Racing Rules Quiz
Section 1 - the start
Question 1
15 seconds before the gun, Blue is close hauled to the Boat End and Red is reaching in, Both on Starboard. If no one moves they will collide.
Is Red entitled to room here?
YES
That's not right
Preamble of section C states that rule 18 does not apply at a starting mark surrounded by navigable water. Therefore rule 11 applies and the windward boat (Red) must keep clear and is not allowed to hold her course. The leeward boat (Blue) is bound only by her duty to avoid a collision with damage (rule 14). Since Blue has not changed course, rule 16 does not apply.
NO
Correct!
Preamble of section C states that rule 18 does not apply at a starting mark surrounded by navigable water. Therefore rule 11 applies and the windward boat (Red) must keep clear and is not allowed to hold her course. The leeward boat (Blue) is bound only by her duty to avoid a collision with damage (rule 14). Since Blue has not changed course, rule 16 does not apply.
Question 2
Blue and Red are both reaching on starboard to the Boat End for the start. Just before the gun, blue luffs up to the line, cutting off Red's approach. Red protests.
Does Red have a valid protest?
YES
Correct!
In accordance with rule 16.1 Blue may not change her course so late, because Red by this time no longer has room to keep clear. Blue should have luffed earlier, if she wanted to close the gap. There is no rule, that requires of a boat (here: Red) to anticipate an action of another boat (here: Blue's luff towards the starting line), even if this action is to be expected.
NO
That's not right
In accordance with rule 16.1 Blue may not change her course so late, because Red by this time no longer has room to keep clear. Blue should have luffed earlier, if she wanted to close the gap. There is no rule, that requires of a boat (here: Red) to anticipate an action of another boat (here: Blue's luff towards the starting line), even if this action is to be expected.
Question 3
Blue and Red are approaching the Boat End on starboard. Blue is ahead and heads up towards the Start Boat to reach the line close hauled at the gun. Red has to take avoiding action.
Is Red entitled to room here?
YES
That's not right
Preamble of section C states that rule 18 does not apply at a starting mark surrounded by navigable water from the time the boats are approaching it to start until they have passed it. Therefore, only rule 16 restricts Blue's luffing of the red boat. Blue may luff to head to wind and close the gap left for Red provided Blue leaves Red enough room to keep clear - which she does! Before Red reached the RC boat, Blue had changed course such that she would leave no room for a boat to pass between him and the RC boat. Red had to realize and expect this, and had to react (by luffing up on the wrong side of the RC boat, for instance) before sailing himself into the impossible situation she ended up in. Now Red will force Blue to give room to avoid the collision, and in doing so, Red will foul Blue.
NO
Correct!
Preamble of section C states that rule 18 does not apply at a starting mark surrounded by navigable water from the time the boats are approaching it to start until they have passed it. Therefore, only rule 16 restricts Blue's luffing of the red boat. Blue may luff to head to wind and close the gap left for Red provided Blue leaves Red enough room to keep clear - which she does! Before Red reached the RC boat, Blue had changed course such that she would leave no room for a boat to pass between him and the RC boat. Red had to realize and expect this, and had to react (by luffing up on the wrong side of the RC boat, for instance) before sailing himself into the impossible situation she ended up in. Now Red will force Blue to give room to avoid the collision, and in doing so, Red will foul Blue.
Question 4
Blue and Red are heading to the Pin End as the gun is fired. Blue is slightly ahead but there is an overlap. Blue will miss the pin on the current heading but has enough momentum to pass the pin by pinching, which she does. Red tacks away to avoid the collision.
Is Blue entitled to room here?
YES
Correct!
Preamble of section C states that Rule 18 does not apply at a starting mark, but Rule 11 (boats on the same tack, overlapped) requires the windward boat (Red) to keep clear of the leeward boat (Blue). Blue is allowed to luff up to head to wind, but no further. Blue's luffing is only restricted by rule 16, i.e. she must change course moderately enough that Red can keep clear.
NO
That's not right
Preamble of section C states that Rule 18 does not apply at a starting mark, but Rule 11 (boats on the same tack, overlapped) requires the windward boat (Red) to keep clear of the leeward boat (Blue). Blue is allowed to luff up to head to wind, but no further. Blue's luffing is only restricted by rule 16, i.e. she must change course moderately enough that Red can keep clear.
Question 5
Red is luffing on Starboard when Blue approaches from behind the sail on Port to tack beneath Red, but whist she passes through to starboard she does not reach the closed hauled position. She blocks Red's way and Red calls for room. Blue protests saying the windward boat should have kept clear.
Does Red have a right to room?
YES
Correct!
Blue will be penalized. She did not bear away to a close hauled course after beginning her tack. Therefore rule 13 still applies and Blue should be keeping clear of Red. But she does not.
NO
That's not right
Blue will be penalized. She did not bear away to a close hauled course after beginning her tack. Therefore rule 13 still applies and Blue should be keeping clear of Red. But she does not.
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