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Part 2 — When Boats Meet

Section C — At Marks And Obstructions

Section C rules do not apply between boats when the mark or obstruction referred to in those rules is a starting mark surrounded by navigable water or its anchor line, from the time the boats are approaching it to start until they have left it astern.

19

ROOM TO PASS AN OBSTRUCTION

19.1: When Rule 19 Applies

Rule 19 applies between two boats at an obstruction except when rule 18 applies between them and (a) the obstruction is the mark, or (b) the obstruction is another boat overlapped with each of them. However, at a continuing obstruction, rule 19 always applies and rule 18 does not.

19.2: Giving Room at an Obstruction

(a) A right-of-way boat may choose to pass an obstruction on her port or starboard side. If a right-of-way boat changes course when choosing on which side to pass the obstruction, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear. (b) When the boats are overlapped, the outside boat shall give the inside boat room between her and the obstruction, unless she has been unable to do so from the time the overlap began. (c) While boats are passing a continuing obstruction, if a boat that was clear astern and required to keep clear becomes overlapped between the other boat and the obstruction and, at the moment the overlap begins, there is not room for her to pass between them, (1) she is not entitled to room under rule 19.2(b), and (2) while the boats remain overlapped, she shall keep clear and rules 10 and 11 do not apply.

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.

Related Cases

Case 23

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 of her.

Case 30

A boat clear astern that is required to keep clear but collides with the boat clear ahead breaks the right-of-way rule that was applicable before the collision occurred. A boat that loses right of way by unintentionally changing tack is nevertheless required to keep clear.

Rule 18

(a) Rule 18 applies between boats when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is in the zone . However, it does not apply -...

Rule 20

A boat may hail for room to tack and avoid a boat on the same tack by hailing ‘Room to tack’. However, she shall not hail unless - (a) she is approaching an obs...

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