Forum: The Racing Rules of Sailing

Two Obstructions One for Each Boat

Mark Bussard
We had an incident where two boats were avoiding an obstruction heading to a finish line. What happens in this circumstance?
Preamble: Boat A and C are racing and headed to the finish line. One end of the line was the end of a rock jetty seawall. The other end a typical channel marker.
Boat C established an overlap to windward and from behind on Boat A and the overlap was in place at the time of the incident.
Boat B was a cruising boat sailing on port tack not in the race.
Boat D was a small power boat.
Boat A was on a proper course to the finish line when the B and D boats became an obstruction and forcing A to take evasive action to avoid a collision.
Boat A started hailing to Boat C "coming up", "coming up", forcing C to respond by also heading up.
As a result of the course changes by boat A, boat C was forced to go completely head to wind in order to slow enough to avoid the seawall obstruction and then bearing away hard to fall in behind Boat A.

Complaint: Boat C indicated that Boat A did not provide room at the seawall obstruction. Boat A indicated they were forced to change course as the two boats B&D were in there way and were an obstruction.

☒ 


Created: 24-Aug-15 16:20

Comments

P
Michael Butterfield
Nationality: United Kingdom
Certifications:
  • International Judge
  • International Umpire
  • International Race Officer
0
The powaebat at fault, and the yacht next to it as they are on port tack. These boats are not obstructions.
The leeward boat of the two racing yachts may break rule 19  but is compelled to do so and is exonerated. 
The windward yacht should keep clear which she does.. 

As she could keep clear before the obstruction, she did not need room and thus would not be exonerated for sailing within the room she was entitled to. 

All were sensible, the racing yachts broke no rules or were exonerated. 
Created: 24-Aug-15 16:35
Philip Hubbell
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • Club Race Officer
  • Judge In Training
0
By definition the powerboat and the yacht next to it are indeed obstructions to A.
They are objects that a boat could not pass without changing course...
Created: 24-Aug-15 16:57
P
Angelo Guarino
Certifications:
  • Regional Judge
  • Fleet Measurer
1
Seems what we have here comes under the preamble of Part 2. 

When a boat sailing under these rules meets a vessel that is not, she shall comply with theInternational Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCAS) or government right-of-way rules. If the notice of race so state, the rules of Part 2 are replaced by the right-of-way rules of the IRPCAS or by government right-of-way rules. 

There are 2 possibilities it seems to me. 
  1. There is some local gov't traffic rule that applies in this area that gave the non-racing boats ROW vs A and C. 
  2. There is nothing special and the racing boats on STB had "ROW" over the powerboat (PB) and the non-racing port sailboat. 

Option 1: PB and port sailboat have ROW
  1. The non-racing boats are obstructions to both A and C
  2. A is inside, leeward to C (has ROW vs C). 
  3. Neither boat is yet at the sea wall obstruction
  4. C gives A room to pass the non-racing boat obstructions
  5. A alters course toward C and gives C room to keep clear
  6. C becomes clear astern of A when they are at the sea wall obstruction, RRS 19 does not apply
  7. No rule broken

Option 2: PB and port sailboat are give-way boats
  1. A, a ROW boat to C, alters course to avoid a collision with non-racing boats that should have given-way to A, but did not
  2. A altered course in such a manner as to give C room to keep clear
  3. C becomes clear astern of A when they are at the sea wall obstruction, RRS 19 does not apply
  4. No rule broken
Created: 24-Aug-15 17:21
Philip Hubbell
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • Club Race Officer
  • Judge In Training
0
The parties may deliberate this matter, if they survive the sinking.
Created: 24-Aug-15 17:31
John Christman
Certifications:
  • International Umpire
  • Club Race Officer
  • National Judge
2
I agree with Ang's option 2.  I suspect that the Inland Rules would be the rules that apply unless they are on a lake and then I'm not sure.  The RRS only apply between A & C.
Created: 24-Aug-15 18:09
John Ball
Nationality: Canada
0
Let's not overthink this - there is a first obstruction - two non-racing boats - that the boats racing avoided - Leeward luffed up to avoid, and windward stayed clear. No rule was broken. 

Then there was a second obstruction, the wharf, and leeward altered course and left room for windward. Again no rule was broken.

Applicable rules are R 11,16.1 and R 19.2 (a) and (b) and definition of Obstruction.

John

Created: 24-Aug-15 18:10
P
John Allan
Certifications:
  • National Judge
  • Regional Race Officer
0
While we are in the not overthinking zone:

There was no contact between boats.

There was no contact between a boat and an obstruction.

There was no unseamanlike manoeuvre.

Room was given
Created: 24-Aug-15 22:29
Rene Nusse
Nationality: Australia
Certifications:
  • Club Race Officer
  • Club Judge
  • Umpire In Training
0
Dealing with the non-racing vessels...

PART 2 WHEN BOATS MEET
(Preamble)
When a boat sailing under these rules meets a vessel that is not, she shall comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCAS) or government right-of-way rules.

IRPCAS
Does it apply: yes, assumed by the term "seawall" in the diagram.
Rule 1
(a) These Rules shall apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels.

Rule 12  (Vessel B)
(a) When two sailing vessels are approaching one another, so as to involve risk of collision, one of them shall keep out of the way of the other as follows;
(i)  when each has the wind on a different side, the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other;

Rule 18 Responsibilities between Vessels (Vessel D)
(a) A power-driven vessel underway shall keep out of the way of:
(iv) a sailing vessel.

Are boats B and D are obstructions? Yes, by definition...

Obstruction   An object that a boat could not pass without changing course substantially, if she were sailing directly towards it and one of her hull lengths from it.

Since Boat A is the leeward boat, C must keep clear.
As the right-of-way boat A may choose to pass an obstruction on either side. (19.2(a)) 
Created: 24-Aug-16 01:51
Eric Meyn
Nationality: United States
0
Taking the rule issue at hand out of the equation and rewinding a bit, Boat A could have tactically taken advantage of the entire situation and avoided all of the danger at the same time.  Enjoy her leeward rights until the last second and then fall off to avoid B &D.  This leaves Boat C to have to luff to avoid them, or tack while Boat A goes to finish and wins.  The crowd goes wild.
Created: 24-Sep-03 18:21
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