The Call Book for Match Racing for 2021

Section K - The Finish

MR CALL K5

Rule 10, On Opposite Tacks
Rule C2.9 (18.2(a)), Giving Mark-Room
Rule43.1(b)(2), Exoneration (room or mark-room)
Definitions, Mark-Room (rule C2.2) and Proper Course (rule C2.3)

Question 1

Blue, with an outstanding penalty, is clear ahead when she reaches the zone of the finishing mark. Blue luffs, tacks and bears away to a course that is more than ninety degrees from the true wind, on port tack at position 4. After position 4, Blue sails at an angle that the umpires agree is her proper course.

After position 4 Yellow (on starboard) bears away to avoid Blue and displays flag Y. What should the call be?

Answer 1

Display the green and white flag.

Blue is entitled to mark-room. Mark-room for Blue is to sail her proper course to pass the mark (see rule C2.9 (18.2(a)(2)). While Blue’s course to take her penalty is not a proper course (see rule C2.3), once Blue has completed her penalty, she is entitled to sail her proper course from that point until she has finished. Blue breaks rule 10, but is exonerated by rule 43.1(b).

Question 2

Blue on port and Yellow on starboard are sailing towards the finishing line. When Blue reaches the zone of the finishing mark, she is the inside, overlapped boat.

At position 2, Blue is certain that she has crossed the finishing line and she bears away and gybes to a course to sail close to, but not hitting, the finishing mark. At the same time Yellow bears away to avoid contact with Blue. Flag Y is displayed. What should the call be?

Answer 2

Display the green and white flag.

Blue is entitled to mark-room under rule 18.2(a)(1). Mark-room for Blue is room to sail her proper course to pass the mark and room to pass the finishing mark after finishing under the definition of Mark-Room (rule C2.2). Therefore, the space Blue is entitled to after finishing is simply the space she needs to pass between Yellow and the mark from the time she has finished. By bearing away and gybing from position 2, Blue is not sailing farther from the mark than she is entitled to.