Last month I discussed opposite tacks at a leeward finish. This month I want to look at a similar situation at a windward finishing line and a question about gate marks.
In the first diagram, the Blue and Yellow boats are approaching the pin end of a windward finishing line with Yellow on starboard tack and Blue on port tack. Blue had read my August article so thought that he was entitled to room at the finishing mark. Since that meant he would be exonerated for breaking rule 10, he didn’t keep clear of Yellow and Yellow had to avoid him. If we look at rule 18.1a, though, we see that rule 18 does not apply “between two boats on opposite tacks on a beat to windward”. Since rule 18 does not apply, Blue is not entitled to mark-room, is not exonerated for breaking rule 10 and must take a penalty.
18 MARK-ROOM
18.1 When Rule 18 Applies
Rule 18 applies between boats when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is in the zone.
However, it does not apply
(a) between boats on opposite tacks on a beat to windward,
(b) between boats on opposite tacks when the proper course at the mark for one but not both of them is to tack,
(c) between a boat approaching a mark and one leaving it, or
(d) if the mark is a continuing obstruction, in which case rule 19 applies.
18.2 Giving Mark-Room
21 EXONERATION
When a boat is sailing within the room or mark-room to which she is entitled under a rule of Section C, she shall be exonerated if, in an incident with a boat required to give her that room or mark-room,
(a) she breaks a rule of Section A, rule 15 or rule 16, or
(b) she is compelled to break rule 31.
The next diagram is a follow-on to the July article on unusual finishing lines. Again I am looking at a situation that appeared with a shortening of the course. This time, the course was supposed to be shortened at a leeward gate. The gate is between the yellow and red marks. The committee boat sat beside the yellow mark. The Orange boat thought that the finish was between the boat flying the S flag and the closest mark as described in rule 32.2(a) so it tried to finish as shown. Gate marks however are covered under rule 32.2(c) and the finishing line is actually between the gate marks. White has just finished; Orange has not. Sometimes race committees will sit very close to one mark (or even tie up to it) so that it is clear that boats should not pass between them and the mark, but this is not required.
32.2 If the race committee signals a shortened course (displays flag S with two sounds), the finishing line shall be,
(a) at a rounding mark, between the mark and a staff displaying flag S;
(b) at a line boats are required to cross at the end of each lap, that line;
(c) at a gate, between the gate marks.
The shortened course shall be signalled before the first boat crosses the finishing line.
© Copyright 2014 Andrew Alberti