sailing rules question

jimk5560

New Member
Hello,

Who has right of way, a starboard broad reach boat going downwind towards the leeward mark or a port tacking close hauled boat that just rounded the leeward mark and is coming back upwind? Thanks in advance.
 
If you happen to be sailing downwind and are on starboard and another boat is sailing upwind towrds you and he/she is on starboard as well, they have right of way as you are the windward boat and must giveway to the leeward boat.
 
Whilst at first glance it would seem obvious that starboard has right of way, under Rule 10, like everything, it can always be a bit more complicated than that.

Stardbord would not always have right of way, for instance
Rule 13, when tacking
Rule 14 avoiding contact
Rule 15 aquiring right of way
Rule 16.1 giving the other boat room

Also in this situation, it is just possible, depending how far round the mark the port boat got, and the direction of the rounding that 18.2 mark room might com into play

To get a propoer answer to your question would require far more detail
1. which way was the rounding
2. how long had the starboard boat been on starboard, when last gybed
3. had the port boat gone through head to wind
4. had the poart boat passed the mark
5. did either boat tack action to avoid a collision
6. was there a collission

etc
 
Hello,

Who has right of way, a starboard broad reach boat going downwind towards the leeward mark or a port tacking close hauled boat that just rounded the leeward mark and is coming back upwind? Thanks in advance.

Basic rule port and starboard applies. If the leeward boat were to tack over to starboard without interfering with the windward boat (boat running) then the onus changes and the windward boat must keep clear.
 

Back
Top