Section B - The Prestart
MR CALL B18
Rule 11, On the Same Tack, Overlapped
Rule 12, On the Same Tack, Not Overlapped
Rule 15, Acquiring Right of Way
Question
Yellow and Blue are beam reaching on starboard tack in the pre-start with Yellow
clear ahead and slightly to windward of Blue’s course line. Yellow releases her sail,
and Blue creates an overlap to leeward, without either boat changing course. The
separation between the boats is only a few centimetres. Yellow luffs to keep clear
and there is immediate contact. Both boats display flag Y. What should the call be?
Answer
Penalize Blue. Blue obtains right of way as a result of Yellow reducing speed. While
the change in speed is a consequence of an action by Yellow, an increase or decrease
in speed is not in itself an 'action' within the meaning of the second part of rule 15.
Therefore, rule 15 applies when Blue acquires right of way. As Blue creates the
overlap so close that Yellow has no possibility of keeping clear, Blue does not give
Yellow room to keep clear and breaks rule 15.