AUGUST 2012
Jeff, Thanks for the question.
You will note in the diagram that the red boat has his sail off to the left of his boat meaning he is the starboard boat. The green boat is on port since his sail is off on the right side of his boat.
So the boat on port has to give way to the boat on startboard. As the article says, this has nothing to do with the mark, Starboard boat always has rights over port boats. Always. In your situation
I have to assume that the 3 boats in question were all on the same tack, probably starboard. In this case the rule comes into play as soon as the lead boat enters an imaginary three boat length
circle around the mark. At the point that the first boat penetrates the circle the rule says, if the next two boats are not overlapped(meaning that the front of the #2 boat is not ahead of the back of
the lead boat) then the lead boat can proceed to the mark as close as he likes and round it. If however the # 2 boat has an overlap, then he calls the lead boat for room to round and the lead boat
must go wide and let him round first. And: if the #3 boat has an overlap on the #2 boat at the same time that #2 has the overlap with the lead boat then #3 has all the rights and # 2 and lead boat
must both move out and #3 round first. This is also true if there is a #4 overlapped with #3 and a #5 overlapped with #4 and so on. All have to give room to the last overlapped boat.
Lesson here is yes, first be on starboad tack going into the mark, second, have a plan if you achieve the overlap say so and take the inside, if you don't have it, also say so and let the lead boat go first.
Passing at the mark is the most common place on the course, you will be a passee or a passer whenever two boats come at the same time, you need to have aplan and execute. it is something you can
practice at any slow no wake buoy on the lake. Approach close to the mark and shoot away on port tack, approach wider and then skim by the mark on a bit of a reach then head up with the momentum you
built, or in some cases you need to round then tack, this is very slow if not practiced and you will lose positions every time. This needs to be practiced both coming up to the weather mark and going downwind
at the leeward mark. Do it ten times at a snw bouy for upwind and downwind and you'll have the confidence to be a passer and not the other.
Great question. Thanks
peter
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO EXAMPLE
On Mon, Aug 13, 2012 at 9:29 AM, Jeff N. Bassett wrote:
Is there a good source for sailing rules and approaching a mark? I thought I had reviewed them several weeks ago after I had collided with a boat to make sure I knew the rules when approaching a mark. I had hit another boat.
I have a question about this week's race.
In the diagram below, I was the red boat. There were two side-by-side boats where green is. As I was approaching the mark one of the boats ( I am not sure who it was) told me they were going inside. This forced me wide around the mark and both boats passed me up. Am I supposed to yield?
One of reasons I now approach the mark on a starboard tack is that I have the right of way over someone coming from the port tack.
Feel to share with the group if it is something everyone should know about or don't share if I have this wrong.
Jeff