What are my rights after rounding a mark the wrong way?

Richard Thompson answers...

Richard’s main role in the sport is as Vice Chairman of the RYA Racing Rules Group. This is combined with the additional duties of RYA National Judge and National Umpire. He has crewed for many years in International 14s including once winning Prince of Wales Cup. Having now hung up his harness and cancelled his extreme sports insurance, Richard spends his summer racing a Swallow in Chichester Harbour, with occasional success. Winter time is also spent on the water as a team racing umpire. Richard asks to ensure that questions are specific to an incident or problem encountered, and to give as much detail as possible. He is also keen to point out that his answers are inevitably a personal opinion and not those of the RYA!

Duncan Olde from Australia asks:
What are your rights when you have rounded a mark the wrong way? ie rounded to port instead of starboard, turned around to unwind and then rounded correctly.

Do you have normal right of way rights even when you are unwinding, or are you deemed to be in a situation like a 720? Because you have not actually infringed at that point have you? And yes, we should have read the race instructions correctly!! Seven on the boat, we can all read.


Duncan

You have obviously suffered much already and I won't compound your misery. When you are unwinding the normal right-of-way rules apply because, as your state, you have not broken a rule and you are not taking a penalty.

If you are returning to the mark on starboard any port tack boats must keep clear and, if you are overlapped when you reach the mark, you may be entitled to room to round on the inside. Remember that, between boats on opposite tacks when one will have to tack to round the mark, rule 18 does not apply and the normal port and starboard rule 10 applies.

In particular if you are claiming room to round on the inside as you unwind I recommend you avoid the possibility of misunderstandings by making your intentions clear to other boats. Hails in this situation are similar to those claiming or denying room at a mark; they are not required but they are recommended when there is doubt so your opponents can respond appropriately and you minimise the risk of damage.

Richard

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