Q: Port boat, inside at port mark:
A; When the inside boat does not have right of way, as is the case at the port gate mark when the inside boat is on port and the outside boat is on starboard, the outside boat need only give mark-room - which is just enough space to sail "to" the mark in a seamanlke way (not proper course) and then space "at" the mark to sail her proper course around the mark. A boat is "at" the mark when her bow comes alongside it and she needs to make her turn around the mark. This is not a game change from the previous rules.
Q: Can an inside port boat now take a tactical rounding and call it proper course?
A: To reiterate, an inside keep clear boat is not entitled to sail her proper course until she is physically "at" the mark. Prior to that she must sail her "seamanlike" course exactly as she was required to do under the old rules. She may not sail a "swing wide/cut close" tactical rounding.
Thanks for this; it helps but also prompts more questions.....
I cannot find a definition of "
to" or "
at" in the rules and so what is this and what does it really mean?
You state (I assume pass on) that "A boat is "at" the
mark when her bow comes alongside it and she needs to make her turn around the mark.".
First; I assume "bow" means "foremost appendage of the hull" - so Spi pole in some cases?
Second, what is "alongside"? I could be "alongside" once my Spi pole breaks the line between both
marks, or when the tip of my Spi pole is at a tangent to the
mark? Do I have to be close to the
mark to be "alongside" (I assume so).
YES, I know we are getting into very fine detail, but this happens.....
