Page 7 - Case Book 2017 - 2020 April 18

SECTION 2

ABSTRACTS OF WS AND RYA CASES BY

RULE NUMBER

DEFINITIONS Definitions, Conflict of Interest

RYA 1981/10
Definitions, Clear Astern and Clear A member of a protest committee does not have a
Ahead; Overlap conflict of interest merely because he or she witnessed
the incident. The protest committee is entitled to decide
CASE 12 the protest even if the protestor was not present for
In determining the right of an inside boat to mark-room some of the hearing.
under rule 18.2(b), it is irrelevant that boats are on
widely differing courses, provided that an overlap exists RYA 1984/2
when the first of them reaches the zone. A person with a conflict of interest does not cease to
be such because a party to the protest is willing to
CASE 23 accept him as a member of the protest committee.
On a run, rule 19 does not apply to a starboard-tack
boat that passes between two port-tack boats ahead of
her. Rule 10 requires both port-tack boats to keep clear. RYA 2011/2
A boat does not break rule 2 when she believes
CASE 33 reasonably, even if incorrectly, that, in manoeuvring
When a boat approaching an obstruction hails for room against another boat, she will protect her series score
to tack, but does so before the time when she needs to by worsening the score of the other boat.
begin the process described in rule 20 to avoid the
obstruction safely, she breaks rule 20.1(a). However, Definitions, Finish
even if the hail breaks rule 20.1(a), the hailed boat must
respond. An inside overlapped boat is entitled to room CASE 45
between the outside boat and an obstruction under rule When a boat fails to finish correctly because of a race
19.2(b) even though she has tacked into the inside committee error, but none of the boats racing gains or
overlapping position. loses as a result, an appropriate and fair form of
redress is to score all the boats in the order they
CASE 41 crossed the finishing line.
A discussion of how rule 19.2(b) and the definitions
Obstruction and Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; CASE 58
Overlap apply when two overlapped boats on the same If a buoy or other object specified in the sailing
tack overtake and pass to leeward of a boat ahead on instructions as a finishing-line limit mark is on the post-
the same tack. There is no obligation to hail for room at finish side of the finishing line, a boat may leave it on
an obstruction, but it is prudent to do so. either side.
CASE 43 CASE 82
A close-hauled port-tack boat that is sailing parallel When a finishing line is laid so nearly in line with the
and close to an obstruction must keep clear of a boat last leg that it cannot be determined which is the correct
that has completed her tack to starboard and is way to cross it in order to finish according to the
approaching on a collision course. definition, a boat may cross the line in either direction
and her finish is to be recorded accordingly.
CASE 91
A boat required to keep clear must keep clear of another CASE 112
boat’s equipment out of its normal position when the A boat that makes, and does not correct, an error in
equipment has been out of its normal position long sailing the course does not break rule 28 until she
enough for the equipment to have been seen and avoided. finishes. If a boat makes such an error, a second boat
may notify the first that she intends to protest before the
RYA 1975/6 first boat finishes, or at the first reasonable opportunity
When a boat tacks, the question of whether an overlap after the first boat finishes.
is created is decided at the moment she passes head to
wind, but rule 17 will never apply to the leeward boat if CASE 128
the overlap is created while the windward boat is still If a boat makes an error under rule 28.2 or breaks rule
subject to rule 13. 31 at the finishing line and finishes without correcting
her error or taking a penalty, she must be scored points
for the place in which she finished. She can only be
penalized for breaking rule 28.2 or rule 31 if she is

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