If anyone complains or contests your call politely invite them to join you on the start vessel for the next race.

John - forgive my hasty ‘owls’ response.  Are we not at risk here of conflating ‘a proper look out’ with ‘perfect situational awareness’.  A boat naturally has a priority of zones in her look out….perhaps what’s in front…what’s in her ‘keep clear’ direction…what’s to windward….what’s behind her.

She can’t be expected to look everywhere at once.  Especially if (as is the case here) it would require her to be scanning 360 horizontal and 180 vertical concurrently.

Jim Champ Reply to: 22039 - John Quirk: furthermore, in CASE 50, in the first sentence, it actually uses the term "genuine and reasonable apprehension" (this of course a standard used by courts with applications for an arrest in connection with non-bailable offences), and in the second sentence 'reasonable doubt' (again, a well-tested legal / court term). Quite some complexity for a competitor and PC to become acquainted with :).

And I appreciate it.

I never called you a blockhead.