Rule 18.2(a)(2), Mark-Room: Giving Mark-Room
When a boat comes abeam of a mark but is outside the zone, and when her change of course towards the mark results in a boat that is in the zone and that was previously clear astern becoming overlapped inside her, rule 18.2(a)(2) requires her to give mark- room to that boat, whether or not her distance from the mark was caused by giving mark-room to other boats overlapped inside her.
Facts
Five boats were sailing directly downwind to a leeward mark to be left to port. Four of them were overlapped in line with A nearest the mark. The fifth boat, E, was clear astern of A, B and C when those three boats reached the zone. When E reached the zone, D was outside the zone and clear ahead of E. When D came abeam of the mark and turned to round it, E became overlapped inside D. E rounded the mark behind A, B and C but inside D, which was able to give mark-room to E.
Question
Answer
Yes. In order to leave room for A, B and C, the three inside boats with their booms fully extended, D had to approach the mark on a course that brought her abeam of it outside the zone. When E reached the zone, D was outside the zone and D and E were not overlapped. Therefore, rule 118.2(a)(2) applied between D and E. E was entitled to mark-room under that rule, which D was able to give.
USA 1982/250
USA 1982/250