Last month I looked at errors at the finish. This month I want to answer a question that I am frequently asked. Is there mark-room at the finishing line. The simple answer is yes.
SECTION C
AT MARKS AND OBSTRUCTIONS
Section C rules do not apply at a starting mark surrounded by navigable water or at its anchor line from the time boats are approaching them to start until they have passed them. When rule 20 applies, rules 18 and 19 do not.
18 MARK-ROOM
18.1 When Rule 18 Applies
Rule 18 applies between boats when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is in the zone.
However, it does not apply
(a) between boats on opposite tacks on a beat to windward,
(b) between boats on opposite tacks when the proper course at the mark for one but not both of them is to tack,
(c) between a boat approaching a mark and one leaving it, or
(d) if the mark is a continuing obstruction, in which case rule 19 applies.
The introduction to Section C says that Section C rules do not apply at a starting mark. They don’t say anything about the finishing marks. Rule 18.1 says that “Rule 18 applies between boats when they are required to leave a mark on the same side.” Boats are required to leave finishing marks on the same side and none of exclusions in 18.1 are relevant so rule 18 does apply.
18.2 Giving Mark-Room
(a) When boats are overlapped the outside boat shall give the
inside boat mark-room, unless rule 18.2(b) applies.
(b) If boats are overlapped when the first of them reaches the zone, the outside boat at that moment shall thereafter give the inside boat mark-room. If a boat is clear ahead when she reaches the zone, the boat clear astern at that moment shall thereafter give her mark-room.
In the diagram the red boat and the green boat are overlapped when they reach the zone. The red boat on port tack is entitled to mark-room from the green boat that is on starboard tack. The yellow and blue boats are overlapped when they reach the zone. The blue windward boat is entitled to mark-room from the yellow leeward boat.
In the second diagram we are looking at a windward finish. The green boat has slightly overstood at the committee boat end. Since she is overlapped with red, she is entitled to mark-room even though she is the windward boat. Red must give her room to sail to the mark. Blue is the leeward boat and she entitled to mark-room. She uses her momentum to shoot the mark and yellow must keep clear. Blue must make sure that she does not cross head to wind.
© Copyright 2011 Andrew Alberti