The last article described the limitations on a right-of-way boat when she first establishes right of way.  This time we are going to look at rule 16 which puts limits on right-of-way boats when they alter course. 



In the first diagram, Orange and Purple are sailing on a downwind leg.  Purple is leeward, so has right-of-way over Orange.  Purple decides to luff Orange, so she changes her course to windward. When she does, according to rule 16, she has to give Orange room to keep clear.  At position 2, 3 and 4 she does.  As they get to position 5, Orange is further ahead than Purple.  If Orange turned any faster, she would swing her stern into Purple.  At position 6, they make contact.  Purple is still right-of-way, but Purple has not given Orange the space that Orange needs to keep clear.  Rule 16 says that Purple has to give Orange room when Purple alters her course.  The space Orange needs is part of the definition of room.  Purple has broken rule 16.1.



In the second diagram Yellow is on starboard tack.  Blue is on port tack.  They are on a beat to windward. As they approach, Blue starts to bear away to pass behind Yellow.  At position 4, Yellow bears away towards Blue.  Blue must immediately change course further to continue keeping clear.  Yellow has not broken rule 16.1 since Blue has the room she needs to keep clear.  Yellow has broken rule 16.2 which describes exactly this circumstance. 
One final note.  The 2025-2028 Racing Rules of Sailing have now been published.  You can find them at https://www.sailing.org/inside-world-sailing/rules-regulations/racingrules  None of the rules or definitions that I discussed in this article have changed.  My next articles will start to discuss the changes.  I hope to have a summary of the changes in the next Kwasind and a series of more detailed articles on the website with announcements in the Hiawatha. 
 

Room   The space a boat needs in the existing conditions, including space to comply with her obligations under the rules of Part 2 and rule 31, while manoeuvring promptly in a seamanlike way.

10        ON OPPOSITE TACKS

When boats are on opposite tacks, a port‑tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard‑tack boat.

11        ON THE SAME TACK, OVERLAPPED

When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat.

16        CHANGING COURSE

16.1     When a right‑of‑way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.

16.2     In addition, on a beat to windward when a port‑tack boat is keeping clear by sailing to pass to leeward of a starboard‑tack boat, the starboard‑tack boat shall not bear away if as a result the port‑tack boat must change course immediately to continue keeping clear.