Facts for Question 1
A, B and C are overlapped and on the same tack when the first of them reaches the zone of a mark. A is on the outside, C is on the inside and B is between them.
Question 1
Does rule
18.2(a)(1) require A to give enough space to B to enable B to give mark-room to C?
Answer 1
Yes. The definition Mark-Room uses the defined term "room", and room includes the space a boat needs to comply with her obligations under the rules of Part 2 and rule
31. The space that A is required to give to B includes the space B needs to comply with her obligations under the rules of Part 2. Therefore, rule
18.2(a)(1) requires A to give B sufficient space for B to give C mark-room.
Facts for Question 2
L, M and W are overlapped and on the same tack with L to leeward, W to windward and M between them. L has no proper course restriction and she luffs. Both M and W luff in response to L's luff.
Question 2
Does rule
16.1 require L to give enough space to M to enable M to give room to W to keep clear?
Answer 2
Yes. When M changes course to keep clear of L, rule
16.1 requires M to give W room to keep clear. The space that L is required to give to M includes the space M needs to comply with her obligations under the rules of Part 2. Therefore, rule
16.1 requires L to give M sufficient space for M to give W room to keep clear.
Facts for Question 3
The mark at the starboard end of the starting line is surrounded by navigable
water. When approaching the starting line to start, a leeward boat, L, and a windward boat, W, are overlapped on starboard tack. L is sailing a course that will pass sufficiently far from the mark that there is space for W to sail between L and
the mark. W sails into the space that L freely gives. After W is alongside the mark L luffs, and by luffing promptly in response W keeps clear of L. W touches the mark.
Question 3
Does L comply with rules
16.1 and
14(c)?
Answer 3
No.
W is required to keep clear under rule
11 and, as stated in the preamble to Section C, she is not entitled to room under rule
19 or mark-room under rule
18.
When L changes course, rule
16.1 requires her to give W room to keep clear of L in a seamanlike way, including the space W needs to comply with rule
31.
When a boat touches a mark, she risks damaging the mark and/or the boat or tangling the mark and/or its anchor line with the boat or its equipment. Therefore, touching a mark is not considered seamanlike and a mark is an object that should be avoided.
L breaks rule
16.1 because she does not give W room to avoid touching the mark as required by rule
31, or to manoeuvre promptly in a seamanlike way. W is exonerated by rule
43.1(b) for her breach of rule
31.
L also breaks rule
14(c) because she causes W to contact an object that should be avoided.
See also Case
146.
Assumed Facts for Question 4
The same as the facts for Question 3 except that rule
31 has been deleted by the notice of race or the sailing instructions.
Question 4
Does L comply with rule
16.1 and
14(c)?
Answer 4
No.
L breaks rule
16.1 because she does not give W space to comply with rule
11 while manoeuvring promptly in a seamanlike way.
L breaks rule
14(c) because she causes W to contact an object that should be avoided.
World Sailing 2010/revised by World Sailing 2025.