Section C has been completely rewritten and split into three rules: 18 -Markroom, 19 - Room to pass an obstruction and 20 - Room to Tack at an Obstruction
The preamble of part C covers all of them:
SECTION C
AT MARKS AND OBSTRUCTIONS
To the extent that a Section C rule conflicts with a rule in Section A or B, the Section C rule takes precedence.
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 ROUNDING AND PASSING MARKS AND OBSTRUCTIONS
In rule 18, room is room for an inside boat to round or pass between an outside boat and a mark or obstruction, including room to tack or gybe when either is a normal part of the manoeuvre.
18.1 When This Rule Applies
Rule 18 applies when boats are about to round or pass a mark they are required to leave on the same side, or an obstruction on the same side, until they have passed it. However, it does not apply
(a) at a starting mark surrounded by navigable water or at its
anchor line from the time the boats are approaching them to start until they have passed them, or
(b) while the boats are on opposite tacks, either on a beat to windward or when the proper course for one of them, but not both,
to round or pass the mark or obstruction is to tack.
18 AT A 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 rewriting of rule 18 is not so much a change, as to bring it into a more logical an structured order, so that the rule is better understood.
Note that the "about to round" part has been dropped and that one of the boats has to be in the zone, before rule 18 kicks in.
No more rule 18 outside that zone, only the other r.o.w. rules. And before you ask about conflicts with rules in part A and B (inside the zone); that is dealt with in 18.5.
We will have to see on the water what specific impact this will have.
The rewriting of rule 18 is not so much a change, as to bring it into a more logical an structured order, so that the rule is better understood.
ReplyDeleteAgree that the new Rule 18 changes very little as it applies to mark roundings. Verbiage has changed significantly, and some things that were stated in the rule are moved to the definitions (e.g. Mark-room), but the rights and obligations of boats are not very different than before.
What has changed is that rule 18 only applies at marks - obstructions get their own rule (19) and those rules for passing obstructions constitute a significant change - for instance there's no "zone" around an obstruction. But that's probably post #7.
BTW, I'm still looking for an authoritative version of the new rules. Anybody got a link?
Hi I just discovered your great RRS Blog Thanks for the great work!!
ReplyDeleteI need some clarification on the preamble of section C.
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.
Is the exclusion of section C rules from the beginning of the start sequence to the start, or until competitors have past the starting marks?
Thanks for your great blog.
Clay
In
Canada
The exclusion starts only on the actual approach. Usually 30-20 seconds before the signal. If boats turn away from that course they are no longer approaching. In match racing umpires define the precise moment this happens, so that they know when rules in section C are switched off.
ReplyDeleteIf boats approach - for instance the starting vessel - before that moment (which can be after the beginning of the start sequence, i.e. after prep) rules in section C are applicable.
The rules in section C also turn back on, after boats have passed the starting marks.
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