On Second Thought...

In my previous post, I briefly described a contentious rounding at the Aurora buoy between Full Moon and the T-bird Valkyrie. The course to the buoy was approaching but not quite close-hauled. Full Moon was clear ahead. Valkyrie had been slowly gaining and maneuvering to windward, apparently hoping to gain an inside overlap at the buoy. Full Moon responded by also maneuvering to windward to block the attempt. Upon reaching the zone within 3 boat-lengths of the buoy (my opinion), Full Moon then fell off a bit to lay the mark, confident that Valkyrie could not legally establish an inside overlap.

Valkyrie, however, still was moving slightly faster and maneuvered to create an inside overlap. Believing that Valkyrie had no rights, having established an overlap too late, Full Moon tacked just after reaching the mark. Valkyrie also tacked (they might have been able to duck behind but maybe not) and rounded the buoy without contacting either Full Moon or the buoy. There was a bit of yelling back and forth, though, regarding (A) when the overlap had been established and (B) whether Full Moon had the right to tack.

The Duck Dodge, of course, does not enforce the official Racing Rules as published by the ISAF but many racers voluntarily attempt to follow these rules anyway since they are designed specifically for fair competition and to keep boats from harming each other. I certainly try to follow them, at least as best I understand them, and Valkyrie's crew seemed to be in the same mode.

Anyway, my contention had been along the lines of Rule 18.2 (c) (2) which states "When a boat is required to give mark-room by rule 18.2 (b), if she becomes overlapped inside the boat entitled to mark room, she shall also give that boat room to sail her proper course while they remain overlapped." Full Moon's "proper course" was to tack as soon as possible and, by this rule, Valkyrie would be required to give Full Moon room to do that.

All would be well for Full Moon but for the next part of the rule which states "However, if the boat entitled to mark-room passes head to wind [tacks] or leaves the zone [3 boat-length zone around the buoy], rule 18.2(b) ceases to apply." What this means is that Full Moon could do most anything at all except to tack. In other words, Valkyrie was correct - I did NOT have the right to tack - and I sincerely apologize to them for not understanding that.

What I should have done was head up and force Valkyrie to miss the buoy. That would have been completely fair under the rules and would not have involved tacking. And, if Valkyrie intended to follow the rules, they would have had to fall off and circle back around the buoy (even the Duck Dodge requires that you go around all the buoys!). I had assumed Valkyrie would not dare cut inside and didn't realize they had done so until it was too late. My mistake - but I won't make that one again if I can help it!

I also can't resist a parting shot. The next part of Rule 18.2 is section (d), which states "If there is reasonable doubt that a boat obtained or broke and overlap in time, it shall be presumed that she did not." Translation: If you hope to establish an inside overlap coming from behind, you better make damn sure you do so in time and that the other boat is fully aware of it because the burden of proof is all on you!