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Part 2 — When Boats Meet

Section A — Right Of Way

A boat has right of way over another boat when the other boat is required to keep clear of her. However, some rules in Sections B, C and D limit the actions of a right-of-way boat.

12

On the Same Tack, Not Overlapped

When boats are on the same tack and not overlapped, a boat clear astern shall keep clear of a boat clear ahead.

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 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 15

In tacking to round a mark, a boat clear ahead must comply with rule 13; a boat clear astern is entitled to hold her course and thereby prevent the other from tacking.

Case 24

When a boat becomes overlapped to leeward from clear astern, the other boat must act promptly to keep clear. When she cannot do so in a seamanlike way, she has not been given room as required by rule 15.

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.

Case 41

A discussion of how rule 19.2(b) and the definitions Obstruction, Continuing Obstruction, and Clear Astern and Clear Ahead; Overlap apply when two overlapped boats on the same tack overtake and pass to leeward of a boat ahead on the same tack. There is no obligation to hail for room at an obstruction, but it is prudent to do so.

Case 77

Contact with a mark by a boat’s equipment constitutes touching it. A boat obligated to keep clear does not break a rule when touched by a right-of-way boat’s equipment that moves unexpectedly out of normal position.

Rule 11

When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat.

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....

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