Just got home from Thursday night beer can racing. I was called as a witness in a protest between two boats about a leeward mark rounding. Boats were on opposite tacks coming to the leeward mark with a starboard rounding. Port tack boat was coming in fast on a broad reach preparing to gybe around the mark. Starboard tack boat was running to the mark. Around the time he got within 2 boat lengths of the mark Starbaord tack boat started hailing Starboard, and port tack boat answered that he deserved mark room. Port tack boat was forward of Starboard's transom well before that time. Starboard kept hailing then turned hard to port at the mark to avoid collision. He protested Port tack boat saying he had no right to room. Who was right?
Answer - Starboard tack boat later withdrew his protest (begrudgingly) after the protest committee heard the facts and explained the rules. Coming to a leeward mark, or any time the boats don't need to tack at the mark, mark room rules apply. The inside boat is entitled to mark room as long as she gets an overlap before the first boat gets into the zone (3 boat lengths). The fact that the boats are on opposite tacks makes no difference at all. As long as Inside is in front of a line abeam of Outside's transom there's an overlap.
After the race several members of the club (including Starboard tack boat above) thought port/starboard rules trumped everything. That's just not the case at some mark roundings. Figured I'd post the story so others may learn or reinforce their knowledge.
Answer - Starboard tack boat later withdrew his protest (begrudgingly) after the protest committee heard the facts and explained the rules. Coming to a leeward mark, or any time the boats don't need to tack at the mark, mark room rules apply. The inside boat is entitled to mark room as long as she gets an overlap before the first boat gets into the zone (3 boat lengths). The fact that the boats are on opposite tacks makes no difference at all. As long as Inside is in front of a line abeam of Outside's transom there's an overlap.
After the race several members of the club (including Starboard tack boat above) thought port/starboard rules trumped everything. That's just not the case at some mark roundings. Figured I'd post the story so others may learn or reinforce their knowledge.