What is it?

If you enter the mark wide and exit close to the ball as most of us are taught ( "C" mark in this example), you risk cutting off another boat who enters close and exits wide.

Who owes what and to whom?

if there was no overlap at the time the first boat entered the two length zone at NO time is a boat authorized to get between you and the mark. You are allowed to round in any method you see fit as long as it is reasonable. Entering wide and existing close is definitely reasonable. If someone sticks his bow in when you do this, he should avoid contact with you and start humping the mark. If there is contact, or you have to avoid in any way, you have been fouled. Obviously, you too should do you part to avoid contact but you should be proudly proclaiming "no room in there! - no overlap!" and then "up up up!" followed by "protest" if he stays on the inside, causes you to avoid him, and/or hits the mark.

If you are behind, occasionally you can sneak one in on the inside of a boat ahead who might be floundering as they attempt a rounding - but you better be sure they can't come up and pinch you at the mark - you are in no-man's land and have no rights.

What you have described is a "tactical rounding", not a "seaman-like rounding".



Seaman-like means that you just have enough room to round. According to US Appeal 20, “Room is the space a boat needs to pass the mark in a seamanlike way, not the space she would take to pass the mark in a tactically desirable manner.”

Assume the same relative position, but no overlap. Then what?

If Purple were to have no overlap here (When the first boat enters the two-length zone). Then he has no rights. Blues only recourse is to protest Purple. However if purple takes the inside anyway blue must still avoid hitting purple and protest.

Mike Hill

Agree. As shown in the picture, can't the inside purple boat round tactically?

No they cannot. Only when you are clear of any obligations can you do that. Inside boat must round in a seaman like manner, not tactically.

No kidding? I didn't think there was much difference...that will count for my "learned something new today".

The outside boat can try to push the inside boat up but not so as to pinch him off completely, he must allow the inside boat room to round.

Now the debate I always hear at the mark is, "Hey, I need more room!!" from the inside boat while the outside boat is usually saying, "Get up, you have PLENTY of room!!" Obviously the outside boat wants the inside boat to have to round very tightly, to slow him down, so on exit the outside boat will have more speed and be able to get out from under him. For the same reason, the inside boat wants to take it a little wide, so as not to slow down too much, and keep the outside guy pinned under him, and not end up with a lee bow situation on exit. So there will always be discussion about what is "Seamanlike" in that situation. BUT, if there was NO overlap to begin with, then the inside boat can round as he pleases.

I know there is a situation wherein you are allowed to make a tactical rounding, but always get them confused. I know someone said "no obligations" allows you to do that.. can you be more specific and use it in an example? Anyone got a pic of when you are at the mark with another boat and are allowed to make a tactical rounding?

Just found it on the racing rules thread:

Ya'll are missing a fine point here. If a boat enters the 2-length zone with no overlaps, he is not required to do a seamanship-like rounding. He may do a tactical rounding -- enter wide, exit close.
If there was another boat in the zone at the same time and a boat has INSIDE overlap and is also the right-of-way boat, (Occurs when either both boats are on starboard, or the hero is on starboard and other boat is on port) again he need not do a seamanship-like rounding, rather a tactical rounding.
If a boat has another boat in the zone at the same time, has the INSIDE overlap and the other boat is the right-of-way boat, (This occurs when the hero is on port and the outside boat is on port, thereby making him the leeward and right-of-way boat ) then he is required to do a seamanship-like rounding.
Boats coming from behind have to keep clear. Period.

Only time you can make a tactical rounding is when you have no other give way boats.

As soon as there is a boat outside you that is give-way, you must make a seaman like rounding (so no out wide and in tight). If you are give way boat, you only have to allow the inside boat room to get around the mark.

But then in the pic above, why not a tactical rounding according to what Rick said?
"If there was another boat in the zone at the same time and a boat has INSIDE overlap and is also the right-of-way boat, (Occurs when either both boats are on starboard, or the hero is on starboard and other boat is on port) again he need not do a seamanship-like rounding, rather a tactical rounding."

But this doesn't mesh with what rick said, right?

If you have right of way and inside overlap you can make a tactical rounding.

If you don't have right of way but you do have an inside overlap you are only given room to make a seamanlike rounding.

Basically once you establish the inside overlap you still need to think about whether you have right of way or not.

Purple can't round tactically because blue has right of way (leeward boat).

In response to PTP's signature ... This may be one reason why you want to sail a 400 lb boat.

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F18
H16
Sunfish

you have the right to make a tactical rounding if the right of way did not change due to the 2 boat length circle. For example: If a starboard downwind boat has right away to a port downwind before the circle and there is overlap when they both hit the circle the starboard boat continues having rights as inside boat, then that boat is allowed to round in a tactical manner. The right of way continuing with the same boat allows that boat a tactical rounding. Keep in mind, on a catamaran, they are hard pressed to make a great tactical rounding while remaining in the two boat length circle. As soon as they sail out of the circle there is another rule situation.

Later,
Dan

If you obtain an overlap after the two boatlengths zone (through speed differences or a tack or a gybe), you'd better be ready to bail-out or be sure the boat in-front is gonna stuff his rounding and leave a gaping hole for you to round in.

Think ahead when coming into a rounding, particularly in cats because they are so fast. Assess early what you're likely-hood of obtaining an overlap is. If it is unlikely, back off and do a fast, tactical rounding and put pressure on the boat in front to nail its rounding. If it doesn't, you will have a very nice cover on them, stopping them from tacking. Just be sure not to get lee-bowed.