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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><SPAN class=766303023-30072006>Hi
All,</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><SPAN
class=766303023-30072006></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><SPAN class=766303023-30072006>A
rules question </SPAN>came up last <SPAN
class=766303023-30072006>Thursday in which </SPAN>two overlapped port tacker
boats approaching a starboard tack boat.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There are two rules that might be
applicable here, Rule 18 (Rounding and Passing Marks and Obstructions) or Rule
19 (Room to Tack at an Obstruction).<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=3>§</FONT><SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Under Rule 18,
one would conclude that the inside boat (which in this case is the port tack
windward boat) is entitled to room to pass (duck) the obstruction (the starboard
tack boat).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=3>§</FONT><SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Under Rule 19,
one would conclude that the leeward boat is entitled to hail for room to tack at
the obstruction.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><SPAN class=766303023-30072006>I had never
focused on the fact that these rules seem to conflict, and was interested in
figuring out the correct interpretation. I found the
</SPAN>answer <SPAN class=766303023-30072006>in </SPAN>US Sailing Appeal
24, which discusses the situation of PW and PL approaching S<SPAN
class=766303023-30072006>, which I've summarized below</SPAN>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Facts Found By
The Protest Committee</B>:</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Two Sunfishes overlapped on port tack (PW and PL) were
converging on a starboard tack Sunfish (S).<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>PW hailed for room to go below S and
began to bear away.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>PL, not hearing
the hail and only just aware of PW on her windward side, hailed loudly for room
to tack and put her hem down immediately.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Shortly thereafter, PL and PW collided, barely avoiding contact with
S.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Decision of the Appeals
Committee:<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>“PW established an inside overlap on PL when
the two boats were more than two lengths from the obstruction.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, this fact alone did not give PW
right to room under rule 18.2(a) because at that point the two boats were not
necessarily about to pass the obstruction on the same side [a requirement for
the rule to apply stated in 18.1<SPAN class=766303023-30072006>, and <SPAN
class=766303023-30072006>a key interpretation</SPAN></SPAN>].<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Therefore, PL was under no obligation to
give PW room to pass astern of the obstruction if in fact PL desired to
tack.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Moreover, rule 19.2 provides
that when rule 19.1 applies, rule 18 does not.” <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Although PL was entitled under rule 19.1 to call for room
to tack to clear the obstruction, that rule specifically provides that a boat
hailing for room shall give the hailed boat time to respond.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The fact that PL was not aware of PW
bearing away until it was too late does not absolve PL of her duty to hail
before tacking and then tack.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Accordingly, PL is disqualified.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">What does this mean for the V15
Fleet?<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>We’ve basically been doing it right all
along.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If the leeward port tack
boat decides to avoid the starboard boat by tacking, they must hail for room and
then give the other boat time to react.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The case above suggests that hailing and putting the helm over
simultaneously <SPAN class=766303023-30072006>(which happens a lot in our
fleet) </SPAN>is not <SPAN class=766303023-30072006>considered to be
"</SPAN>adequate<SPAN class=766303023-30072006>"</SPAN> time.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Further, if the leeward port tack boat
decides to duck the starboard tack boat (or is clear behind with no duck
required) then they must make room for the windward boat if the windward boat
also wants to <SPAN class=766303023-30072006>duck.
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><SPAN
class=766303023-30072006></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT><SPAN
class=766303023-30072006></SPAN><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><SPAN
class=766303023-30072006>I hope this clarifies any
ambiguity.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><SPAN
class=766303023-30072006></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT><FONT><SPAN
class=766303023-30072006></SPAN><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><SPAN
class=766303023-30072006>Adam</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT
size=3><SPAN class=766303023-30072006></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
class=766303023-30072006> </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
class=766303023-30072006></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN class=766303023-30072006></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#008080 size=2>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Arial Narrow" color=#000080 size=1><STRONG>Adam C.
Spiegel</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Arial Narrow" color=#000080 size=1><STRONG>160
Guerrero St.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Arial Narrow" color=#000080 size=1><STRONG>San
Francisco, CA 94103</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=459514823-17032005></SPAN><FONT face="Arial Narrow"
color=#000080 size=1><STRONG>(415) 515-5396</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face="Arial Narrow" color=#000080 size=1><SPAN
class=459514823-17032005><A title=mailto:adam.spiegel.1989@anderson.ucla.edu
href="mailto:aaccss@yahoo.com"><STRONG>aaccss@yahoo.com</STRONG></A></SPAN></FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV>
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