4/14/2025 9:18:10 AM
by Andrew Alberti
In the last article, I discussed the changes to rule 18, mark-room. This time, I am going to discuss the change in the definition of mark-room, obstruction, continuing obstruction and a change in rule 19, obstructions.
The 2021-2024 rules, in the definition of mark-room, listed two stages, room to sail to the mark and room to pass the mark. There was no obvious end. Rule 18.1(b) says “Rule 18 no longer applies between boats when mark-room has been given”. It had been given when the mark had been passed since that was the end of the definition of mark-room, but that was not very clear. A third part (c) has been added to the definition of mark-room, in the 2025-2028 rules, which says, “to leave it astern”. Once the boat entitled to mark-room has left the mark-astern, she has been given mark-room and rule 18 ends.
The 2021-2024 rules included room to pass the mark “without touching the mark”. That was redundant since the definition of room says, “including space to comply with her obligations under the rules of Part 2 and rule 31.” Rule 31 is the rule that tells boats not to touch marks. This redundant phrase has been deleted.
Finally, the 2021-2024 definition of mark-room ended in a paragraph about room including room to tack under specific circumstances. That was confusing since as soon as the boat entitled to mark-room passed head to wind, rule 18 turned off. This has also been eliminated.
There is a new definition for a continuing obstruction in the 2025-2028 rules. Rule 19.2(c), previously referred to a continuing obstruction, but it was never defined. There was a sentence at the end of the definition of obstruction that listed some things that were not continuing obstructions. These are all now in the new definition, which also specifies how long you have to be able pass alongside an obstruction, for it to be continuing obstruction.
Other than removing the restriction on continuing obstructions, there is very little change in the definition of obstruction itself. One change is that it previous said that an area designated in the sailing instructions could be an obstruction. Now it can be designated in any rule. The sailing instructions are rules so they can still designate an obstruction, but the notice of race can as well.
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