Forum: Rule 18 and Room at the Mark

2025 RRS 18.3 Tacking in the zone

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John Allan
Certifications:
  • National Judge
  • Regional Race Officer
 RRS 18.3 Tacking in the zone 

Here’s the 2025 rule 

18.3 Tacking in the Zone 

If a boat passes head to wind from port to starboard tack in the zone of a mark to be left to port, rule 18.2 does not apply between her and another boat on starboard tack that is fetching the mark. If the other boat has been on starboard tack since entering the zone, the boat that passed head to wind 

(a) shall not cause the other boat to sail above close-hauled to avoid contact, and 

(b) shall give mark-room if the other boat becomes overlapped inside her. 

RRS 18.3 has been somewhat re-arranged, but there is no change in the most common case where another boat has tacked onto starboard outside the zone and is fetching the mark. 

The test of ‘fetching the mark’ is now no longer applied to the tacking boat, but is applied to the other boat.  This makes little difference:  it was always to be presumed that if the tacking boat was fetching the mark, the other boat would also be fetching the mark.

EDIT:  Putting the test of fetching the mark on the other boat closes off the opportunity for a tacking boat that has caused the other boat to sail above close hauled to just be miraculously unable to make the mark, so not 'fetching the mark', and not breaking 2021 RRS 18.3.

The rule is now to be applied in two steps: 

1.      Whether the other boat is on starboard tack and fetching the mark, in which case RRS 18.2 does not apply, and 
2.      Whether the other boat has been fetching the mark since entering the zone, in which case the tacking boat is required to: 
(a)    not cause her to sail above close hauled to avoid contact, or 
(b)   if overlapped outside her, to give her mark-room. 

What has changed as a result of this two step application is the situation where two boats tack in the zone.  Where two boats both in the zone on port tack, needing to tack to round the mark to port, when either of them tacks onto starboard, and the other boat then tacks onto starboard and is fetching the mark, RRS 18.2 will not apply, but because the second boat has not been on starboard tack since entering the zone, the obligations in RRS 18.3(a) and (b) will not apply, so no boat is entitled to mark-room and only the right of way and room to keep clear rules apply. 
Created: 24-Oct-10 21:44

Comments

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Michael Butterfield
Nationality: United Kingdom
Certifications:
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  • International Umpire
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0
I think the trigor may have changed and be hard to spot.  We now have to check when the boat passes head to wind, the completion of the tack is not necessary. Mike b
Created: 24-Oct-11 11:06
Murray Cummings
Nationality: New Zealand
1
Previously, when one boat tacked from port to starboard inside the zone and the other boat then passed head to wind from port to starboard and was overlapped to leeward, the leeward boat would be exonerated from rule 13 infringement as she was sailing within her  mark room.  This is no longer the case.
Created: 24-Oct-11 12:30
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John Allan
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0
Mike and Murray,  I think you might have in mind versions of the rule before 2021.
Created: 24-Oct-11 14:03
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Niko Kotsatos
Certifications:
  • Judge In Training
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If I'm not mistaken, in the past, this only applied if the starboard boat had been fetching since before the zone?

Does 18.3 apply between boats Green (just crossing HTW) and Magenta (already on starboard but not yet close-hauled) in the image below? I'd argue yes, Magenta is on starboard and fetching. She did tack inside the zone, so the second half does not apply.

Assuming 18.3 applies, then 18.2 doesn't, so what happens if Magenta becomes overlapped inside? She is leeward, but owes room and opportunity (RRS 15 & 16), and is not entitled to room???

image.png 21.4 KB
Created: 24-Oct-11 17:27
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Angelo Guarino
Certifications:
  • Regional Judge
  • Fleet Measurer
0
Niko, I think John's right in his approach and the rule is more straight forward.

You are a boat on port and you just passed head to wind ... if there is any other boat on starboard fetching the mark (inside or outside of the zone when you pass HTW), 18.2 does not apply between you. 

I have to admit, when I first read this my mind played a trick on me when thinking about 2 boats on port tacking in the zone and passing HTW exactly at the same time, but that singularity doesn't create an issue (after a gentle offline head-slap by an experienced judge knocked me back to my senses) .  In all cases .. if the windward tacks first, leeward first or simultaneously, there is always a boat on stb when the other passes HTW. 

Prior to passing HTW, the windward boat was entitled to MR, but MR no longer includes "room to tack".   Normally such a boat would necessary sail past the mark to the stb layline. The question will remain to be answered whether or not windward's MR will include room for her stern to swing as she turns to HTW on the stb layline, after sailing past the mark .. as part of her room to "sail to the mark".  

