You are Yellow, to windward and overlapped, reaching along a shore. Blue, below you, luffs and you keep clear. At the shore you need to bear away to sail along it, but Blue keeps coming up at you and you have to stop. Blue says windward keeps clear. Who takes the penalty?
Blue. Windward does keep clear of leeward (Rule 11), and a leeward boat that luffs must give the windward boat room to keep clear (Rule 16.1). But a shore is an obstruction, and when boats are overlapped at an obstruction the outside boat must give the inside boat room between her and the obstruction (Rule 19.2(b)), even when the inside boat is the one that has to keep clear. Right of way and room are different things. If you are the leeward boat and the shore is coming, bear away early and give her room.
📖 Want Rule 19 in more depth? Elvstrøm Explains the Racing Rules 2025-2028 sets out every rule with plain-English explanations and diagrams. (affiliate link)
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<p><a href="https://sailing.kiwi.nz/v/eYHlSAu-IaE/">Source: Sailing Kiwi</a></p>Go deeper: books and gear
- Racing Rules Companion 2025-2028 by Bryan Willis — Spiral-bound pocket guide to the current rules.
- Elvstrøm Explains the Racing Rules 2025-2028 — Every rule, with plain-English explanations and diagrams.
- Five Oceans masthead wind indicator — See the wind direction at a glance.
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