Mark-room and the zone
World Sailing · 2025–2028The zone extends 3 hull lengths around a mark, measured using the nearer boat. Where the mark-room rule applies, the overlap situation when the first boat reaches the zone normally determines who must give room. An outside overlapped boat gives the inside boat room to approach as appropriate, round or pass, and leave the mark astern.
The rule
The zone extends 3 hull lengths around a mark, measured using the nearer boat. Where the mark-room rule applies, the overlap situation when the first boat reaches the zone normally determines who must give room. An outside overlapped boat gives the inside boat room to approach as appropriate, round or pass, and leave the mark astern.
In practice
This is not an unrestricted right to force through any gap. Exceptions include opposite tacks on a beat to windward, certain tacking situations and continuing obstructions. Starting marks surrounded by navigable water have a separate exclusion while boats approach to start. A late inside overlap does not guarantee room that the outside boat could never provide.
Sources & approach ↗