R16

R16 EXPLAINED

16 CHANGING COURSE

16.1 When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.

explanations :
A right-of-way boat cannot change her course too significantly or too quickly if another boat is close to her as the right-of-way boat has to leave the other boat an opportunity to react to her move.

tactical aspect of the rule :
This rule grants the give-way boat an opportunity to react to moves from the right-of-way boat. If prevents the right-of-way boat from abusing from its privileged position.

16.2 In addition, when after the starting signal boats are about to cross or are crossing each other on opposite tacks, and the port-tack boat is keeping clear of the starboard-tack boat, the starboard-tack boat shall not change course if as a result the port-tack boat would immediately need to change course to continue keeping clear.

explanations :
This rule basically forbids “hunting” (which is allowed pre-start and in match race). A starboard-tack boat cannot change course at the last second and “run into” a port boat which was staying clear.

In the following example, blue’s luff is illegal as per rule 16: Yellow was crossing in front of Blue before Blue’s move, i.e., Yellow was staying clear. Blue is not untitled to move at the last second in an attempt to penalize Yellow under 10 in this situation.

tactical aspects of the rule :
- note that 16.2 is only applied after the starting signal of a race, and
- that it is not applied at all in match racing.

implementation in vsk3 :
R16 is by and large well managed in VSK3 –if not a little sensitive.

bye rafat - translation bye amic.