AboutAndrew Pometti Expertise I am a Level 1 (Small Boat) US Sailing Certified Instructor on City Island (Bronx), NY. I have been sailing since I was a young child and starting racing as a Junior Sailor and continue both now. Racing as a Junior Sailor against the regular club members we won three first place trophies in the club owned boat. In another race we borrowed a members boat and placed third in a race that attracted sailors from around the NY,NJ,CT area.
Expert: Andrew Pometti Date: 8/26/2007 Subject: right of way at mark
Question QUESTION: Two weeks ago I was in a race in Maine, approaching a mark close hauled. A second boat approaching the mark on the same tack, but from above on a close reach, overlapped my transom two or three boat lengths from the mark and called right of way, forcing me to give way (he was bigger) while he rounded the mark on the inside and to windward. My reading of the international rules seems to indicate he did, in fact, have right of way, though intuition (or perhaps emotion) says he, not I, should have given way. Thanks for your help.
ANSWER: Is there anyway you can diagram this and post it online and submit the link to the diagram and submit it to me here at AllExperts? It would help greatly. If you can, please also indicate the approximate course to the next mark, and the wind direction.
The keys of the various parts of Rule 18 (http://www.sailing.org/RRS2005/RRS2005-2008.pdf) depend on when the overlap occurred (inside of outside the two boat length zone), where you are coming from, and going to (course around the mark).
But always remember the the golden rule is Rule 14: Avoiding Contact.
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QUESTION: I have posted a diagram of this situation at www.myspace.com/peteralexandersolo you will have to click on "All your dreams" and the diagram will pop up. Sorry for this unconventional method, but it's the only site I have easy access to. Maybe you'll even like the music.
Peter
Answer Thanks for the diagram.
Rule 18.2 would be the applicable rule. The proper section depends on where the overlap occurred. If it was outside the 2 boat length (as measured by the length of the vessel ahead) zone, then you would have to give room (18.2(b)). If you were clear ahead when you entered the zone, they were required to keep clear (18.2(c)).
However 18.2(e) says if it's unclear, then what ever the boats position (overlapped or clear) prior to the zone will be the guiding principal.
This all boils down the when the overlap occurred. Were you inside the 2 boat length zone when the overlap occurred? If it's not clear, were the boats overlapped clearly before the zone?
