2. Buoy room rule
The buoy room rule applies when boats are rounding or
passing a buoy or an obstruction on a race course. You must
imagine a circle around the buoy or obstruction -- the radius of the
circle is four boat lengths (figure A). When your boat's bow
touches the imagined circle (figure B), imagine a line parallel to the
back of your boat. If the nearest boat to your boat has not yet
crossed (overlapped) the parallel line (figure C), you may round the
buoy without yielding to that boat. If there is a boat that has
crossed the line -- if there is an overlap (figure D) -- your boat must
yield to that boat.
Figure A
Figure B
Figure C
Figure D
1
2
No overlap.
1 may round the buoy
without yielding to 2
2
1
Overlap.
1 must yield and give
room to 2 so 2 can
round the buoy without
hitting it.
