Page 15 - Case Book 2017 - 2020 April 18

The word ‘side’ in rule 19.2(a) (as also in rule 18.1) sails above a proper course, and the windward boat is
refers to the side of the boat on which the obstruction not to be exonerated if she failed to keep clear after
(or mark) is to be passed, and not to any ‘side’ that the having been given room to do so.
obstruction (or mark) may happen to have.
There is no zone at an obstruction that is not also a mark. RYA 2011/3
That a boat did not keep clear is a conclusion which
Rule 19.2(b) does not apply when it is not possible to
identify which of two boats overlapped at an obstruction can be reached only by applying the criteria in that
definition. Contact may be evidence that a boat has
is the outside boat and which the inside boat. already failed to keep clear.

RYA 1976/2
When two close-hauled boats are in the zone of a Rule 12, On the Same Tack, Not
windward mark, rule 18.2(b) ceases to apply when one Overlapped
of them tacks.When two boats are subject to rule 13 at CASE 2
the same time the one astern must keep clear. If they
then become overlapped on the same tack inside the If the first of two boats to reach the zone is clear astern
when she reaches it and if later the boats are
zone, the outside boat shall give the inside boat mark-
room under rule 18.2(a). overlapped when the other boat reaches the zone, rule
18.2(a), and not rule 18.2(b), applies. Rule 18.2(a)
applies only while boats are overlapped and at least
RYA 1977/7 one of them is in the zone.
When two overlapping same-tack boats are less than one
hull length apart, and when another boat clear astern is CASE 15
closing on them, the right of way boat will rank as an In tacking to round a mark, a boat clear ahead must
obstruction to the other two boats. The boat clear astern comply with rule 13; a boat clear astern is entitled to
may establish an overlap between the boats ahead, with hold her course and thereby prevent the other from
an entitlement from the windward boat to room, provided tacking.
that the windward boat is able to give room. When a boat
is required to act to keep clear, no rule entitles her to CASE 24
room to avoid becoming OCS. When a boat becomes overlapped to leeward from clear
astern, the other boat must act promptly to keep clear.
RYA 1984/3 When she cannot do so in a seamanlike way, she has not
When W can fulfil her obligation under rule 11 to keep been given room as required by rule 15.
clear only by tacking, she must do so. No racing rule CASE 41
requires a boat to keep clear simply because she is A discussion of how rule 19.2(b) and the definitions
overtaking. Obstruction and Clear Astern and Clear Ahead;
Overlap apply when two overlapped boats on the same
RYA 1986/3
A keep-clear boat cannot be said to have done so when, tack overtake and pass to leeward of a boat ahead on
although there was no contact, there is firm evidence the same tack. There is no obligation to hail for room at
that contact would have occurred had not the right-of- an obstruction, but it is prudent to do so.
way boat altered course to comply with rule 14. CASE 77
Contact with a mark by a boat’s equipment constitutes
RYA 1988/8
When two overlapped boats are close-hauled on the touching it. A boat obligated to keep clear does not
same tack and L suddenly heels to windward, she break a rule when touched by a right-of-way boat’s
maintains her rights provided her action is not equipment that moves unexpectedly out of normal
deliberate. If L’s action is deliberate, with the intention position.
of causing W to break rule 11, she breaks rule 2. CASE 91
A boat required to keep clear must keep clear of
RYA 1990/1 another boat’s equipment out of its normal position
When a boat is obliged to change course to keep clear
of another boat that has acquired right of way, she must when the equipment has been out of its normal position
act promptly, since a right-of-way boat that does not long enough for the equipment to have been seen and
change course is required only initially to give her avoided.
room to do so. After that, rule 15 does not apply.
Rule 13, While Tacking
RYA 2003/8
When boats are overlapped on the same tack on CASE 15
converging courses, the moment when the windward In tacking to round a mark, a boat clear ahead must
boat has failed to keep clear is, by definition, also the comply with rule 13; a boat clear astern is entitled to
moment when the right-of-way boat must take avoiding hold her course and thereby prevent the other from
action if she is to avoid penalization under rule 14, tacking.
should contact causing damage then occur. CASE 17
RYA 2008/7 A boat is no longer subject to rule 13 when she is on a
When a leeward boat is limited by rule 17, rule 11 close-hauled course, regardless of her movement
applies to the windward boat even if the leeward boat through the water or the sheeting of her sails.

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