Section B – Boat on boat
RS CALL B11
Definitions, Mark-Room
Definitions, Room
Rule 18.2, Giving Mark-Room
Rule 31, Touching a Mark
If rule 31 is changed to allow boats to touch marks, the mark-room to which a
boat is entitled includes room to round the mark without touching the mark as it is
unseamanlike to touch a mark.
Assumed Facts
The sailing instructions have changed rule 31 so that boats may touch marks,
except the starting and finishing marks.
At a leeward gate mark to be left to port, OL is overlapped on the outside of IW at
the zone. As the boats round the mark, OL gives IW room such that IW must
either touch the mark or make contact with OL. IW avoids OL but touches the
mark. IW protests.
Question
Which rule, if any, has been broken?
Answer
At the zone, IW is a keep clear boat (rule 11) entitled to mark-room under rule
18.2(b). Mark-room entitles IW to be given the space needed in the existing
conditions to round the mark while manoeuvring promptly in a seamanlike way. It
is not seamanlike to touch a mark.
OL did not give IW room to round the mark in a seamanlike way. OL broke rule
18.2(b).