Situation


Shortly after position 2, Yellow decides she can tack and fetch the mark. Blue initially believes she can cross in front of Green so she does not hail for room to tack. However, as soon as Yellow luffs to tack, Blue immediately luffs and tacks so that the two boats pass head to wind simultaneously. Upon completion of their tacks, there is room for one boat (not both) to pass between Green and the mark.
After the tack is completed Yellow luffs to round the mark and Blue luffs to give Yellow markroom. Green has to luff above close-hauled to avoid Blue. Green protests Blue and Blue protests Yellow.

Question 1
What should the decision be?

Answer 1
Penalize Yellow for breaking rule 18.3.

Green was required to Keep Clear of Blue from the moment Blue completed her tack. Green kept clear, and broke no rule.

Yellow and Blue were both required by rule 18.3(a) not to cause 'the other boat' to sail above close-hauled to avoid contact. When Green sailed above close-hauled, it was to avoid contact.

Yellow and Blue both broke rule 18.3(a). However, Blue is exonerated under rule 64.1(a) because she was compelled by Yellow to break rule 18.3.
Blue was required to keep clear of Yellow once Yellow completed her tack. Blue kept clear and did not break rule 11 .

Question 2
Would the answer to Question 1 be different if there is not even room for one boat to pass between Green and the mark when the two boats complete their tacks?

Answer 2
No.