Forum: The Racing Rules of Sailing
Room at the pin?
Mays Dickey
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
- Regional Judge
0
In light air with heavy current traveling up the course, Blue and Yellow are approaching a large permanent government mark identified in the sailing instructions as the starting pin. The wind direction heavily favors the pin. As Yellow approaches on or just below a close-hauled course from slightly above the port tack layline, Blue, having been sailing close-hauled on starboard several boatlengths below the starting line, tacks onto port, establishing a leeward overlap.
At the moment that Blue finishes her tack and reaches a close-hauled course on port, the boats are less than one boatlength from the pin. In order to keep clear, Yellow would have had to crash tack to avoid a collision. Instead, Yellow calls for room, bears away slightly & proceeds to sail between the mark and Blue.
Both boats protest.
Questions:
1. What Rule(s) apply?
Comments
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Yellow can’t call for or expect room.
Yellow breaks RRS 11 and RRS 14
At position 2, Blue becomes the right of way boat (Rule 11) and Rule 15 applies (initially).
Blue does not appear to alter course, so Rule 16.1 does not apply.
Yellow, a windward boat, did not keep clear of Blue, a leeward boat, breaking Rule 11.
DSQ Yellow.
The size of the mark does matter - but based on the diagram, Yellow had the option to slow down and let Blue pass, or tack out of the way - they had at least 1 BL of time to act.
It looks to me that Blues obligation under RRS15 starts as Blue completes her tack at 2 and since Yellow is more than 1/2 a length to windward she had been given room initially as required by RRS 15. At the same time RRS11 turns on and Yellow need to keep clear of Blue.
So RRS 11 and RRS 14
Yellow dsq
If Yellow asked for room Blue MUST respond by either tacking immediately or hailing YOU TACK.
So Yellow breaks RRS 20 11 and 14
Blue breaks RRS 20 and 14
Paddy
I like the "Mays's rabbit hole" be discovered. :-)
Regarding the hail and rule 20 (which according to the rule would be for room to tack), rule 20 is part of section C, the introduction to which says section C rules do not apply at a starting mark. One might argue about whether or not a hailed boat generally is required to respond to an improper hail when rule 20 does not apply. In this instance, I think blue cannot be penalised for breach of 20.2b.
When Blue completes her tack she is at least 1/2 boat length from Yellow and thus gives Yellow the initial room she is entitled to. Blue does not change course so RRS 16 is not broken. (I think that the Crash Tack was for Yellow to avoid the Mark not Blue).
However if Yellow can get her bow between Blue and the mark, Blue cannot force Yellow into the Mark because that would not be seamanlik. Blue would have to give room to Yellow to avoid the mark.
Unfortunately the diagram and the facts stated are confusing and don't seem to agree (as stated by Dusan) making it difficult to Judge.
Maybe Mays could edit his diagram for clarity. IMHO Blue put herself into an awkward position. However, if she let Yellow in and gave her Room no one broke a rule. Beers at the bar!!!
As you say, 20 doesn't apply due to the Section C's preamble. But even if this wasn't a starting-mark, the OP states "Yellow calls for room" .. not "Yellow calls for room to tack [at an obstruction]". Boats call each other for room all the time, and those calls are not confused with the specific Rule 20 hail "Room to Tack!" .. so Blue is doubly safe from 20.2b based the hail described.
However, had Yellow hailed "Room to tack", Blue must respond via her options in rule 20 and simultaneously protest Yellow for an improper hail and thus breaking rule 20.
Another thing that was stated was that there is a strong current running up the course. I'll assume this means towards the top of the diagram.
So here is my question: What if the current so strong that Yellow essentially has no escape once Blue tacks? Meaning that if she tacks the current takes her in to the mark, and if she keeps clear of Blue on the same tack, she hits the mark. Also; if she tries to slow down, the current takes her in to the mark.
If this is the case (big if, and maybe hard for Yellow to make this case), I would argue that Blue needs to initially provide enough room for Yellow to keep clear of her, as tacking or going behind are not options. Blue did provide the room, so, if this were the case, the boats communicated, avoided any collisions, no harm, no foul. Maybe Yellow's hail was not entirely correct, but she got the message across, and Blue did the right thing by not forcing Yellow in to the mark.
Again, the case indicates that Yellow could have tacked and avoided the mark. If that were truly the case, she should have done so, but instead, broke rule 11.
Aren't the Preambles of Part 2, Sections A&C, rules of Part 2?
See RRS 86.1(b) and Def: Rule
The section C does not apply because the mark is defined as the pin at the SI.
There's no 15, nor 16 because there was room to keep clear
there's no 17 (proper course)
Yellow had plenty of room to keep clear or avoid the pin or blue boat.