Acknowledging that windward's windward course "to the mark" requires a tack .. and the first component of that tack is sailing up to HTW .. I can see the argument that it does (and thus the old MR language about "room to tack" is unnecessary). 
Created: 24-Oct-12 13:22
Richard Jones
Nationality: United Kingdom
0
I think when they are both on port inside has mark room including  "to round or pass the mark on the required side" so this should include room for her stern to swing until she passes HTW. Then her mark room ends and R13 applies. It does seem to leave a gap as her stern will need to swing further possibly breaking R13 with no exoneration.
Created: 24-Oct-12 19:16
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John Allan
Certifications:
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Additional to the OP

Putting the test of fetching the mark on the other boat closes off the opportunity for a tacking boat that has caused the other boat to sail above close hauled to just be miraculously unable to make the mark, so not 'fetching the mark', and not breaking 2021 RRS 18.3.
Created: 24-Oct-12 22:11
Nick Taylor
Nationality: Australia
0
In my opinion 

Two port tack boats in the zone need to tack to round the mark to port. I am Just follow the mark room rules though here. 

1 Two boats enter the zone on port. 18.2a  ON

2 IF Boat entitled to make-room passes head to wind, 18.2a OFF by rule 18.2b and 18.1A(1) ON All of rule 18 is OFF.  Rule 10 ON. 
OR 
  IF other boat tacks 18.2a OFF and 18.1A(1) ON All of rule 18 is OFF.  SAME RESULT  Rule 10 ON. 
3 Other boat tacks in the zone 18.1A(1) OFF = Rule 18 is back on as 18.2(C) ON.

"18.2(c) When rule 18.2(a) does not apply and the boats are overlapped,the outside boat shall give the inside boat mark-room.”

So the result after both boats have tacked from port to starboard the inside boat has the Mark Room.  

You could add in the other right of rules 13/15/16 depending how close the tacking was but the questions are about Mark Room.  

   
Created: 24-Oct-14 04:11
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Angelo Guarino
Certifications:
  • Regional Judge
  • Fleet Measurer
1
Nick ... in the 2025 quad, when the 2nd boat passes HTW in the zone, the 1st boat to pass HTW is already on STB fetching the mark (even if they pass HTW at the same time), therefore 18.3 applies and 18.2 does not.  Neither boat entered on stb, therefore 18.3(b) doesn't apply.  No MR for the inside boat. 
Created: 24-Oct-14 11:29
Nick Taylor
Nationality: Australia
0
Angelo ....
I fail to understand what your saying. 
18.3 is never ON so how can "therefore 18.3 applies and 18.2 does not"?   

18.3 Tacking in the Zone
"If a boat passes head to wind from port to starboard tack in the zone
of a mark to be left to port, rule 18.2 does not apply between her and
another boat on starboard tack that is fetching the mark. If the other
boat has been on starboard tack since entering the zone, the boat that
passed head to wind"



 
Created: 24-Oct-14 18:29
P
John Allan
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NIck, let's step through the scenario you have described

 
Two port tack boats in the zone need to tack to round the mark to port. I am Just follow the mark room rules though here. 

1 Two boats enter the zone on port. 18.2a  ON

Agreed

2 IF Boat entitled to make-room passes head to wind, 18.2a OFF by rule 18.2b and 18.1A(1) ON All of rule 18 is OFF.

Agreed

  Rule 10 ON.

It will initially be RRS 13, but no matter.

 
OR 
  IF other boat tacks 18.2a OFF and 18.1A(1) ON All of rule 18 is OFF.  SAME RESULT 

Agreed

Rule 10 ON.

Again, initially RRS 13, but no matter.

3 Other boat tacks in the zone 18.1A(1) OFF = Rule 18 is back on

Agreed

 as 18.2(C) ON.

Do not agree.

18.3 Tacking in the Zone
"If a boat passes head to wind from port to starboard tack in the zone
of a mark to be left to port, rule 18.2 does not apply between her and
another boat on starboard tack that is fetching the mark. If the other
boat has been on starboard tack since entering the zone, the boat that
passed head to wind"

The second boat has passed head to wind from port to starboard tack in the zone of a mark to be left to port

That's the applicability condition of RRS 18.3, stated in the first clause of the rule, bolded above.

Therefore:  rule 18.2 does not apply to her and another boat on starboard tack (that is the first boat that tacked) that is fetching the mark.  This assumes that the boat that first tacked is indeed fetching.  If not, then you are right, RRS 18.3 won't apply and RRS 18.2(c) will.

"18.2(c) When rule 18.2(a) does not apply and the boats are overlapped,the outside boat shall give the inside boat mark-room.”

Only if the first boat to tack is not fetching the mark.

So the result after both boats have tacked from port to starboard the inside boat has the Mark Room.  

