I was reviewing the case yesterday and I am a bit puzzled....
Case 25Within the decision:
IW is not exonerated under rule 21.a as IW was sailing to leeward of, not within, the room to which she was entitled under 16.1.
However later on it says that IW was entitled to room under rule 16.1 and she is exonerated for breaking rule 14. As it was already established that she was not sailing within the mark-room, why can she be exonerated ?
The only difference that I can make out is that:
Rule 21 clearly indicate that the boat must be sailing within the room.
Rule 14 indicate that the boat entitled to room (what ever the boat is sailing within the room or not)
Am I missing something here ? Any help in putting a light on it would be appreciated....
Thanks
To get exoneration under RRS21 you need to be sailing within the room to which you are entitled.
To get exoneration under RRS14(b) you merely need to be entitled to room.
The exoneration in rule 14 refers to IW or OL breaking rule 14 when entitled to room or being right-of-way. For OL : right-of-way under rule 11, no damage, no injury --> exonerated. For IW : entitled to room under rule 16.1, no damage, no injury --> exonerated. It does not matter whether you are sailing within this room, it just matters that you are entitled to some room.