Page 21 - Case Book 2017 - 2020 April 18

CASE 15 Rule 18.2, Mark-Room: Giving Mark-
In tacking to round a mark, a boat clear ahead must Room
comply with rule 13; a boat clear astern is entitled to hold
her course and thereby prevent the other from tacking. CASE 114
When a boat is entitled to room, the space she is entitled
CASE 26 to includes space for her to comply with her obligations
A right-of-way boat need not act to avoid a collision under the rules of Part 2 and rule 31.
until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear.
However, if the right-of-way boat could then have
avoided the collision and the collision resulted in Rule 18.2(a), Mark-Room: Giving Mark-
damage, she must be penalized for breaking rule 14. Room
CASE 60 CASE 2
When a right-of-way boat changes course in such a way If the first of two boats to reach the zone is clear astern
that a keep-clear boat, despite having taken avoiding when she reaches it and if later the boats are
action promptly, cannot keep clear in a seamanlike way, overlapped when the other boat reaches the zone, rule
the right-of-way boat breaks rule 16.1. 18.2(a), and not rule 18.2(b), applies. Rule 18.2(a)
applies only while boats are overlapped and at least
CASE 76 one of them is in the zone.
When a right-of-way boat changes course she may
break rule 16, even if she is sailing her proper course. CASE 59
When a boat comes abreast of a mark but is outside the
CASE 81 zone, and when her change of course towards the mark
When a boat entitled to mark-room under rule 18.2(b) results in a boat that is in the zone and that was
passes head to wind, rule 18.2(b) ceases to apply and previously clear astern becoming overlapped inside her,
she must comply with the applicable rule of Section A. rule 18.2(a) requires her to give mark-room to that
boat, whether or not her distance from the mark was
CASE 95 caused by giving mark-room to other boats overlapped
If two overlapped boats on the same tack are on a beat inside her.
to windward and are subject to rule 18.2(b), rule 18
ceases to apply when either of them turns past head to RYA 1976/2
wind. When a boat is required to give another boat When two close-hauled boats, clear ahead and clear
mark-room, the space she must give includes space for astern, approach a windward mark, rule 18.2(b) ceases
the other boat to comply with rule 31. When the boat to apply when one of them tacks. If they then become
entitled to mark-room is compelled to touch the mark overlapped on the same tack inside the zone, the outside
while sailing within the mark-room to which she is boat shall then give the inside boat mark-room under
entitled, she is exonerated for her breach of rule 31. rule 18.2(a).
CASE 132 RYA 2008/7
A boat is ‘on a beat to windward’ when the course she Rule 18.2 stops applying once a boat entitled to mark-
would sail to finish as soon as possible in the absence of room has been given that room.
all other boats is a close-hauled course or above.
Rule 18.2(b), Mark-Room: Giving Mark-
RYA 1981/3 Room
When at a windward mark a boat that was clear ahead
on the same tack at zone entry tacks to pass it, her RYA 1975/6
entitlement to mark-room ends. Rule 10 applies, as if A boat that luffs above close-hauled to pass to windward
the mark were not there. of a mark is not sailing above a proper course.
RYA 1988/9 RYA 1976/2
The rights of a boat that passes a mark on the wrong When two close-hauled boats, clear ahead and clear
side, without touching it, and is unwinding, are not astern, approach a windward mark, rule 18.2(b) ceases
diminished in any way, she is sailing the same leg of the to apply when one of them tacks. If they then become
course as a boat rounding normally. overlapped on the same tack inside the zone, the outside
boat shall then give the inside boat mark-room under
RYA 1994/4 rule 18.2(a).
A boat that breaks a rule while she is out of control
cannot be exonerated for that reason alone. RYA 1981/3
When at a windward mark a boat that was clear ahead
RYA 1996/5 on the same tack at zone entry tacks to pass it, her
When a boat is clear ahead of another when she enters entitlement to mark-room ends. Rule 10 applies, as if
the zone at a mark and is then leaving the mark when the mark were not there.
the other boat enters the zone, it is only the rules of
Sections A and B of Part 2 that apply between them RYA 1990/6
when they meet. Rule 18 does not apply. Rule 16 applies to a right-of-way boat that alters
course out of control. When a boat has capsized near
another, obligations under the rules of Section A of
Part 2 end, and are replaced with an obligation to
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