No, there are alternatives:
  • If the first boat to tack was fetching the mark, RRS 18.2 is disapplied by RRS 18.3, but the obligations of RRS 18.3(a) and (b) do not apply because neither boat was on starboard tack since entering the zone:  no entitlements or obligations under RRS 18 apply.
  • If the first boat to tack was not fetching the mark, RRS 18.3 is not engaged and RRS 18.2(c) applies to require whichever boat is overlapped outside to give mark-room.
Created: 24-Oct-14 20:37
Nick Taylor
Nationality: Australia
0
Thanks john...
How i am reading the 18.3 there are 2 conditions that must be True for 18.3 to be on thus turn off 18.2.

18.3 Tacking in the Zone
"If a boat passes head to wind from port to starboard tack in the zone
of a mark to be left to port, rule 18.2 does not apply between her and
another boat on starboard tack that is fetching the mark. If the other
boat has been on starboard tack since entering the zone, the boat that
passed head to wind"

As the both boats enter the zone on port the second condition was always False thus 18.3 IS OFF rule 18.2 ON.  

Your thoughts thanks 
 
Created: 24-Oct-14 21:34
P
John Allan
Certifications:
  • National Judge
  • Regional Race Officer
0
Nick, You have got your second condition wrong.

There are THREE conditions in RRS 18.3
  1. A boat passes head to wind from port to starboard tack in the zone of a mark to be left to port;
  2. Another boat is on starboard tack and fetching the mark;  and
  3. The other boat has been on starboard tack since entering the zone.

As I said in my OP
 
The rule is now to be applied in two steps: 

1.      Whether the other boat is on starboard tack and fetching the mark, in which case RRS 18.2 does not apply, and 
2.      Whether the other boat has been fetching the mark since entering the zone, in which case the tacking boat is required to: 
(a)    not cause her to sail above close hauled to avoid contact, or 
(b)   if overlapped outside her, to give her mark-room. 

Conditions 1 and 2 are the conditions that switch on RRS 18.3 and switch off RRS 18.2

If Conditions 1 and 2 apply and Condition 3 also applies then the obligations of RRS 18.3(a) and (b) apply, otherwise they do not.
Created: 24-Oct-14 22:14
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Niko Kotsatos
Certifications:
  • Judge In Training
0
Angelo, I'm not sure you answered either of my questions, though I agree with everything you said in https://www.racingrulesofsailing.org/posts/3018-2025-rrs-18-3-tacking-in-the-zone#comment_15154

Q1: Can anyone confirm that a boat just past head-to-wind (not yet close-hauled and still subject to rule 13) is considered "on starboard tack" for the purposes of this rule?
Seems like it would be, but I want to be sure before I teach it to 200+ other racers.
Created: 24-Oct-16 14:33
Mark Townsend
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
  • International Race Officer
  • International Umpire
  • International Judge
1
Definition of Tack

Tack, Starboard or Port A boat is on the tack, starboard or port, corresponding to her windward side.
Created: 24-Oct-16 14:38
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Niko Kotsatos
Certifications:
  • Judge In Training
0
thank you
Created: 24-Oct-16 15:08
P
Niko Kotsatos
Certifications:
  • Judge In Training
0
Regarding the new rules:
Q2:  I added info to the diagram... lemme know if I should make a separate thread for this.
  1. Magenta (M) tacks inside zone (position 1.6ish)
  2. Teal (T) also tacks inside zone (pos 2)
  3. M had a better tack and becomes overlapped inside/to leeward of T (pos 3)

My understanding is that:
  • Because T tacked inside zone and M was already on starboard, 18.2 does NOT apply between them
  • Because M also tacked inside the zone, the 2nd part of 18.3* does not apply between them.
*Whether the other boat has been fetching the mark since entering the zone, in which case the tacking boat is required to: 
(a)    not cause her to sail above close hauled to avoid contact, or 
(b)   if overlapped outside her, to give her mark-room. 
  • At position 3, their only relationship is windward/leeward with 15 and 16 active, right?
  • Anything I'm missing with that last point? There's no mark-room at all, right?
  • If M feels she cannot comply with both 15/16 and 31, should she "bail" by gybing around to avoid a foul?
    image.png 36 KB
Created: 24-Oct-16 15:40
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John Allan
Certifications:
  • National Judge
  • Regional Race Officer
1
 Mark Townsend said Tack, Starboard or Port A boat is on the tack, starboard or port, corresponding to her windward side. 

The Definition Leeward and Windward A boat’s leeward side is the side that is or, when she is head to wind, was away from the wind.

is also relevant.

A boat is ALWAYS on either port or starboard tack.
Created: 24-Oct-16 20:53
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John Allan
Certifications:
  • National Judge
  • Regional Race Officer
1
NIko, Your post of  Today 15:40  is exactly right.

But Magenta has other tactical options besides gybing away:
  • she can fall behind Green, either by dwelling in her tack, or by easing sheets and slowing, and follow Green around;
  • Once overlapped on Green, and having initially given Green room to keep clear, she can stand on a steady course and drive Green past the mark before gybing inside her.
Created: 24-Oct-16 20:56
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