The World Sailing Rule 18 Working Party is looking for ways to simplify Rule 18 (Mark-Room) without changing the current game too much. We'd like to get your feedback on rule 18 and some ideas we have about improving it. If you have time to give a thoughtful response to the questions below, we will appreciate any comments. Please send your comments before August 15, 2021.
Thank you!
SECTION 1  – Background Info
Please share your experience in the sport of sailing. All the answers will be anonymous unless you add your name and email address at the end of the survey. Thanks.

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* 1. What is your current age?

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* 2. How long have you been racing sailboats?

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* 3. What is/was the highest level you've raced at?

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* 4. What type of racing do/did you primarily do?  (check all that apply)

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* 5. Are you, or have you ever been, a race official? (check all that apply)

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* 6. How long have you been a race official?

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* 7. Are you a certified race official by your national authority or World Sailing?

SECTION 2 – Rule 18.2
In Section 2, the boat that is clear astern reaches the zone before the boat(s) clear ahead.

Current rule 18.2(b) reads: “If boats are overlapped when the first of them reaches the zone, the outside boat at that moment shall thereafter give the inside boat mark-room. If a boat is clear ahead when she reaches the zone, the boat clear astern at that moment shall thereafter give her mark-room.”

We have these questions:

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Section 2 – Diagram 1

Question 1 Diagram 1

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* 8. A new rule 18.2 might begin with the words: “When the first of two boats reaches the zone…”
Regarding Boats X (Blue) and Y (Red) at position 1 in Diagram 1 above:  Has the first of the two boats reached the zone?

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Section 2 – Diagram 2

<strong>Section 2 – Diagram 2</strong>

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* 9. At position 2 in Diagram 2 above:  If you were writing a new rule 18, which statement below best describes your opinion about which boat(s) should be required to give mark-room?

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* 10. Between the three alternative rules below, which would be your preference?

SECTION 3 – Rule 18.4
In Section 3, the inside overlapped right-of-way boat(s) need to gybe at the mark to sail her/their proper course.

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Section 3 – Diagram
Current rule 18.4 reads: “When an inside overlapped right-of-way boat must gybe at a mark to sail her proper course, until she gybes she shall sail no farther from the mark than needed to sail that course. Rule 18.4 does not apply at a gate mark.”

We have two questions about this:

<strong>Section 3 – Diagram<br></strong>Current rule 18.4 reads: “When an inside <em>overlapped</em> right-of-way boat must gybe at a <em>mark</em> to sail her <em>proper course</em>, until she gybes she shall sail no farther from the <em>mark</em> than needed to sail that course. Rule 18.4 does not apply at a gate <em>mark</em>.”<br><br>We have two questions about this:

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* 11. Current rule 18.4 does not apply at a gate mark. In your opinion, has this caused any problems?

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* 12. If rule 18.4 were deleted, then at a single leeward mark an inside, overlapped, right-of-way boat either on the opposite tack or on the same tack with luffing rights would not be required to gybe and round the mark. In the diagram above, for example, Boats X (Blue) and Y (Green) could keep going straight at position 2.  In your opinion, would this cause any problems?

SECTION 4 – Gybing at a Windward or Offset Mark
Please read the following description carefully . . .

Note: For the purpose of these questions, the definition Mark-Room has been changed to:  "Mark-room is room for a boat to sail her proper course until the mark is astern of her."

In Section 4, a boat entitled to mark-room gybes near a windward or offset mark.

The following questions concern the rules at a mark that begins a run (meaning a leg on which most kinds of boats will have to sail on both tacks at some point to reach the leeward mark). Examples of such a mark are a traditional windward mark, offset mark, or the outer reaching mark of a trapezoid course.

As a reminder, if a boat is entitled to mark-room and she is sailing within the mark-room to which she is entitled, she is exonerated (not penalized) if she breaks any Section A rules (e.g. rule 10 - port/starboard or rule 11 - windward/leeward). In other words, a boat sailing within the mark-room to which she is entitled is “protected” by rule 18.

The questions below ask your opinion on whether "rule 18 protection" should end when a boat gybes at a windward/offset/outer trapezoid mark when she otherwise does not need to gybe to sail directly to the next mark. Or whether it should continue after a boat gybes if she thinks gybing is her proper course. And if it should continue, for how long should it continue?

For these questions, the mark is a traditional windward or offset mark. The next mark is directly downwind such that Boat X will need to sail on both tacks at some point to reach the next mark. Boat X is entitled to mark-room from Boat Y under rule 18.  There is no damage or injury as a result of the contact.

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Section 4 – Diagram 1
Boat X (Red) is sailing her proper course throughout this rounding.

<strong>Section 4 – Diagram 1<br></strong>Boat X (Red) is sailing her proper course throughout this rounding.

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* 13. At position 4, do you think Boat X (Red) should be "protected" by rule 18, meaning that Boat X would not be penalized in this situation and Boat Y (Blue) would be penalized for not giving Boat X mark-room?

Note: If Boat X was "protected" by rule 18 she would be exonerated for breaking rule 10 because she was sailing within the mark-room to which she was entitled, and for breaking rule 14 because there was no damage or injury.

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Section 4 – Diagram 2
In this diagram, there is a strong current moving the boats upwind. If Boat X (Red) bears away to her proper course on starboard tack, there is space for Boat Y (Blue) to sail in between Boat X and the mark without breaking any rules. Boat X thinks her proper course is to gybe, and at position 4 she is sailing her proper course.

<strong>Section 4&nbsp;&ndash; Diagram 2</strong><br>In this diagram, there is a strong current moving the boats upwind. If Boat X (Red) bears away to her proper course on starboard tack, there is space for Boat Y (Blue) to sail in between Boat X and the mark without breaking any rules. Boat X thinks her proper course is to gybe, and at position 4 she is sailing her proper course.

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* 14. Do you think Boat X (Red) should be “protected” by rule 18, meaning that Boat X would not be penalized in this situation and Boat Y (Blue) would be penalized for not giving mark-room to Boat X?

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Section 4 – Diagram 3
In the diagram below, the mark is a traditional offset mark. Boat X (Red) thinks her proper course at position 3 is to gybe. From position 2 to position 4, Boat X remains “overlapped” with the mark. At position 4, she is sailing her proper course (fastest course in the absence of Boats Y and Z).

<strong>Section 4 – Diagram 3</strong><br>In the diagram below, the mark is a traditional offset mark. Boat X (Red) thinks her proper course at position 3 is to gybe. From position 2 to position 4, Boat X remains “overlapped” with the mark. At position 4, she is sailing her proper course (fastest course in the absence of Boats Y and Z).

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* 15. Do you think Boat X (Red) should be “protected” by rule 18? This means Boat X would not be penalized in this situation, and Boat Z (and possibly Boat Y) would be penalized for not giving Boat X mark-room.

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* 16. All the answers we collect will remain anonymous unless you enter your name and email address in the box below. This could be helpful if, for example, we are interested in contacting you to further discuss any of your ideas above. Thanks.

Thank you very much for taking time to share your thoughts – Rule 18 Working Party: Dave Perry (USA) (Chair), Line Juhl (Denmark), Rob Overton (USA), Blu Lobato (Brazil), Dave Dellenbaugh (USA), John Standley (Australia). Look for more information about rule 18 ideas and tests in the near future.

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