Rule 19 is a brand new one and applies when the obstruction is:
- Not also a mark or ‘continuing’ obstruction
- ‘Continuing’, including if this is a mark aslo.
Part of this new Rule 19 used to be covered in old rule 18, but to be more precise about the difference between room at a mark and room at an obstruction, this new rule has been added. It is about giving room to pass an obstruction, but not room to tack at an obstruction. That has become new Rule 20, more of which in another post.
So, a right of way boat can choose to pass the obstruction on either side (provided it is safe to do so).
The outside boat must give room to the inside one, if they are overlapped. However, if the outside boat has been unable to do this from when the overlap started then they do not have this obligation. For example, if the outside boat is itself prevented because af another boat on its outside, or another obstruction. Remember a boat is an obstruction but NOT a continuing obstruction.
There is no concept of a Zone in Rule 19, so a boat could aim to overlap on the inside and demand room from the outside overlapped boat. But this only applies if there was sufficient room for the outside boat to give room at the time the overlap started. If when the overlap started, the outside boat was unable to give room for whatever genuine reason then the inside boat is not entitled to room. While overlapped the inside boat is not entitled to room and she has to keep clear.
