Last month, I talked about several situations where the overtaking boat does not have to keep clear. This month I will discuss a few more situations. The basic rule is still rule 12.
12 ON THE SAME TACK, NOT OVERLAPPED
When boats are on the same tack and not overlapped, a boat clear astern shall keep clear of a boat clear ahead.
(click on the diagram to see a larger cleaner version)
In the diagram, the yellow boat is approaching the line to start. She realizes that she is too early so she heads up to slow down. To slow down even further, she pushes out and backs her mainsail. This causes her to start sailing backwards from position 3 where she was over the line to position 4, where contact with blue is imminent. The blue boat is clear astern on the same tack as yellowand it would therefore seem that rule 12 would applyand blue must keep clear.. There are however some exceptions.
SECTION D
OTHER RULES
When rule 21 or 22 applies between two boats, Section A rules do not.
21.2 A boat taking a penalty shall keep clear of one that is not.
21.3 A boat moving astern by backing a sail shall keep clear of one that is not.
Rule 21.3 specifically addresses our situation – the yellow boat is moving astern by backing her sail, so this seems to apply to her. But what of the blue boat? Moving ahead, is she still governed by rule 12? We have two seemingly contradictory rules for one situation, but the preamble to section D, which includes rule 21, helps us sort out which one applies.
Since rule 21.3 applies and its section preamble states that section A rules, including rule 12, do not, , yellow must keep clear of blue.
(click on the diagram to see a larger cleaner version)
The situation in the second diagram also involves an exception found in rule 21. The white boat is quite a bit ahead of the purple boat. She breaks a rule in a situation involving another boat not shown here, so she decides to do a two-turns penalty (often known as a 720). She bears off, gybes and tacks, and finds herself right in front of purple at position 7. They are on the same tack with the white boat clear ahead. The purple boat is going faster, so at position 8 there is minor contact.
Since white is taking a penalty, rule 21.2 applies and white has to keep clear of purple. She isn’t even finished the first penalty and now she has to take a second. This is not a good way to start a season.
After looking at all of these exceptions, it is important to remember that in most cases, the basic rule does apply.
© Copyright 2012 Andrew Alberti