CALL MR 4

Question 1 Just after starting, Yellow, on port, bears away and gybes to take a penalty. Blue, also on port, but on a track to leeward of Yellow, tacks to starboard, and as a result is on a collision course with Yellow. Yellow is forced to change course to pass behind Blue before completing her penalty and Y-flags. What should the call be? Answer 1 Green and white flag. The ‘except when sailing a proper course’ phrase in rule C2.10 permits Blue to interfere with Yellow, provided Blue does not break rule 16.1. She has a choice of proper courses and may therefore choose one that will maximise her interference with Yellow. Sailing on either tack can be a proper course.

Question 2
Within the meaning of rule C2.11, if Blue is sailing a proper course, is she permitted to disadvantage Green in a different match?

Answer 2
Yes. When the umpires are satisfied that Blue sailed a proper course, this is consistent with winning her own match, by definition, and breaks no rule.
If the umpires are satisfied that the boat's actions were not intended to help her in her own match, but were intended to affect the results of the other match, then Blue breaks rule C2.11. Green may Y-flag under rule C6.1(a).

Question 3 Approaching a leeward mark, Blue is close astern of Green, but they are racing in different matches. Blue luffs to blanket Green, slows her down, and gains an inside overlap. Green must therefore give room to Blue and does so. Has Blue broken rule C2.11? Answer 3 No. Although Green is definitely disadvantaged by Blue's actions, Blue's actions helped her to round the mark in the shortest possible time, and were therefore 'consistent with ... winning her own match'. See Answer 2.