Rules Quiz
Green
The Situation:
Red
The Situation: Two J/24s, Red and Green, are sailing
close hauled in about 10 knots of true wind on port tack
approaching a windward mark to be left to port.
Facts Found:
Red was approximately 1/2 boatlength below the port
Green
tack layline. Green was approximately 1 boatlength ahead
of Red and one boatlength to leeward of her. When Green
reached the starboard layline, she tacked to starboard,
completing her tack slightly above the starboard layline.
Red
When Red saw Green on starboard tack, she was too
close (1/2 boatlength) to bear off and duck so she did an
emergency tack to leeward of Green to avoid a collision.
Red was able to avoid Green and to leave the windward
mark to port although she did hit the mark. When Green
saw Red tack close to leeward of her, she luffed to avoid
contact. Both boats protested, Green under Rules 10 and
Green
18.3, Red under Rules 13, 15 and 16.1.
Conclusions and Rules that apply:
Red
Initially, Rule 18 applies, but Rule 18 does not apply
after Green passes head to wind because “the boats are on
opposite tacks on a beat to windward.” See Rule 18.1(a).
Green managed to complete her tack to starboard and keep
clear of Red but as soon as her tack is completed she gains
right of way and initially has to give Red room to keep clear
of her. The definition of room includes the space for Red to Green
maneuver “in a seamanlike way.” The emergency tack she
had to make to avoid a collision with Green was anything
but seamanlike, and it is not seamanlike to hit a mark,
which Red was forced to do. Therefore, Green did not give Red
Red room as required by Rule 15 and Green must either
do a Two-Turns Penalty or be disqualified. Red broke rules
18.3 and 31, but is exonerated for doing so because she was
compelled to break them by Green’s breach of rule 15.
For an animated version of this
Green
situation, visit www.ukhalsey.com,
Rules Quiz 15.
UK-Halsey Sailmakers is reposting its
animated rules quizzes to reflect the
Red
changes in the rules for 2009-2012.
48° No r t h , Ap r i l 2009 pA g e 71
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