Here's my quick take:
http://www.sailingworld.com/from-the-experts/rules/get-past-obstructions-with-rule-19-1000071499-p2.html
"When Zack becomes overlapped to leeward of Carla, several things all happen
at that moment. (1) Zack acquires right of way over Carla under Rule 11. (2)
Zack must initially give Carla room to fulfill her new obligation to keep
clear (Rule 15). (3) Carla becomes obligated to keep clear of Zack (Rule
11), and she must also give Zack room between her and Dave under Rule
19.2(b) unless, despite trying to give room from the time the overlap began,
she is unable to do so. (5) Zack must continue to keep clear of Dave, first
under Rule 12 and after he overlaps Dave under Rule 11. "
There seems to be 2 situations: Before the start and after the start.
Before:
"There is one key factor that makes life rough for Zack. Carla has been
moving very slowly with her sails luffing, and she is not required to make
any effort to fulfill her obligations under Rules 11, 15, and 19.2(b) until
Zack actually gets an overlap on her (see ISAF Case 53)."
Following these 2 bold sections- (keeping Zack/Zack, 4/windward boat/Carla,
5/Leeward boat/Dave) and your description if feels like there wasn't a foul-
but one pissed off windward boat. If Zack gave room for 4 to keep clear, 4
kept clear, no affect on 5, and no collision- then it appears to have worked
out. 4 should have closed the gap and put main out. I'm guessing this was
not the case though if you asked the other party.
As the rule write up even says
with a 2 boat width gap (leaving one for apparent main and the 'fudge'
factor)- that's a bold maneuver. It is important to note that 4 is not
required to give you rights or room until you have overlap clear
established. Almost any sailor would close the gap very quickly- with rights
to do so- and leave you coming in very late to create a hole vs entering
into one, which is a different situation. And then you must give them room
to keep clear. This is not instant and on the starting line, already
luffing, makes the obligation and ability even less and smaller for 4. I bet
4 has a different story and the rules seem to favor 4 in this situation.
Your explanation of Z below appears that Zack has no foul committed against
him- 4 in this case, might feel differently and would be interesting to hear
their side.
After the start:
4 should keep clear- but would need to hear their story- such as if Zack
continued to give 4 time and opportunity to do so. If 4 was headed to wind,
luffing- you'd have to assume they'd have stopped and lost traction- in
which case they could side slip into Zack with no ability to keep clear. If
that's the case, then Zack should give them opportunity to.
Zack would need a pretty strong case in my opinion. It's also clear that the
rules are in favor of 4 and 5, putting the obligations on Zack for the most
part.
Personally, (and this is pure editorial) I think it's pretty weak to line up
late and try to snake a hole. Be a man, step up, claim your spot, game on.
You'll never make a friend doing that! It's Thursday sailing- you'll only
get better trying.
- jb
On Fri, May 8, 2009 at 1:50 AM, Jorge Moraleda <jorge.moraleda at gmail.com>wrote:
> Dear sailing friends,
>> Kevin mentioned tonight the article "Get Past Obstructions With Rule
> 19" by Dick Rose that appears in the May issue of Sailing World (p.66)
>> The last section of that article talks about what happens when a late
> comer is trying to get a front row start by sneaking in between two
> boats that are already there. I still don't understand how all the
> rules interplay in the real world in this situation. I am hoping that
> maybe you can help me.
>> As background, I just read the afore mentioned article, ISAF case #53
> mentioned there, and I have reread all rules in part 2.
>> Now imagine the following case (which may sound familiar to all of you):
>> Assume 8 boats are about 2 boat lengths from the line 30s before a V15
> start. All of them are next to each other, pretty much head to wind
> (but on starboard) and with little forward momentum. Say that between
> boats 4 and 5 (counting from the boat end) there are between 2 and 3
> boat widths. There is even less space between the others.
>> At this time, Boat Z coming from behind on starboard (like everyone
> else) with a just a little more momentum that the boats ahead of her
> is about to sneak between 4 and 5 to try to get a front row start. 4,
> to winward of Z puts her bow down to try to protect her space and
> hails Z to not come in there. Z disregards the call and goes into the
> space any way. 4 is annoyed but comes up almost to head to wind to
> avoid Z. Z luffs her sail and goes head to wind herself to avoid 5 (to
> leeward of her). Now 4, Z, and 5 are all overlapped on starboard with
> barely any momentum and almost head to wind.
>> No contact has occurred yet.
>> The starting signal is given. Z continues keeping her bow up to avoid
> 5, who is still not close hauled (probably to avoid 6). 4 puts her
> bown down to close hauled which results in contact between the bow of
> Z and the port bow of 4.
>> ---------
>> Who did what right? Who did what wrong? What should have been the
> ideal behavior for each of the actors in this situation... In
> particular
>> 1) Should Z not have gone in between 4 and 5? In general, when should
> a call "no room" / "don't go in there" be given? When should it be
> heeded? When should it be ignored?
>> 2) Should 4 have kept her bow up and continue keeping clear of Z who
> was a leeward boat?
>> -------------
>> What would have to be different in the scenario for the answer to be
> the opposite?
>> Thank you,
>> Jorge
> 946
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