I think is a classic "barging" case. To me, Yellow DSQ by R11
No one DSQd.
Someone could attempt to create an argument that blue breaks 15 by putting yellow in a situation where she cannot keep clear of her without hitting the mark but I don’t think that would be successful.
I agree that Blue shouldn't do so, she should bear away, give room (which Yellow is not entitled to) and protest.
I'm also wondering, in the context of pre-start maneuvering, what's the difference between a "crash tack" and a prompt maneuver to meet an obligation to keep clear. Yellow should have seen this coming and been ready to keep clear when Blue established ROW.
In terms of the rules I don't think it makes a difference whether the pin is a government mark or a small spar. Yellow is not entitled to room at either a mark or an obstruction. But if it's a government mark it's even more important that Blue give room & protest rather than driving Yellow into it.
18 and 20 Are off.
I can’t get myself to a point where 15 gives them any protection.
I agree that Blue should not force yellow to hit the mark. Maybe that’s a rule 2 issue if they force them into the mark but I’m not even sure about that.
I dont think this is a rule 2 issue, rather a misjudgement by blue
The relevant rules are the definition of room and rule 15
World Sailing Case 114 Question 3 and 4 are relevant.
Match Race Call D1 is relevant. The relevant rules are definition keep clear and definition room, rule 11 and, rule 16.1. I recognize it is a match race call, but the none of the applicable rules are changed from those used in fleet racing, so the interpretation remains valid.
I'd say that Yellow had sufficient room between 2 and about 2.9 to complete a seamanlike tack. In a prestart situation it would be reasonable to expect her to be ready to do so instantly, especially as she observed Blue approaching and tacking for the line. As drawn I think Blue met her rule 15 obligation to initially give Yellow room to keep clear and Yellow broke 11.
One clip I watched many times is this from 2014, Hansen vs Williams. Big crash! Check it out! https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=196980684828753
16.1 or barging?
Most boats could tack out of that situation in almost any condition is a seaman like manner.
How much latitude would a jury give to a protestee that claims that they were forces to sail below the starting mark in this situation.
Would yellow be penalized in a protest if blue gave them room to pass the mark and protested? It is unlikely that in the typical barging situation that the weather boat would not be dsq.
The written facts state
Having grown up in the UK, my idea of heavy current is maybe slightly more that others. Let's assume it is a spring tide and the the race committee had set the starting line between Hurst Point and Fort Albert in the Solent. The current runs at 3.9 knots at that location during a spring tide.
Therefore the boat's speed over ground is 7.16 knots (3.9 kts current + 3.26 kts boat speed) or approximately 12 feet per second. The J105 will travel 1 boat length in 3 seconds. If after Blue completes her tack the helm decides to tack to pass the mark to starboard, they will be swept onto the mark faster (3.9 knots), than they will move forward (3.26 kts). Therefore they will hit the mark amidships.
CONCLUSION
When acquiring right of way through her own actions, Blue initially gave Yellow room to keep clear, as required by RRS 15.
DIAGRAM of likely out come if Yellow tacks.
However, when Blue acquired right of way, she must initially give Yellow room to keep clear. But, Yellow needs to be prepared to maneuver promptly when Blue tacks to leeward of her. Yellow needs to show that even if she had maneuvered promptly and in a seamanlike manner she could not have tacked. She also needs to show that there was no other seamanlike maneuver she could have made to keep clear.
IMHO there are two statements that make me suspicious... that Blue might have been able to tack.
How do you "crash tack" "in light air". Was Yellow prepared to maneuver promptly when Blue tacked to leeward of them?
You get back to the same issue...
If after Blue completes her tack and she becomes overlapped to leeward of Yellow, there is no seamanlike action that would enable Yellow to keep clear, Blue breaks rule 15. Yellow breaks rule 11, but is exonerated under rule 64.1(a).
OR
If after Blue completes her tack and she becomes overlapped to leeward of Yellow, Yellow could keep clear by acting promptly, Yellow breaks rule 11.
The picture is of a buoy in the Solent in strong current!
But in no case should Blue force Yellow to hit the mark. If Yellow tries to go inside, whether entitled to room or not, Blue should give room and protest.
The other scenario based on the description (which does not reflect the scenario displayed in the diagram) which says that Yellow must crash tack to avoid Blue. Unless Blue gives Yellow room by bearing away she would break 15. Blue would then be subject to 16.1 if she changes course by coming up again. Blue could not then stop Yellow from passing between her and the mark.
But I'm still not sure "crash tack" is relevant here. Surely Yellow in this situation should be ready to tack in a seamanlike manner instantly if she is required to do so.
What we need to know is:
Bearing in mind that in many classes and conditions, luffing head to wind to slow or stop, or a tack, all standing without letting off the headsail is perfectly seamanlike.