Page 137 - Case Book 2017 - 2020 April 18

ANSWER 2
Because all the boats are overlapped and are at a
continuing obstruction, they are all subject to rule
19.2(b) and rule 18 does not apply, as stated in the final
sentence of rule 19.1. While this situation continues,
none of the overlapped boats are entitled to mark-room.
Each windward boat must continue to give room for
leeward overlapped boats to pass the obstruction as
required by rule 19.2(b) and must keep clear of those
boats as required by rule 11. Boats are only entitled to
pass the mark on its required side if they can do so
while complying with those requirements.
If Yellow were to luff away from the river bank, she
would no longer require room under rule 19 so that rule
would cease to apply and rule 18 would apply, entitling
boats to windward of her to mark-room.

QUESTION 3
Would the answers be the same if, with the wind in the
same direction but the mark to be rounded to port, the
boats were reaching on starboard tack along the right-
hand bank?

SUMMARY OF THE FACTS ANSWER 3
A number of boats are reaching on starboard tack along Yes, except that the boats towards the middle of the
a river towards a mark, to be rounded to starboard, laid river would be right-of-way boats required to give
about 6m (20 feet) from the river bank, approximately room. Nevertheless they would not be entitled to mark-
in the middle of the river. room because rule 18 would not apply.
Approaching, but more than 3 lengths from, the mark,
six boats are overlapped. However, there is only QUESTION 4
sufficient space between the mark and the bank for 4 What would be the situation if, with the wind in the
boats to pass safely through and round the mark. opposite direction, the boats were reaching on port tack
The leeward boats call for room at the continuing along the right-hand bank and the mark to be rounded to
obstruction while the windward boats call for room to port?
round the mark. ANSWER 4
The situation would be as in Answer 2.
QUESTION 1
What rules apply before any of the boats reach the zone RYA 2017
of the mark?

ANSWER 1
All the boats are at the continuing obstruction because
there is a rules obligation which binds them to the inside
(Yellow) boat and the obstruction. Each Blue boat must
give room to the boat inside her (in relation to the
obstruction) and also keep clear as a windward boat.
A boat racing is never a continuing obstruction (see the
definition, obstruction). Therefore, the limitation on
establishing an overlap when passing a continuing
obstruction applies only to a boat trying to come
directly between a boat and the continuing obstruction
itself (see case RYA 2014/4).
A boat coming from astern between two overlapped
boats is entitled to room from the windward of the two
boats to pass the leeward boat, which is an obstruction
because they are both required to keep clear of her.
However, that entitlement is dependent upon the
windward boat being able to give room from the time
that the overlap begins (rule 19.2(b)).

QUESTION 2
What rules apply when the first of the overlapped boats
reaches the zone of the mark?
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