Had an interesting conversation today regarding the overlap distance when aproaching a mark rounding in a mixed fleet of IOM, A Class, 1.5 Metre and AC, what clounts as four boat lengths?

The shortest boat in the fleet

the longest boat in the fleet

or the boat nearest the mark

Thought/interpretation?

The boat nearest to the zone.

From the definition of Zone

Zone The area around a mark within a distance of three hull lengths of the

boat nearer to it. A boat is in the zone when any part of her hull is in the zone.

Thanks Bill,

I had hoped it would be the boat nearest the mark(zone which is more correct thank you) as that makes the most sense