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  4. Section B
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Part 2 - WHEN BOATS MEET

Part 2 - WHEN BOATS MEET

Part 2 - WHEN BOATS MEET

Section: Section B - GENERAL LIMITATIONS

The rules of Part 2 apply between boats that are sailing in or near the racing area and intend to race, are racing, or have been racing. However, a boat not racing shall not be penalized for breaking one of these rules, except rule 14 when the incident resulted in injury or serious damage, or rule 23.1.

When a boat sailing under these rules meets a vessel that is not, she shall comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCAS) or government right-of-way rules. If the notice of race so states, the rules of Part 2 are replaced by the right-of-way rules of the IRPCAS or by government right-of-way rules.

The rules of Part 2 apply between boats that are sailing in or near the racing area and intend to race, are racing, or have been racing. However, a boat not racing shall not be penalized for breaking one of these rules, except rule 14 when the incident resulted in injury or serious damage, or rule 23.1.

When a boat sailing under these rules meets a vessel that is not, she shall comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCAS) or government right-of-way rules. If the notice of race so states, the rules of Part 2 are replaced by the right-of-way rules of the IRPCAS or by government right-of-way rules.

Section B - GENERAL LIMITATIONS

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.

Related Cases

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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.

Related Cases

Case 2Case 7Case 11Case 12Case 13Case 14Case 23Case 25Case 26Case 27Case 30Case 43Case 49Case 50Case 75Case 77

15: Acquiring Right of Way

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 actions.

Related Cases

Case 2Case 7Case 13Case 24Case 27Case 53

15: Acquiring Right of Way

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 actions.

Related Cases

Case 2Case 7Case 13Case 24Case 27Case 53

16: CHANGING COURSE

16.1: Changing Course

When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.

16.2: Changing Course

In addition, on a beat to windward when a port-tack boat is keeping clear by sailing to pass to leeward of a starboard-tack boat, the starboard-tack boat shall not bear away if as a result the port-tack boat must change course immediately to continue keeping clear.

16: CHANGING COURSE

16.1: Changing Course

When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.

16.2: Changing Course

In addition, on a beat to windward when a port-tack boat is keeping clear by sailing to pass to leeward of a starboard-tack boat, the starboard-tack boat shall not bear away if as a result the port-tack boat must change course immediately to continue keeping clear.

17: On the Same Tack; Proper Course

If a boat clear astern becomes overlapped within two of her hull lengths to leeward of a boat on the same tack, she shall not sail above her proper course while they remain on the same tack and overlapped within that distance, unless in doing so she promptly sails astern of the other boat.

Related Cases

Case 7Case 13Case 14Case 46

17: On the Same Tack; Proper Course

If a boat clear astern becomes overlapped within two of her hull lengths to leeward of a boat on the same tack, she shall not sail above her proper course while they remain on the same tack and overlapped within that distance, unless in doing so she promptly sails astern of the other boat.

Related Cases

Case 7Case 13Case 14Case 46
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