Match Rapid Response 2018-002
Rule 10 On Opposite Tacks
Rule 18.2 Giving Mark-Room (C2.9)
Rule 18.3 Tacking or Gybing (C2.9)
Rule C6.5(b) Controlling position
Rule C8.3 Penalties Initiated by the Umpires
Definitions Proper Course (C2.3)
A boat is in a “controlling position” when she is ahead and able to manoeuver towards the next mark without impediment, or she is in a position to be able to impede, affect or change the actions of the other boat without breaking a rule.
Question
Blue on port tack and Yellow on starboard tack are approaching the windward mark on a collision course. The umpires agree that Yellow sails beyond the point where her proper course would be to tack to round the mark. Blue tacks to starboard and keeps clear of Yellow. There is a Y-flag at position 4.
What should the call be?
Answer
Penalize Yellow.
When Yellow first enters the zone overlapped inside Blue, she is entitled to mark-room under rule 18.2(a)(1). However, as an inside overlapped right-of-way boat, Yellow breaks rule 18.3(b) by sailing farther from the mark than needed to sail her proper course before she tacks, and in doing so she affects Blue’s course. Display the yellow flag.
A boat is in a “controlling position” when she is ahead and able to manoeuver towards the next mark without impediment, or she is in a position to be able to impede, affect or change the actions of the other boat without breaking a rule. Because Yellow could not force Blue to tack without breaking rule 18.3(b), she was not in a “controlling position” in this situation. By breaking rule 18.3(b) and forcing Blue to tack Yellow gained a controlling position.
If, after displaying the yellow flag for her breach of rule 18.3(b), the umpires were satisfied that Yellow has broken rule 18.3(b) deliberately or has gained an advantage by breaking the rule after allowing for a penalty, they would give Yellow a second penalty under rule C8.3. See also MR CALL M2.
If the umpires were not satisfied that either of these conditions existed, the umpires would give Yellow a red-flag penalty under rule C6.5(b).
Published: 10 May 2018
This call is valid until: 2020-01-01
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