Barging at the committee boat
The situation
Seconds before the start, two boats reach toward the committee-boat end of the line on the same tack. Green is the leeward boat; Blue is overlapped to windward, a little ahead, and runs out of room between Green and the committee boat.
The question
Can Blue demand room to squeeze between Green and the committee boat?
The ruling
No. At a starting mark surrounded by navigable water, rule 18 does not apply while boats are approaching the line to start, so Blue gets no mark-room. Under rule 11 the windward boat keeps clear of the leeward boat: Blue must keep clear of Green and cannot barge into a gap that isn't there. If there's no room, Blue has to bear away, slow down, and start somewhere else.
There is no right to barge in at the committee boat — windward keeps clear and a starting mark gives no mark-room.
Opens the situation on the boat-length grid — scrub it and see exactly how the boats meet. Free, no account needed.
Rules cited
See the underlying rule: Rule 18.1 — No Room to Barge at the Start.
Related cases
- The windward boat protests for room · Starting
Approaching the committee boat to start, Blue is overlapped to windward of Green and runs out of room. The boats touch, Blue can't fit, and Blue protests — “Green never gave me room at the mark!”
- Shutting the door at the pin · Starting
Lining up for a pin-end start, Ari is the leeward boat — right next to the pin — with boats stacked up to windward of her. To keep them off the favoured pin, she luffs up and holds them out.
- Bumping the committee boat · Starting
Reaching in for a boat-end start, Luca misjudges the layline and his bow bumps the committee boat just before the gun.
- Over early — going back · Starting
The start gun fires and the race committee hails sail numbers and flies code flag X (individual recall). Maya sees she was over the line early (OCS) and turns back to restart, sailing back toward the pre-start side while the rest of the fleet beats away on starboard.
Related guide
- Team racing basics: how does team racing work?
Team racing is 3-on-3 dinghy racing won on lowest combined points. Learn winning combinations, the key plays, and how right-of-way rules control opponents.