Mudeford Sailing Club

SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE RULES?

 WHO WAS RIGHT IN THE RODWAY?

This is a quiz all sailors can join in, and believe me, learn a lot from.  You may remember the incident at the time, or later when we posted these pictures on the notice-board and from the jokes at the Prizegiving. But here it is as it happened.

In the picture above we are at the leeward mark on a downwind leg. From L to R, 190840 (Kate) is on Starboard and has a straight run to the mark. If she has an overlap on the other boats when she enters the 3 boat-lengths zone (the Zone), she has rights to what is now called “mark-room”.  I think we can all agree on that. 180945 (Roy) is on Port and may be overlapped inside 191328 (Jane) who is on Starboard.

649 is clear ahead and rounds the mark cleanly, 182485 is hurrying out of the way on his next upwind leg.

In the event, Roy, who was on Port tack, claimed mark-room, gybed inside the Zone, rounded the mark and sailed off.

So this is the question. In the ensuing tangle at the mark in the picture below, who should have done a penalty?

Roy, who got through despite being on Port in the approach to the Zone?  Or Kate, who has obviously had a collision? Or Jane, hidden behind Kate’s sail, who was shouting “starboard up, up, up” as she approached the Zone, believing she had luffing rights?  Or Mike, making a late appearance on Starboard and sailing into the bunch?

I got myself into exactly the same position as Roy during one Spring race, and took a penalty, so my answer was to penalise Roy, as he seemed to have got it wrong by sailing in on Port tack and causing the pile-up. He did his turns and sailed on.  But was I right?

Read on for some interesting answers.

What are the rules and who was in the wrong?

I’m afraid I will have to go into a little detail here, so if you are reading this in the bath, now might be the time to add some hot water.

(The source of my comments is the book “The Rules in Practice 2009—2012” by Bryan Willis, published by Wiley Nautical and available at the Club for you to study and use when you are race officer.)

In a nutshell, when rounding the Leeward Mark from the Run, once inside the Zone a port tack boat that has an inside overlap must be given mark-room. Are you listening William?

I know, it sound odd, but it’s true. Roy (providing he had an overlap over Kate and Jane) was in the right and should not have been penalised.

Providing Kate had an overlap on Jane, she also should have been given mark-room.

Jane, although she did have luffing rights when she was outside the zone, lost them at the 3 boat-lengths point and should have given Roy and Kate mark-room.

Mike’s responsibility was to avoid a collision.

So to answer the questions:

Roy was not at fault. He should have sailed on and beaten the lot of them.

Kate was probably not at fault. She was probably forced into a collision by Jane.

Jane was at fault and should have done a 720.

If you are being really picky, Mike was at fault and should have done a 720.

Sorry Roy!

Back to Contents

[Home] [Grandstand] [Editorial] [AGM] [Rodway Rules] [More rules] [Mums] [Police Nationals] [Messing about...] [Masters] [Social] [The galley] [The Mistress] [Old Rope?] [Caption?] [Hats Off!] [Round the Web] [The Troll]