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Part 2 — When Boats Meet

Section B — General Limitations

14

Avoiding Contact

If reasonably possible, a boat shall

  • (a) avoid contact with another boat,
  • (b) not cause contact between boats, and
  • (c) not cause contact between a boat and an object that should be avoided.

However, a right-of-way boat, or one sailing within the room or mark-room to which she is entitled, need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear or giving room or mark-room.

Definitions in Context

Keep Clear

A boat keeps clear of a right-of-way boat

  • (a) if the right-of-way boat can sail her course with no need to take avoiding action and,
  • (b) when the boats are overlapped, if the right-of-way boat can also change course in both directions without immediately making contact.
Mark-Room

Room for a boat

  • (a) to sail to the mark when her proper course is to sail close to it,
  • (b) to round or pass the mark on the required side, and
  • (c) to leave it astern.
Room

The space a boat needs in the existing conditions, including space to comply with her obligations under the rules of Part 2 and rule 31, while manoeuvring promptly in a seamanlike way.

Related Cases

Case 2

This case covers a situation involving two boats at a downwind mark in which a boat clear astern reaches the zone before a boat clear ahead. In that situation the boat clear ahead is required by rule 18.2(a)(2) to give mark-room to the boat clear astern.

Case 7

When, after having been clear astern, a boat becomes overlapped to leeward within two of her hull lengths of the other boat, the windward boat must keep clear, but the leeward boat must initially give the windward boat room to keep clear and must not sail above her proper course. The proper course of the windward boat is not relevant.

Case 11

When boats are overlapped at an obstruction, including an obstruction that is a right-of-way boat, the outside boat must give the inside boat room between her and the obstruction.

Case 12

In determining the right of an inside boat to mark-room under rule 18.2(a)(1), it is irrelevant that boats are on widely differing courses, provided that an overlap exists when the first of them reaches the zone.

Case 13

Before her starting signal, a leeward boat does not break a rule by sailing a course higher than the windward boat’s course.

Case 14

When, because of a difference of opinion about a leeward boat’s proper course, two boats on the same tack converge, the windward boat must keep clear. Two boats on the same leg sailing near one another may have different proper courses.

Rule 13

After a boat passes head to wind, she shall keep clear of other boats until she is on a close-hauled course. During that time rules 10 , 11 and 12 do not apply....

Rule 15

When a boat acquires right of way, she shall initially give the other boat room to keep clear , unless she acquires right of way because of the other boat’s act...

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