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Case 14:
In the photo below, W9235 is outpointing W3854 as
they sail up a beat
on Tawas Bay.
1. If they
continue to get closer together to the point of
nearly colliding, who will have to keep clear?
Under what rule?
2. Would rule 17 apply here (same tack; proper
course)?
3. What other rule
will apply once these boats get very
close to each other, say about a foot of water
between the hulls?
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Answer:
1. It will be a straightforward case of rule 11
(windward/leeward), and W3854 (Uncle Al) will have
to keep clear
of
Brian Jeffs (9235).
2. Rule 17
is not likely to
apply since it
is extremely rare that a boat is able to establish
an overlap from
clear astern and within two boatlengths while going
upwind. Even if this did
happen, and I've been on some lakes (Clark Lake,
Lake Orion, Fanshawe)
where it does, Leeward would be entitled to sail (no
higher than) her proper
course which could include any amount of
"pinching" she cares to do.
For what it's worth, if 3854 (the windward boat)
wants to sail down onto a boat trying to
pass to leeward, he may do so. Of
course, rule 11
still applies,
and 3854 will have to keep clear
of 9235.
3. Once the boats get into close proximity, rule 16.1
kicks in, and the leeward boat must take care not to
change course -
for any reason - if such a course change
does not leave
Windward room to keep clear.
On the other hand,
Leeward is entitled to
hold his course, and if Windward can't point high
enough to keep clear,
he will have to tack away or luff up and let Leeward
go by. If Al
leaves tacking or luffing up too late and can't do
so without
colliding, he has not kept clear
- see definition of keeping
clear - and must do his turns.
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