PART 2 , S E C T ION B : WHEN BOAT S ME E T — G ENE RAL L IMI TAT IONS 133


In position 1, SL is past head to wind; therefore she is on starboard tack. However, rule 13 requires that she keep clear of SW until she is on a close- hauled course. If SW has to change course to avoid hitting SL before SL is on a close-hauled course, SL breaks rule 13.


In position 2, SL is on a close-hauled course; therefore, as the leeward boat, she is now the right-of-way boat. SW must now promptly try to avoid hitting SL, but SL must initially give her room to do so under rule 15.


Yes and Yes. Rule 15 states that the rule goes into effect “when” the right-of- way boat acquires the right of way. When a boat clear astern (B) establishes an overlap within inches of a boat clear ahead (A), A is by definition not keeping clear at that moment because if B headed up she would immediately make contact with A (see the definition Keep Clear). When B establishes the overlap, rule 15 requires B to initially give A room to keep clear. As long as B immedi- ately bears away and gives A the space A needs to head up and keep clear of her, then B has complied with rule 15. And as long as A promptly takes action to keep clear of B in a seamanlike way (by turning her boat away from B and trimming her mainsail), she is sailing within the roomto which she is entitled, and is exonerated by rule 43.1(b) (Exoneration) for her momentary breach of rule 11 (On the Same Tack, Overlapped) (see Case 146 and Appeal 119).


Tacking into a right-of-way position to leeward of a right-of-way boat (commonly known as “lee-bowing”):


While a boat is tacking near another boat, rule 13 (While Tacking) requires her to keep clear of the other boat from the time she passes head to wind until she is on a close-hauled course. But, once she is on a close-hauled course, and if she has become the right-of-way boat, rule 15 applies. For a good analogy (though this may not be the actual highway law), picture yourself coming up the entrance ramp to a three-lane highway. Cars driving down the right-hand lanemust stay clear of other cars in the right-hand lane in front of them. While you’re on the ramp you cannot interfere with cars driving in the right-hand


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