Section E - The Windward Mark
TR CALL E12
Rule 11, On the Same Tack, Overlapped
Rule 18.1, When Rule 18 Applies
Definitions, Mark-Room
Question
B and Y are approaching a windward mark to be left to starboard. B is overlapped
outside Y at the zone and must give Y mark-room. She does so, including giving room
for Y to tack at the mark. At position 3 B has luffed slightly while giving Y room to
keep clear. Y responds just enough to keep clear, but there is no longer enough room
for her to tack. Y protests. What should the call be?
Answer
No penalty.
Mark-room includes room to tack for Y because she is overlapped to windward and on
the inside of B. The requirement for B to give mark-room ceases when she has given
Y ‘room to round the mark as necessary to sail the course’; see Definition Mark-Room.
At position 3, B has given Y mark-room as required and, as a result, rule 18 ceases to
apply; see last paragraph of rule 18.1.
Y has kept clear as required by rule 11.
When mark-room for an inside overlapped boat includes room to tack and she does
not tack, but instead sails clearly beyond where she needed room to round the mark as
necessary to sail the course, the outside boat is no longer required to give room to
tack.