Section G - The Leg of the Course to a Leeward Mark
MR CALL G2
Rule 16.1, Changing Course
Definitions, Room
Question 1
Blue is sailing to leeward of Yellow. 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 incident.
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 has a different
type of spinnaker set?
Answer 3
No