CASE 59
Rule 18.2(a), Mark-Room: Giving Mark-Room
Rule 18.2(b), Mark-Room: Giving Mark-Room
from the mark was caused by giving mark-room to other
boats overlapped inside her.
Facts
Five boats were sailing directly downwind to a leeward mark to be left to
port. Four of them were overlapped in line with A nearest the mark. The
fifth boat, E, was clear astern of A, B and C when those three boats reached
the zone. When D came abreast of the mark and turned to round it, E became
overlapped inside D. This occurred after E had already reached the zone and
before D reached it. E rounded the mark behind A, B and C but inside D,
which was able to give mark-room to E.
Question
Was E entitled to mark-room under rule 18.2(a) from D?
Answer
Yes. Because E was clear astern of A, B and C when they reached the zone,
she was required by rule 18.2(b) to give each of them mark-room. Between
E and D, however, a different relationship developed. In order to leave room
for the three inside boats with their booms fully extended, D had to approach
the mark on a course that brought her abreast of it outside the zone. When
E reached the zone, she was clear astern of D and D was still outside the
zone. Therefore, rule 18.2(b) did not apply between D and E. When D
changed course towards the mark, E obtained an inside overlap and rule
18.2(a) began to apply between D and E. E was entitled to mark-room under
that rule, which D was able to give.
USA 1982/250