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18  MARK-ROOM
18.1 When Rule 18 Applies

(a) Rule 18 applies between boats when they are required to leave

a mark on the same side and at least one of them is in the zone.

However, it does not apply

(1) between boats on opposite tacks on a beat to windward,

(2) between boats on opposite tacks when the proper course

at the mark for one but not both of them is to tack,

(3) between a boat approaching a mark and one leaving it, or

(4) if the mark is a continuing obstruction, in which case

rule 19 applies.

(b) Rule 18 no longer applies between boats when mark-room has been given.

18.2 Giving Mark-Room

(a) When the first of two boats reaches the zone,

(1) if the boats are overlapped, the outside boat at that moment shall

give the inside boat mark-room;

(2) if the boats are not overlapped, the boat that has not

reached the zone, at that moment shall give the other boat mark-room.

When a boat is required to give mark-room by this rule,she shall continue

to do so for as long as this rule applies, even if later an overlap is broken

or a new overlap begins.

(b) Rule 18.2(a) no longer applies if the boat entitled to mark-room

passes head to wind or leaves the zone.

(c) When rule 18.2(a) does not apply and the boats are overlapped,

the outside boat shall give the inside boat mark-room,

(d) If a boat obtained an inside overlap from clear astern or by

tacking to windward of the other boat and, from the time the

overlap began, the outside boat has been unable to give mark-room,

rules 18.2(a) and 18.2(c) do not apply between them.

(e) If there is reasonable doubt that a boat obtained or broke an

overlap in time, it shall be presumed that she did not.

18.3 Tacking in the Zone

If a boat passes head to wind from port to starboard tack in the zone

of a mark to be left to port, rule 18.2 does not apply between her and

another boat on starboard tack that is fetching the mark. If the other

boat has been on starboard tack since entering the zone, the boat that

passed head to wind

(a) shall not cause the other boat to sail above close-hauled to

avoid contact, and

(b) shall give mark-room if the other boat becomes overlapped

inside her.

18.4 Gybing in the Zone
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.

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