(pillow)Case of the Week (05) - 53

(This is an installment in a series of blogposts about the ISAF Call book 2009-2012 with amendments for 2010. All calls are official interpretations by the ISAF committees on how the Racing Rules of Sailing should be used or interpreted. The calls are copied from the Call book, only the comments are written by me.)

CASE 53

Rule 11, On the Same Tack, Overlapped
Rule 15, Acquiring Right of Way

A boat clear ahead need not take any action to keep clear before being overlapped to leeward from clear astern.

Summary of the Facts

Thirty seconds before the starting signal, W was nearly wayless, her sails flapping. At least three hull lengths prior to becoming overlapped to leeward of W, L hailed ‘Leeward boat’. W took no evasive action. Immediately after she became overlapped, L had to bear away to avoid contact with W; meanwhile, W began to trim her sails and head up. L protested. The protest committee found that W, having been given adequate warning of the impending situation, failed to keep clear of a leeward boat, thereby breaking rule 11. W appealed asking: ‘Does W, under rules 11 and 15, have an obligation to anticipate becoming overlapped to the extent of having to gather sufficient way to be able to respond immediately after the boats become overlapped?’
Decision

Allowing adequate time for response, when rights and obligations change between two boats, is implied in rule 15 by its requirement to allow a newly obligated boat ‘room to keep clear’. This rule does not require a boat clear ahead to take any action to keep clear as a windward boat before the boat clear astern becomes overlapped to leeward.

If L had not borne away immediately, she would have broken rule 15. After L become overlapped to leeward of W, W immediately trimmed her sails, headed up, and thereafter kept clear. By taking these actions, W fulfilled her obligations under rule 11. W’s appeal is upheld; neither boat broke any rule. W is to be reinstated.

USSA 1969/126

 
When I try to explain this to a group at a clinic – I sometimes start rolling a cigarette in front of everybody. Nine times out of ten someone remarks that smoking is not allowed in that place – I agree, but keep rolling, and explain that although that may suggest I intend to break a rule – it in itself is not breaking the rule. Not before I light my butt!

Since I’ve been delinquent in posting the (pillow)cases – I’m doing a couple each Monday – Case 69 & 68 are now posted on LTW at weeks 44 and 45.
http://rrsstudy.blogspot.com/2010/11/pillowcase-of-week-45-68.html
http://rrsstudy.blogspot.com/2010/11/pillowcase-of-week-44-69.html
J.