Rule 18 and Room at the Mark
Sail proper course in the zone without interference
In this scenario Yellow and Green are sailing downwind on port tacks. They must round a mark to port in light wind. When Yellow enters the zone, she is clear ahead of Green. When Green (2) entering the zone Yellow is rounding the mark and tacks to starboard. Yellow (3) sail on starboard tack and Green (3) had to heads up to avoid Yellow. There was no contact put, Yellow (4) hit the mark and took a one penalty turn.
Is Yellow required to give mark-room to Green so she can sail their proper course without interference from Yellow?
Created: Today 17:08
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John
I cannot tell from the diagram whether green has to alter course before yellow has born off to close hauled. If it is established as a fact that she did, then Angelo is correct.
But, even if yellow completes the tack before green has to alter course, there is still rule 15 to deal with.
After yellow has completed the tack, she "initially" owes green room to keep clear (which green apparently does get) AND room to comply with the other rules of part two and rule 31 (avoiding hitting the mark).
It does not appear that sufficient room was given for green to comply with rule 31, by maneuvering promptly in a seamanlike manner.
If the facts found are that the tack is completed in time, the PC could still DSQ yellow for breaking rule 15.
Yellow does not owe Green any mark-room. After position 3, Green chooses to turn back toward the mark to attempt to round it on its proper side .. she was not compelled to do that and was not owed room by Yellow to do so.
I think it's clear, based on the drawing, Green altered course before Yellow completed her tack. There is no contact and there is no claim that Green maneuvered in an unseamanlike way. Therefore IMO 15 was not broken by Yellow. Green had room and used that room to keep clear once Yellow completed her tack (after Yellow broke 13).
OK .. for the sake of argument, let's say that Yellow DOES complete her tack before Green alters course ... and Green is able to keep clear in a seamanlike way .. what then? If that tack was clean .. and Green could keep clear in a seamanlike way ... I don't see Yellow breaking a rule.
PS: Unless u argue that is Yellow was not sailing her proper course by tacking. Then one might apply RRS 23.2 Interfernce as they are sailing on different legs of the course.