A capsized boat ahead
The situation
Charging downwind, Ava sees a boat just ahead that has capsized, the sailor in the water beside it, right in her path.
The question
What does Ava have to do, even though she was sailing along with right of way?
The ruling
She must avoid the capsized boat if it's possible to do so (rule 22.1). A boat is 'capsized' when her masthead is in the water. The sailor in the water can't keep clear, so the normal right-of-way rules give way to safety: Ava bears away or heads up to miss her. The capsized sailor isn't penalised for being in the way. Safety and helping someone in danger always come first on the water.
Avoid a capsized boat if you possibly can (rule 22). Safety beats right of way.
Opens the situation on the boat-length grid — scrub it and see exactly how the boats meet. Free, no account needed.
Rules cited
- Rule 22.1 — Capsized, Anchored or Aground
- Rule 1.1 — Helping Those in Danger