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Rule 18.3

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Rule 18.3: Tacking in the Zone | Protest Room

Part 2 — When Boats Meet

Section C — At Marks And Obstructions

Section C rules do not apply between boats when the mark or obstruction referred to in those rules is a starting mark surrounded by navigable water or its anchor line, from the time the boats are approaching it to start until they have left it astern.

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18.3

Tacking in the Zone

If a boat passes head to wind from port to starboard tack in the zone of a mark to be left to port, rule 18.2 does not apply between her and another boat on starboard tack that is fetching the mark. If the other boat has been on starboard tack since entering the zone, the boat that passed head to wind

(a) shall not cause the other boat to sail above close-hauled to avoid contact, and
(b) shall give mark-room if the other boat becomes overlapped inside her.

Related Cases & Q&A

If a boat luffs immediately after she becomes overlapped to leeward of another boat and there is no seamanlike action that would enable the other boat to keep clear, the boat that luffs breaks rules 15 and 16.1 . The other boat breaks rule 11 , but is exonerated.

If two overlapped boats on the same tack are on a beat to windward and are subject to rule 18.2(a)(1) , rule 18 ceases to apply when either of them turns past head to wind. When a boat is required to give another boat mark-room , the space she must give includes space for the other boat to comply with rule 31 . When the boat entitled to mark-room is compelled to touch the mark while sailing within the mark-room to which she is entitled, she is exonerated for her breach of rule 31 .

Tacking in the Zone

Preferred Wordings

Rule 18.3 Applies After Tacking in the Zone
After X passed head to wind from port to starboard tack inside the zone, RRS 18.3 applied between her and Y, who was on starboard tack and fetching the mark.
Rule 18.3(a) Caused Boat Above Close-Hauled
X caused Y, who was on starboard tack since entering the zone and was fetching the mark, to sail above close-hauled to avoid contact. X broke RRS 18.3(a).
Rule 18.3(b) Failed to Give Mark-Room
X failed to give mark-room to Y, the inside overlapped boat, who was on starboard tack since entering the zone and was fetching the mark. X broke RRS 18.3(b).
Rule F2.18.3 Kiteboard Farther from Mark Affecting Course
Before changing tack at the mark, X the right-of-way kiteboard who was overlapped inside of Y, sailed farther from the mark than needed to sail her proper course. By doing so, X affected the course of Y. X broke RRS F2.18.3.
Rule F2.18.3 Kiteboard Farther from Mark Not Affecting Course
Before changing tack at the mark, X the right-of-way kiteboard who was overlapped inside of Y, sailed farther from the mark than needed to sail her proper course. Since this did not affect the course of another kiteboard, X did not break RRS F2.18.3.

Rule 18.2

- (a) When the first of two boats reaches the zone , - (1) if the boats are overlapped , the outside boat at that moment shall give the inside boat mark-room ;...

Rule 18.4

When an inside overlapped right-of-way boat must gybe at a mark to sail her proper course , until she gybes she shall sail no farther from the mark than needed...