No and no. rule 18.1(a) disapplies the whole of rule 18 between boats on opposite tacks on a beat to windward as is the case here. It follows that the rule that applies here is rule 10 and P must keep clear of S.

You didn't say whether the finish was upwind or downwind. Rule 18 applies at a downwind finish.

if port tacks in the zone 18.3 would apply at the pin end. this makes her life more difficult.

In the drawing that I see the port boat never needs room from the starboard boat even if starboard continued to sail to finish port has to keep clear upwind or downwind.

peter vancolen
said
This may seem like a dumb question, but does a Port tack boat have Room To Finish?

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Port is not entitled to room to cross the finishing line, but if she is approaching a finishing mark then she may be entitled to mark-room, although not with boats on opposite tacks on a beat to windward as you have diagrammed.

Is that what you were after?

What about case 132 John? ;)

Not sure what part you are pointing Case 132 at, but is not the course she would sail to finish as soon as possible in the absence of all other boats for each of boats R and G a close-hauled course or above?, that is, to stand on on their existing courses?

In the second diagram,in the zone of the race committee vessel, wouldn't G, in the absence of R, stand on for about half a boat length, then luff across the finishing line?

So both boats are on a beat to windward and rule 18 doesn't apply. Rule 18 would, of course apply to two boats on the same tack approaching a finishing mark.

John,

I agree that rule 18 is not on as the boats are situated in the diagram here. However, Port will likely shoot for the line and per your comment in another post, Rule 18 becomes applicable as soon as her bow crosses the finish line. I don't agree with your interpretation, but I thought I'd bring it up for discussion. As I see it your view of 132 causes immense problems in such situations as this.

I cannot agree that 18 ever applies here.
I think if you think it does you should put an interpretation to world sailing as this change is so important and unexpected.

Mike,

You've convinced me .

Case 132 is not a complete definition, it's one example of when a boat is on a beat to windward.

The just over the finishing line case is another example where a boat needs to sail a close hauled course.

As long as we are so far afield from original question what do you think about this:

If red began a perfect tack right where the second illustration, I believe he might be able to do a slam dunk in absence of the committee boat. However the committee boat is there. About the time time red hit the finish line, green will need to fall off toward red to miss the committee boat. This takes green into red before red clears finish line. Both boats shout "protest" and fly red flag. No one does turns but there is lots of shouting. Both boats remain seaworthy and no crew are injured.\

Did red finish?
What rules did red break?
What rules did green break?
Is red, green or both or neither tossed?

Lloyd

I think the diagram is meant to show G just able to pass the race committee vessel without changing course, but let's suppose that she does need to, and suppose that R tacks as you have described.

R certainly needs to take action to keep clear of G, and tacking is going to get her across the finishing line faster than ducking G.

While R is luffing into her tack, rule 10 continues to apply.

The instant R passes head to wind:

• rule 13, instead of rule 10 becomes the applicable right of way rule, but R remains the give way boat
• boats will be on the same tack, in the zone of a mark: rule 18 will apply, not rule 18.2( b ), because neither was clear astern or overlapped at the zone, not rule 18.3, because it's a starboard mark, so rule 18.2( a ): G is overlapped inside R, so R is now required to give G mark-room, as well as to keep clear of her.

When R reaches her close hauled course on starboard she will be on G's lee bow,( to slam dunk on top of G to windward (and thus inside between G and the mark, R would need to be able to cross clean ahead of G: as diagrammed, boats are on collision course, bow to bow) , G will become leeward, right of way boat (rule 11), required, initially, to give T room to keep clear, including room for G to comply with her rule 31 obligation not to touch the race committee vessel, and R continues to be required to give G mark-room.

When the bow of R crosses the finishing line, from the course side, R finishes. This does not affect her obligations to give room and mark-room.

When G bears away to avoid the race committee vessel, she is sailing within the mark-room to which she is entitled.

There is contact before R has cleared the finishing line.

G has not kept clear of R. G has broken rule 11.

R has not given G mark-room. R has broken rule 18.2( a ).

R has not given G room to keep clear and comply with G's rule 31 obligation, R has broken rule 15.

G, while sailing within the mark-room and room to which she is entitled, is exonerated for breaking rule 11, in accordance with rule 21( a ).

It was not reasonably possible for G to avoid contact. G has not broken rule 14.

R did not avoid contact when it was reasonably possible for her to do so. R has broken rule 14.

There is no injury, but notwithstanding boats 'remaining seaworthy', there may be damage. If there is no damage, R, the right of way boat is exonerated for breaking rule 14, in accordance with rule 14( b ), otherwise, she is not exonerated.

R, having broken some rules, in an incident while she was (still) racing was entitled to take a turns penalty in accordance with rule 44.

If, contrary to what you described, R, as soon after the incident as possible got well clear other boats and took a turns penalty, then she has 'unfinished' (Definition: finish ( a )), and would need to sail back to the course side of the finishing line and again cross it from the course side to finish in accordance with the rules.

Summary

Red finished in accordance with the definition of finish.

Red broke rules 18.2( a ), 15, and 14, but if there is no damage, is exonerated for breaking rule 14.

Green broke rule 11 but is exonerated in accordance with rule 21.

On valid protest disqualify Red.


Ok, now let's suppose G started off, back about 2 boat lengths,and R did manage to cross clean and slam dunk, inside the zone.

That's going to put G, to leeward with ample space to leeward of her to avoid the race committee vessel.

It's now R that is going to need room to avoid the race committee vessel..

R, beginning on port tack, tacking and ending up overlapped to windward of R, remains the give-way boat throughout.

R becomes entitled to mark-room when she passes head to wind from port to starboard. and while she is sailing within the mark-room to which she is entitled, she shall be exonerated if she does not keep clear of G or is compelled to touch the mark, in accordance with rule 21( a ) and ( b ).