped or bumped my boat, they did not have to do penalty turns. I disagreed. Thoughts?
Thanks!
-Blair
Remember that the rules do not shut off at the marks. So the windward boat would be required to keep clear in the situation you have described. I’d love to see a diagram and make this a Question of the week since this sort of situation happens all the time at the windward mark.
The rules view contact as contact. The only exception to that might be in the case of damage. The rule is pretty clear. It states:
So there is not pass on if it was just a little tap. The take away here is to avoid contact!
What if by some freak chance there was not a windward / leeward boat distinguished at the time that they meet. Did there used to be a rule that if a boat has already rounded a mark, it has right of way?
I’ll work on my diagramming skills and get back to ya.
Hmmmm. Well you are either windward or leeward (on the same tack), port or starboard (on opposite tacks), or clear ahead or clear behind (same tack, not overlapped) so I think it is important to determine which you were.
Beyond that, Rule 18.1 (c) states that rule 18 does not apply to a boat approaching a mark and a boat leaving one. Does that help?
Question, if a boat incurs a penalty, 270 turn, 3 mins before the start, can she do her turn immediately or must she wait for the start ? Gerry Mac Nulty Ireland
Gerry – Thank you for your question. The short answer is YES, she MUST take her penalty immediately! If you read the “basicl principles” section at the beginning of part one of the racing rules it reads “A fundamental principle of sportsmanship is that when competitors break a rule they will promptly take a penalty, which may be to retire.”
So, if you foul another boat during the starting sequence you can immediately get clear of the other boats and take your penalty. That penalty is usually two tacks and two gybes in the same direction (720), but sometimes the class or organizing authority will institute a percentage penalty or even reduce the penalty to a one turn penalty.
It is worth reading the Sailing Instructions and class rules if you aren’t sure.
Thanks for your question, please let me know if there is anything else I can help with.
Question, if a boat incurs a penalty, 270 turn, 3 mins before the start, can she do her turn immediately or must she wait for the start ? Gerry Mac Nulty Ireland…
Gerry, thanks again for you questions. You are asking things that I know many folks wonder about and I appreciate that. She can, and should do her turns as soon as possible. So if you foul another boat, or hit a mark of the course (that is part of the leg you are on – like a starting mark) then you do your turn right away.
But, I am not sure what you would be required to do a 270 for? Can you clarify?