Page 26 - Case Book 2017 - 2020 April 18

RYA 2001/14 CASE 12
The question of whether a moored vessel is an In determining the right of an inside boat to mark-room
obstruction depends on the definition of the term, which under rule 18.2(b), it is irrelevant that boats are on
cannot be changed in sailing instructions. widely differing courses, provided that an overlap exists
when the first of them reaches the zone.
Rule 20.2, Room to Tack at an CASE 24
Obstruction: Responding When a boat becomes overlapped to leeward from clear
RYA 1973/5 astern, the other boat must act promptly to keep clear.
A boat that hails for room to tack at an obstruction must When she cannot do so in a seamanlike way, she has not
herself tack as soon possible. Hailing when safety does been given room as required by rule 15.
not require a substantial course change breaks rule
20.1. Not then tacking as soon as possible after the CASE 25
hailed boat tacks breaks rule 20.2(d). When an inside overlapped windward boat that is
entitled to mark-room takes more space than she is
RYA 1974/5 entitled to, she must keep clear of the outside leeward
When a close-hauled port-tack boat needs to make a boat, and the outside boat may luff provided that she
substantial change of course to avoid an obstruction in gives the inside boat room to keep clear.
the form of a close-hauled starboard-tack boat, she is
entitled to hail a boat on the same tack as her, to CASE 49
windward or clear astern, for room to tack, even though When two protests arise from the same incident, or from
she has an alternative means of escape by bearing very closely connected incidents, they should be heard
away. together in the presence of representatives of all the
boats involved.
RYA 1982/6
A boat that responds to a hail for room to tack by CASE 63
starting to tack, but so slowly that she delays At a mark, when space is made available to a boat that
completion of the tack beyond a reasonable time, is not is not entitled to it, she may, at her own risk, take
responding as soon as possible after the hail. advantage of the space.
RYA 1988/3 CASE 70
It is implicit in rule 20.2 that a boat’s hail for room to An inside overlapped windward boat that is entitled to
tack must be capable of being heard by the hailed boat. mark-room from the outside boat must keep clear of the
Although the hailed boat is not required to take any outside boat and, if she is sailing outside of the mark-
action before the hail is given, she must be on the alert room to which she is entitled, she is not exonerated if
for it and, when it is made, must promptly respond to it. she fails to keep clear.

Section D – Other Rules CASE 93
If a boat luffs immediately after she becomes
overlapped to leeward of another boat and there is no
Section D Preamble seamanlike action that would enable the other boat to
RYA 1990/6 keep clear, the boat that luffed breaks rules 15 and
Rule 16 applies to a right-of-way boat that alters course 16.1. The other boat breaks rule 11, but is exonerated.
out of control. When a boat has capsized near another, CASE 95
obligations under the rules of Section A of Part 2 end, If two overlapped boats on the same tack are on a beat
and are replaced with an obligation to avoid the to windward and are subject to rule 18.2(b), rule 18
capsized boat, if possible. A boat is not to be penalized ceases to apply when either of them turns past head to
when she is unable to avoid a capsized boat. wind. When a boat is required to give another boat

RYA 1996/1 mark-room, the space she must give includes space for
The rules of Section A of Part 2 still apply when rule the other boat to comply with rule 31. When the boat
24 applies, and a port tack boat that is racing must entitled to mark-room is compelled to touch the mark
keep clear of a starboard tack boat that has been while sailing within the mark-room to which she is
racing, independently of the obligation on the entitled, she is exonerated for her breach of rule 31.
starboard tack boat not to interfere with a boat that is CASE 124
racing. At any point in time while two boats are approaching an
obstruction, the right-of-way boat at that moment may
Rule 21, Exoneration choose to pass the obstruction on either side provided
that she can then comply with the applicable rules.
CASE 11
When boats are overlapped at an obstruction, including CASE125
an obstruction that is a right-of-way boat, the outside When an outside overlapped boat is required to give
boat must give the inside boat room to pass between her room to one or more inside boats to pass an
and the obstruction. obstruction, the space she gives must be sufficient to
permit all the inside boats to comply with their
obligations under the rules of Part 2.

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