Answer of the Week

Quiz 27 Answer

Boat L is disqualified for breaking rule 19.2(b), Giving Room at an Obstruction [see below]. With respect to X, both L and W are clear astern and therefore required to keep clear of her by rule 12, On the Same Tack, Not Overlapped; X therefore ranks as an obstruction to both (see the definition Obstruction). As L and W approach X, L, as the right-of-way boat, has the option of luffing and passing X to windward, or of steering a course to pass X to leeward (see rule 19.2(a)). When L elects to pass X to leeward, and it overlapped with W, rule 19.2(b) requires her to give room to W, as the inside boat, to do the same.

Note that had L elected to luff and pass X to windward, W would be required to keep clear by rule 11, On the Same Tack, Overlapped; and as the outside boat, to give room by rule 19.2(b), and L would be required to give W room to keep clear under rule 16.1, Changing Course, and rule 19.2(a).