PART 2 , S E C T ION C : WHEN BOATS ME E T — RUL E 18 : MAR K- ROOM 197
“What if the boat ahead wants to tack around the mark?”
She must be very careful! A boat that is clear ahead when she reaches the zone that tacks around a mark gets no protection from rule 18.2(b) what-so-ever. In fact, rule 18.2(d) says, “Rules 18.2(b) and (c) cease to apply if the boat enti - tled to mark-room passes head to wind…”. In other words, the moment the boat ahead passes head to wind, rule 18.2(b) instantly shuts off, and the boat is subject to the rules in Sections A and B thereafter, beginning with rule 13 (While Tacking). This can happen at a windward markwhen the boats need to tack to round the mark; or at or just after a leeward mark when the boats are beginning the beat. Notice also that at the windward mark the boat clear astern can sail above
close-hauled to make it more difficult for the boat clear ahead to tack. Let’s say you (A) and another boat (B) are sailing close-hauled on port tack into
