| Date Of Incident: 6 Nov 2021 Date of Hearing:17 Nov 2021 RMYS – Bert Watts Trophy
RBYC – Brighton Championship, Medium Distance Race MYS – Div 1
RBYC – Div 1 1. The two boats were racing in different races, one organized by Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS) and the other by Royal Brighton Yacht Club (RBYC) with separate sailing instructions for each.
2. The two were approaching Mark R3, which to be left to port by both boats, with No Man’s Land (S6418) running square on port tack and Hart Breaker (B330) close hauled on starboard tack. Neither boat realized that R3 was a rounding mark for both.
3. They were on converging courses but, if they both stood on, would have passed clear of one another by a boat length or more.
4. Hart Breaker hailed “starboard” and indicated that they were aiming for R3. No Man’s Land responded with “that’s our mark”.
5. However, Hart Breaker then bore away, closing to within a few metres of No Man’s Land.
6. As Hart Breaker bore away, No Man’s Land also bore away and did an ‘all standing’ gybe before gybing back again to swing her stern away from Hart Breaker.
7. Hart Breaker simultaneously luffed and, although there was no contact between the hulls, her mast made contact with the mast of No Man’s Land causing damage to both rigs.
8. Hart Breaker retired from the race due to possible damage
|